34 MARCH 2012

Today was a great day for this old tail-wheel flight instructor. One of my stu-dents took and passed her checkride and is now a bona fide pilot. Now, that isn’t a big deal nor different from most anyone else receiving a pilot’s license. But this

one was special to me.About 18 months ago she and her husband came

to me. He was already a pi-lot, and up until this day she was a very good navigator/passenger. But on this day she wanted to begin taking flight lessons. I thought this wasn’t anything unusual; over the years I’ve worked with a number of spouses who wanted to learn to fly.

In th i s case , however , the situation was a bit more challenging. This couple had previously restored an air-plane together, he doing the structural work and she do-ing the fabric. Together they flew it all around the area, proudly showing the plane. Then together they began another aircraft restoration. As it began nearing comple-tion, she made a comment one evening that she might like to learn to fly, allowing them to each fly a plane to the area fly-ins. Her husband was quite taken aback by the comment. She had always been a good passenger but was near petrified whenever asked to take the controls.

When they came to me that first day we discussed both her desire as well as her fear. Her husband, very supportive, didn’t want to push too hard for fear of dampening her enthusiasm. I explained that we would take it very slow, and if at any time she felt

uncomfortable with whatever we were doing, she was to tell me so.

The first lesson began with a 30-minute session taxiing a tailwheel airplane around the ramp area and then out to the runway, learning the S-turn method of taxiing while doing so. Quite tentative at first, she soon acquired the feel for the airplane, at least on the ground, and relaxed somewhat.

The first step of confidence-building now accomplished, we aligned the airplane with the turf runway in preparation for the takeoff. While explain-ing the control stick position and movement, I could feel her tension building. Her grip on the Cub’s control stick was like a vise. To break the ten-sion I told her I could take her pulse simply by placing a fin-ger on top of my control stick. She laughed and relaxed, but only just a bit.

Throughout the late summer and early fall we flew weekly. Each new maneuver was a challenge, not because it was difficult for her to master but rather because of her anxiety. Each flight required constant reminders to relax and learn to feel the airplane.

It was then that I came to realize part of her anx-iety was brought on by her desire to be a perfec-tionist. She would strive to do everything perfectly, and when a maneuver was less than so, the anxiety would build. It has been said by “seasoned” pilots that flying is a constant learning experience. This thought really hit me between the eyes and caused me to change my teaching technique with her.

Thereafter, we discussed every maneuver before flight, initially setting loose guidelines for each.

BY Steve Krog, CFI

THE Vintage Instructor

A Proud Moment

She had always

been a good

passenger but

was near petrified

whenever asked to

take the controls.

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 35

For example, I would ask her to demonstrate a steep 360-degree turn to the right or left keeping the altitude within plus or minus 200 feet. Once that was accomplished we would tighten the pa-rameters to 100 feet, then 50 feet, and finally 20 feet. Using this method, she learned to relax a bit more, yet she strived for perfection with less self-induced pressure.

When the cold weather and snow finally arrived, we decided to put further training on hold until spring.

Spring 2011 arrived, and we resumed our flight training. It was now time to work in the traffic pat-tern in preparation for solo. Lack of self-confidence again surfaced, but with encouragement and regular reminders to relax, progress was made. Finally, it was time for me to get out of the Cub and turn her loose for three takeoffs and landings. She argued at first that she wasn’t ready, but I convinced her that she was. Each of the three takeoffs and landings were near perfect.

When she taxied back to the hangar following that first solo, the grin on her face was spectacular! She had transformed from someone afraid of touch-ing the controls to being able to safely and confi-dently fly the airplane solo! What a milestone. After the traditional cutting of the shirttail, I asked how she felt, and she responded by telling me that her butt cheeks were so tight, she thought the seat cush-ion was still there!

Crosswind takeoffs and landings were next on the agenda, and these came to her almost naturally. Within two hours she had mastered the technique and was ready for the dual and solo cross-country phase. At this point I strongly pushed for getting her written test taken. She had been procrastinating, thinking that she wasn’t ready to take and pass the exam. I set a deadline of the next Friday. If she didn’t have the test taken by then, we would postpone the planned dual and solo cross-country flights.

Pressure now dutifully applied, she accepted the challenge. I’ve found over the years that setting deadlines helps students move forward. She called me on that Friday afternoon and in an excited voice explained that she had achieved a 90 percent on the written test. The cross-country training was again back on the flight schedule.

Having spent a good many hours navigating for her husband, the cross-country phase of flight train-ing was completed in record time. Over the course of three or four days, all dual and solo cross-country flights were completed.

At this point it was time to prep for the checkride, and we scheduled flights for each of the next three weekends. Every maneuver was perfect or very near perfect. It didn’t make any difference if it was a steep turn, a power-on stall, or a 50-foot obstacle short-field landing. She had everything nailed. It was time

to schedule the checkride for the following Saturday.I spoke with her several times during the week

preceding the flight test. Each time it was to bolster her courage and confidence. Nervous, yes, but she was prepared. Finally, checkride day was here, and I think she arrived at the hangar at 5 a.m. for the 9 a.m. appointment. For several hours she paced the hangar, reviewing everything in her mind. The per-fectionist in her rose to the surface once again.

Once the designated examiner arrived and the oral portion of the checkride began, she relaxed a bit. The examiner quite understood and helped put her at ease. The remainder of the checkride went without a flaw, and the examiner commented so.

Finally, with the new piece of paper in hand proclaiming she was a real pilot, she finally be-gan to unwind, but not without a lot of kidding and congratulations.

I’ve been providing flight instruction for 40 years and have worked with a number of students, but this student and her accomplishments were very special to me. With great pleasure I watched her transform from a position of timidity and anxiety to one of self-confidence and achievement.

It proves that anyone with a real desire can over-come most any obstacle, learn to fly, and enjoy the pleasure of flying!

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