Wasn't sure where to post, but since I'm an active airline pilot this seems reasonable.

So I want to get checked out in a 172 or the like with the intent of taking my teens up in a light airplane for the first time (just for the experience of it, not to interest them in this career I think, but that's another discussion). I was considering sitting in on an AOPA Rusty Pilot Seminar (free to members, and I am) as I admittedly have lost currency in all things VFR and/or GA. Has anyone done this and is it valuable?

Any recommendations for airplane rentals and instructors in the NW DFW area are welcomed too. Other wisdom/tips will be appreciated as well

 

My $0.02...having gone through this.

The rusty pilot seminars are geared towards private pilots with a low experience level which doesn't really apply to someone with a lot of current IFR experience.

I would get with a local, older CFI and simply say that you'd like to review current VFR procedures, do some pattern work and maybe a nice round robin VFR flight to some local airports with and without control towers (VFR arrivals are definitely different than at air carrier fields). Some slower, towered fields might be a bit different than what you expect IFR.

This also allows you to get the local lay of the land...there is always some "local lore" that makes things easier in certain areas. Say one airport that's known for lots of students, or NORDO aircraft or whatever.

GA airports these days are ether completely vacant, or hyper busy. Never seems to be a blend. I've flown across the country GA, and have never seen a spinning prop other than mine. Other times places are a complete zoo.

Nu

 

Yeah, what he said. Get a checkout and practice flights in the specific aircraft, airport and local area in which you intend to operate.

If it's steam gauges, practice partial panel approaches to proficiency (no AI, no HI). It's not hard but you need to practice.

When you get a radio call, remember that the PM will not answer it for you.

Try hard to answer radio calls with "Cessna XXX" vice "American XXX".

Don't flare at 75'. If you're bum feels like it's about to scrape the pavement, that's about the right flare.

Keep your head on a swivel.

 

I wanted to experience GA flying again with someone and I hired a local pilot to fly with us. My piloting the aircraft wasn't the focus of the experience that I wanted to share and it also allowed me to focus more on the experience to share rather than my focus spent actually flying the plane (and doing all of the things that rickair mentions).

 

Good advice sir!

 

I jumped back into active GA flying about three years ago. At that time I had only logged about 5 hours in GA aircraft over 15 years, as compared to my airline flying. It has been great fun to go back to that part of flying and well worth it. That is a part of flying, seeing the landscape close up, at a leisurely pace, no schedule to keep, anywhere you feel like going, that you don't get in the airline. A lot of my airline friends whom I take in the Cherokee feel your apprehension. This is what I think:
1. Takeoffs are no problem, the landings at the correct flare height take about 10-15 hrs to get down.
2. Airspace,,,remembering Class B, VFR wx mins, fuel reserves at night
3. TFR's are now a part of preflight action, plus the fact that they exist over major sporting events.
4. Avionics of the new acft. Garmin GPS/Comm's, Autopilots,,,often as complex as any modern Boeing or Airbus,,,will take time to learn.
I recommend this - go online to AOPA, or ASF (Air safety Foundation), they have plenty of free online tutorials that will get you up to speed on regulations/airpace/fuel as well as links to online avionics trainers. Then go to a local GA airport and hang out with the instructors. Find one you work well with and go fly a few hours on landings/maneuvering.
We have had so much fun in the Cherokee over the last few years, it's a different segment of flying you completely miss in the airlines.
Have fun!

 

Decide today "I will die in GA". Then review the ways guys do:

1. Running out of gas
2. Pushing weather
3. Midairs

The first two are 100% in your control. Guys will buy a plane for hundreds of thousands and put it in the dirt overflying a field or unfilling the tanks to save maybe 30 to 50 bucks on a tank of gas. Had a guy run out of business in a brand new bonanza on a VFR day flying from south Florida to Destin a few years back...died in the crash of what I would guess was an 800k A36.

Weather--even with an autopilot, GPS, etc you are a single pilot with a single engine. Its not a turbine you can use just to overfly weather. Proceed with humility and caution.

Midairs--the heartbreakers. I don't have a simple answer, except clear clear clear and use SOPs at non towered fields.

While not 100% the case, most of the GA fatalities do not seem to involve professional pilots. I'm not thinking that's because we are necessarily BETTER, but probably are more likely to be doing this for fun and will leave the plane in the hangar on the days it looks ike work due to environmentals.

 

All you have to know is to pitch for 68kts :-P

 

I bought a "go somewhere" airplane several months ago, updated the avionics, and completed a thorough IPC as I haven't done any IFR flying in 2 years.
So far, the only issue I have is the make believe noises I hear and the normal vibrations of an IO-520!
Being a long time jet/turbine pilot has spoiled me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

So no electric trim?