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Your Instructor Lied

The cowling covering this engine came off midflight, prompting the pilot to make an emergency landing. WTVF
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilots frequently exhibit poor habits or misunderstandings during instrument approaches, such as incorrectly timing ILS approaches, misapplying timed approaches, or blindly following GPS for course reversals, which often stems from faulty instruction or a lack of critical thinking.
  • Common IFR planning and regulatory misinterpretations include the 1-2-3 rule for alternate airport requirements and the extent of descent permitted using approach lights, highlighting a need for deeper understanding beyond common assumptions.
  • It is crucial for pilots to thoroughly brief and be prepared for a missed approach, as well as to maintain proficiency in diverse navigation methods (e.g., VOR/ILS) rather than relying exclusively on GPS approaches.
  • Continuous self-assessment after each flight and seeking feedback from different experienced instructors are essential for identifying and correcting unrecognized poor piloting techniques and fostering ongoing improvement.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Whether it’s a result of faulty instruction or an accumulation of bad habits over time, I often see pilots who come in for a Flight Review or Instrument Proficiency Check who exhibit habits that either make no sense or worse yet, contribute to poor piloting technique. Being able to recognize these mistakes and correct them is often difficult especially without someone looking over your shoulder. Sometimes critical thinking after a flight is the best way to figure out if what you did was correct. Take that time and look for improvements from each and every flight.

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