Originally Posted by
Sierra
Very helpful, guys... thanks.
bmart, I did my first 12-15 hours of training at a busy Class D airport (did my first solo there), then went to two more shortly before my checkride (dual xc's). I know the basic idea of what is required, but I tend to be unconfident unless I know EXACTLY what is expected of me. Communicating with people makes me nervous in 'real life' (even though I can be pretty outgoing); telephone is much worse and radio is similar. Reading all the replies above, makes me think "Oh yes, I remember doing that... it all makes sense..." but being able to read it over and over again until I know I completely understand helps a lot.
Now, Class B... it'll be quite a while before I feel like attempting that!
Well the AIM would be a good guide to tell you what is *expected* of you, but you will find in aviation that it rarely goes as smoothly as you planned. I am a planner, detailed oriented type of guy. One of my biggest challenges early on was to learn how to be more fluid and to changed plans midstream when circumstances dictated. Now that I am in a new environment, I am relearning that same lesson, but this time the lessons come a little easier
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Challenge yourself and prepare - but don't sit back and relax in comfortable surroundings just because you don't have 110% of the answers ahead of time. Learn to go with the flow nad your aviating experience will much more rewarding and you will feel a sense of accomplishment when you have handled an unexpected event well.
USMCFLYR