Visualization Article
When reading this article, it reminded me of my private training, and even some of the later stages of flying I have done. My instructors have always told me that if I'm having trouble with maneuvers or emergency procedures then I should "chair-fly" them to practice. I think that this is a good method of visualization. This method helps them to reinforce what they have learned, and helps to further solidify the knowledge.
Mastering the Landing
The section of this article that caught my eye as something I would incorporate into my teaching was the part about the roundout. They say that the roundout should seamlessly continue into the flare and touchdown, until the wheels touch the round. However, I like how they say that for training purposes, this should be thought of in a 3-step process - approach, level off, and flare. I think splitting it up like this will help the student to better understand the way that it really should "flow" once they get better at their landings. If they follow this process, I think that they will start to automatically make it a seamless transition into touchdown.
Training Future Captains
This article is great! The author really is straight forward about how he believes instructors should teach, and what specific items they should emphasize in their instruction. So many good points are made here, and many of them I will include in my teaching. I remember talking with a Line Check Airmen at SkyWest who emphasized that the airlines are looking to hire captains, and captains only. No matter the seat, you should basically be equally qualified to fly the plane and be a leader in the flight deck. One big technique I took away from the article, however, was a way to help students learn to be more relaxed at the controls. Frequently have the student release the flight controls, and see what happens. If the airplane changes attitude, then it was obviously not trimmed correctly. I think that doing this often enough will really help students to realize that a properly trimmed aircraft will make for a much smoother ride, and will keep them much more relaxed.
-TB
Chair flying is fun! and a great way to cost effectively rehearse manuevers/landings etc. The roundout is one of the most important if not the most important part of mastering landings (tied with stablized approach) in my opinion. And it is the one most neglected by instructors.
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