I Learned About Flying From That: Back to Basics

Bradley Sunshine

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 06:25 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The article highlights how modern pilots, even experienced ones in advanced aircraft, can lose basic hand-flying proficiency due to over-reliance on automation.
It stresses the critical need for pilots to find a balance between using automation and maintaining fundamental hand-flying skills to ensure safety if technology fails.
Regular hand-flying is presented as essential for pilots to build confidence, better understand automated systems, and connect with the core joy and distinguishing quality of flying an aircraft.

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“You need more right rudder,” Bill Martin scolded as I sloppily put the Cessna 172 into a climbing right turn. My recollection of P-factor and torque effect, it seemed, had gone the way of the dodo bird.

“I guess I’m used to yaw dampers in the jets,” I mumbled. “It’s been 10 years since I’ve flown one of these.”