Extreme newbie - looking for advice

[Pilot101]

First post, jumping into this with both feet. Looking for some advice from those who have been there and done that. I am as green as they come, and just embarking on my PPL. My plan over the next five years is to complete my PPl and CPL, then build up some experience and time and then obtain my float rating . I would love to fly charter or floats part time for the next 10 years or so, or maybe purchase my own float plane and run my own business.

Looking for info on mistakes others have made or things that one would do differently if they had the chance. I am looking to learn as much as I can over the next few years and simply do not wish to make mistakes that others may have learned from but I just dont know about yet. Any assistance anyone can provide would be greatly appraciated for the really really new guy.

Thanks.

[Hedley]

Read everything you can here. Believe almost none of it.

Keep your ears open and your mouth shut.

There are an amazing number of lunatics and thieves in
aviation. I do not know what attracts the nut cases.
However there are some really great guys, too. The
trick is to figure out which is which early on.

Never put money on account. Keep your wallet in
your pocket. Never let anyone know how much
(or how little) money you have.

Be flexible. Specialization is for insects. Don't
just learn about flying airplanes, learn how they
work. Get your hands dirty.

One really neat way to get into float flying is to
buy a 4 cyl tube & fabric float plane and fly your
*ss off. Most people don't like this choice, but
if you live on a lake or large river, seriously
consider it.

Don't worry if you're broke. There's lots
more money out there. You know you're
in serious trouble when you lose your sense
of humour.

Consider keeping a journal, and writing a
book. You can't make stuff like this up.

[MUSKEG]

Fly for yourself and fun, not for someone else. I have said it befor. Financially speaking, flying is the worse career choice that you will ever make if you get stuck in charter.

[Reality]

Hedley, That is probably the best advice I have seen on this forum... Truthful, informative and right on the money.
Good Post.

[Pilot101]

Thanks for words of wisdom. Keep it coming

[Stevo226]

try your best not to piss anyone off. Word spreads like wildfire in this industry, and you never know when you might have to rely on that person for a reference or favor

[x-wind]

Do some ground school and studying before jumping in the plane. Never leave without knowing exactly what your next flight is going to cover. PREPARATION is the biggest factor in a successful flight. Visualize the whole flight in detail before hand.

Know whats expected of you for each license. To do this get familiar with the Transport Canada website. http://www.tc.gc.ca Air section. Important things to look at are the Study and Reference guides, Flt. test guides.

Your instructor can't "teach" you anything. Only guide, so the onus is on you.

Best general book is From the Ground up. Use the study and reference guide when prepping for your written I Don't suggest "written test prep book". It's harder this way but worth it.

I would also suggest getting a fabric float plain and doing all your licenses on it.

Backseat as many airplane rides as you can.

[stmymdy]

if you can, condsider getting a job on the ramp with a charter company even if just PT.
you will learn an absolute ton about the industry and meet a bunch of people that could potentially help you out
and theres always AME's around that will teach you a bunch if you just ask.

[alpha1]

Try very very hard to finish your training/ratings etc with no debt.

You will have so many more options if you can pull this off.

Best of luck to you!

[Cleared Enroute]

if you can, condsider getting a job on the ramp with a charter company even if just PT.
you will learn an absolute ton about the industry and meet a bunch of people that could potentially help you out
and theres always AME's around that will teach you a bunch if you just ask.

Bang on... Networking and hanging around airports is what'll get you your first job and like stmymdy said you'll probably even learn something. If nothing else, you'll probably hear some crazy stories of old timers doing touch and goes of the hangar roof or something else you could never get away with now. Most of all, at this stage, have fun training!

[Hedley]

Never, ever forget who is responsible for
the aircraft - YOU. Not ATC, not the owner,
not anyone on the ground. Everyone on
the ground will continually attempt to take
some of your authority away from you,
but rest assured they will never accept any
responsibility, which is always ALL YOURS.
When you separate authority and responsibility,
you get a Monty Python sketch.

Always stay ahead of the airplane. Always be
thinking where you're going to be, 5 minutes
from now.

Always fly the airplane, right into the ground.
Never quit. Don't become a passenger.

People are going to throw an awful lot of opinions
and information at you during your career. Learn
to prioritize stuff into:
1) need to know
2) nice to know
3) who gives a sh1t

Learn your aircraft systems. I cannot emphasize
this enough. When everything is working, you
don't need to know anything, but when stuff
starts to break, there may not always be a
checklist to handle your situation. Or, it
may be wrong (eg Air Transat glider).

Looking at a new aircraft, learn it's fuel
systems and landing gear systems well
enough that you can draw them out on
a blank piece of paper. Despite what everyone
else will tell you, you can make an awful
lot of mistakes during a flight, but if you
screw up your fuel system or landing
gear, you're gonna make CNN tonight.
Remember what I said about prioritization?

During your career, try really hard to not
run out of fuel. Know how much fuel you
have before you take off (Gimli Glider)
and know your fuel burn. Use your watch,
because it's a better fuel indicator than the
crappy gas gauges on light aircraft.

The only time you have too much gas
is when you're on fire. Until you get a
lot more experience, NEVER pass up on
an opportunity to fill the tanks,

Try really hard to fly out of bad weather
into good weather. Obviously you can't
always do this, but please be aware that
the weather is always changing, and gosh
it's great to be flying somewhere that the
weather is better. Please develop great
respect for thunderstorms and icing, because
they will both kill you without a moment's
hesitation.

DON'T be afraid to turn back. There is like
some tractor beam that pulls pilots into
their doom. DON'T be afraid to overshoot
(A320 crosswind). You are NEVER committed
to having an accident, as long as you have
fuel, or unless you're on fire.

Learn what a dewpoint spread is. Why is
it a bad thing when it decreases? When
does temperature decrease? When does
the dewpoint increase?

Learn about the weather, which is one of
the worst-taught subjects in groundschool
and probably the most important. When
the wx is good, flying is easy. When the
wx is bad, flying is hard. It's that simple.
Learn about wx systems, Lows, Highs,
fronts, their motion, moisture. Learn
to forecast the wx yourself. After a
while, you will do it better than the
so-called professionals.

When a wx forecast is NOT working out
as predicted, become very suspicious
of the entire forecast. Look at the
raw data yourself and re-read the
above paragraph.

Be the most precise, smoothest
professional pilot that you can be,
regardless of what you are flying,
where you are flying, who you are
flying for, or how pissed off your wife
was at you that morning.

Pay attention to the details when
you are able to.

Do what ya gotta do, and tell them
what they want to hear.

Regulations. Ah, where to start. I
could write a book on regulations.
There are thousands and thousands
of regulations. As PIC you are responsible
for complying with every single letter
of every word of every sentence of
every paragraph of each and every
one of all of the thousands of regulations.

Here's a secret for you: no one knows
them. At least, there is no single person
who actually knows all the regulations. I
am not making this up. Sit down with
any pilot and ask him to recite all of
CAR 602 and 605 for starters. There
is not one pilot in Canada who is capable
of doing so.

Regulations are always changing. Wait
a few minutes, or cross some invisible
line, and an entirely new (and possibly
conflicting) set of regulations may come
into effect. What was legal and therefore
safe a few minutes ago, is now illegal and
therefore dangerous. And vice versa.

When I was starting out flying, I thought
that if I learned all the regulations in
great detail, and obeyed them to the
letter and learned to fly really well so
I didn't crash any airplanes, that I
wouldn't get into any trouble. What
a young, naive idiot I was, to believe
that nonsense.

Here's a secret: there are actually
only two real regulations, and one
guideline, but nobody mentions them
because it's too simple, and we don't
like stuff simple, because then people
will think we're paid too much:

******************************

REGULATIONS:

1) don't hurt anybody. We don't
want anybody in the hospital, or
the morgue.

2) don't change the appearance
of the aircraft. Who do you think
you are, Burt Rutan?

GUIDELINES:

1) Don't piss anybody off.

******************************

Regulation #1 is more important than
regulation #2. Both are more important
than guideline #1, which you may have
to break now and then. If you do, make
a point of seeking out the person who
toes you trod upon, and apologize for
being a dink, and explain to them why
you had to do what you did.

Everything you read on the internet
is worth what you paid for it.

[JBI]

I would say Hedley's preceeding post is by far the best post I've seen on AvCanada.

As a few of the previous posters have said, networking is one of the most important, yet underlooked aspects of the aviation industry. It should start from day one. Try to work at airports, be friendly (but not annoying) and meet as many people as you can. It may not help you right away, but in the long run it'll help you out.

Be professional in your training. Treat it as a job. If your instructor, flight school staff and anyone else around the airport sees that you are responsible, prepared and committed, it will work out in your favour. You never know where that instructor is going to work next and they can put in a good word for you.

Although it sounds as if you've got a pretty good idea of the type of work that you want to do, be open to the possibility of doing different kinds of flying. Focus on enjoying the present and not always striving for the next bigger and faster plane. Your situation is different than the guys who only want to fly the big iron.

Finally, read as much as you can and talk to as many people as you can so you know what you're getting yourself into. Everybody has different opinions on the industry so also keep in mind their bias when listening to them. For example, some pilots love flying and they could never fathom doing anything else, whereas others just complain 24/7.

Good Luck!

[Rudder Bug]

I would say Hedley's preceeding post is by far the best post I've seen on AvCanada

I second!

[Pilot101]

The info I am receiving here is fantastic. I appreciate the time everyone has taken to post something, short or long it's all great. I am working towards a second career here so all the info I get is good. I'm not looking at limiting myself, but living in BC I find the float end of things intriguing with so much cool land around I love the idea of fying into a remote lake and camping. I also would like to fly a small twin engine or something similar. I am finding out many different things, and there are many options out there. I really have no interest in flying the big planes or working for the big companies. Just looking at doing something fun and and something I think I will enjoy. Again thanks for the info, and I have no doubt in the future you will likely see many other posts asking moronic questions. But if I dont ask I cant learn, so brand me now as the bonehead, and I will work towards upgrading my newbie status.

Thanks again.

[airway]

Here's my standard commercial flight training advice:

1. If possible, do all of your flight training over 1 year or less. If you do your flight training over more than 1 year you will be wasting money in review flights. Take a discovery flight to make sure you REALLY WANT TO DO THIS, People who are not sure they REALLY WANT TO DO THIS are not going to make it. Put this flight as your first entry in your personal log book and your Pilot Training Record!

2. At least 1 month before you start training, get a category 1 medical. I have seen many delays for first solos due to medical delays. Take a couple of days, go to all the local flying schools. Check out prices, facilities, simulators, and instructors. You will be quoted all sorts of prices. The only ones that really matter are the hourly cost of the aircraft, simulators, and instructors. Ask if they charge for pre and post flight briefings. Often there are landing fees at larger airports, and delays waiting for Take Off. A smaller airport may be more cost efficent. Make sure the school has been around for a few years. Schools come and go, and when they go, they take the money you have pre payed with them. Plus you will have to get used to a new instructor who will have different training methods.

3. Find a experienced full time instructor, preferably Class 1 (Class 2 OK), who will likely be there for a year. Also have another one availible for back up. Stick with these 2 instructors for ALL of the flight training.

4. Treat the training like a job. At least 5 days a week, and at least 8 hours a day, and 2 flights a day. Be prepared for every flight. Read everything your instructor has assigned twice and take notes. If he hasn't assigned alot of reading, ask for more. Review a week later. Fill out your Log Book carefully right after every flight. On bad weather days still go in and review, read the Flight Training Manual, From the Ground Up, The AIM, The CAR'S, Canada Flight Supplement, Flight Test Guides, Aeronautics act, Human Factors (get the picture?).

5. Start working on a good attitude, be a hard worker and a keener, be friendly with everyone, network, help others, ask questions, get your hair cut, dress "business casual", follow the rules, get a good nights sleep, eat well, don't drink too much, be humble, show up early, stay late.

[RFN]

All of these points hit the nail on the head.
Just one thing to add though...
When people tell you to be careful of who you piss off (because the industry is small etc.), don't let that become a reason to be walked all over. Flying is the greatest career out there (at least I think so) but some perceived short term gain at some piss-ant company is not worth losing your self respect. As Hedley said, this industry attracts an amazing amount of people that range from a**holes to nutjobs to criminals.
Always remember that you will be a professional, and no matter what path your career takes, you deserve to be treated as one. Settle for nothing less, whether it pisses off some idiot or not.

[stmymdy]

kudos to all here for an intelligent forum topic & replies. its see too rarely on avcanada

I would say Hedley's preceeding post is by far the best post I've seen on AvCanada

I second!

cheers to that.

[raven54]

Well, Hedley has some good advice, but try not to fly the aircraft "into the ground" as he suggested. You can probably have a longer career if you fly the aircraft onto the ground. I agree with his regulation advice. Remember, illegal is a sick bird, if it's not safe don't do it.

Airway, you sound like you really like to party...lol.

[KAG]

Pilot101
Welcome to aviation!
This has been a refreshing thread, nice to see positive responses, and not slamming each other.
Headley - great response. That’s the kind of advice people come on here for!!!

For a few thoughts of my own, specific to flight training.

Be an informed student.
Know how much Ground School, PGI, and briefings are required before you start paying. Buy the books used if their current, and a new set of David Clarks, you will have that for your entire career!!!

Select an instructor that you trust!
Ask the other students who they prefer, the success rate of the instructor, the average hours the instructor gets his/her students flight solo/flight tested. Ask the local DFTE (examiner) who they see does a good/efficient job. Understand most instructors are just there to build time, which is fine. They usually have little to no experience and can be as young as 19. Don’t let this scare you off. They may not know much about “flying the line”, but they do know how to teach you the basics, which is all you need to start. Some are pretty damn good at it too. On the flip side, the ones with more experience can be burned out, and just waiting for that call for a new job. You will have to be the judge.
Also don’t be afraid to switch instructors. Not everyone gets along, not everyone can be paired up in a cockpit and work together.

Get it in writing!!!
There are a lot of shady operators out there. Don’t pre pay too much, unless you’re getting a great deal on block time AND the moneys are being held in trust. There have been lots of schools here today and gone tomorrow, with the student’s money. Paying as you go will best shelter you from this.

Fly the chair.
This is the simplest and cheapest way to learn. Sit in a chair, preferably in the cockpit and go over your maneuvers. Know how to enter, execute, and recover each exercise. Have all memory items down cold before you go into the plane. If you can’t talk your way through an exercise, you sure as hell won’t be able to fly it. Also have a good understanding of what’s coming next. At the end of each lesson your instructor will demonstrate what you will be learning next. Make sure you’ve read it a few times, have a really good understanding, and your questions answered before you learn it.
This is also the cheapest way to help keep current. I gather you’re going to be paying as you go, doing it over time. From personal experience I found the students who didn’t do mental exercises, didn’t study in the in between days, spent way more money.

Don’t be afraid to switch instructors, plane types, or even schools if things aren’t to your liking. You are the student, but more important you are the paying customer, and are entitled to good service. Just make sure you know what you’re entitled to.
Buyer be ware.

[wxnut]

Remember all of the schools will say the industry is looking for a lot of pilots ! these kind of schools are in it just for the money and don't really care about your training.

Find a school that is the right fit, you don't want to find out at half of your training that the school you're with isn't what you're looking for. Heck, do 2 fam flights with each school one with different instructors. See who you like. Ask around, see who people recommend. It is a good example for you too... the instructors who are recommended are most likely the people who have been good in the industry and have had a fair share of networking.

Most important out of all, have fun and ask a lot of questions - an instructor told me this once, you're really going to be in training for the first 200 hours or so... pump the most out of it. Of course, you really start learning with that first job You won't necessarily be cancelling flights due to 4sm vis and 800 OVC layers haha.


I would definately suggest the Professional Flight Centre at Victoria's airport. Montgomery's got some good reputation with his schools.

Good Luck !

[airway]

Also don’t be afraid to switch instructors. Not everyone gets along, not everyone can be paired up in a cockpit and work together.

True to a point, but I would say this problem is minor compared to dealing with different instructing styles from different instructors. After the first couple of hours you can figure out if the instructor will work for you.

I was a former CFI at a large flying school. When a student came to me with a problem with his instructor, 90% of the time it was because the instructor was:

A. An inexperienced instructor teaching something incorrectly.
B. Teaching an exercise not incorrectly, but different than every other instructor at the school, and the student had to remember which way each instructor liked to see an exercise performed.

[Cat Driver]

I was a former CFI at a large flying school. When a student came to me with a problem with his instructor, 90% of the time it was because the instructor was:

A. An inexperienced instructor teaching something incorrectly.
B. Teaching an exercise not incorrectly, but different than every other instructor at the school, and the student had to remember which way each instructor liked to see an exercise performed.

I had the same problem with my instructors.

[Bank Angle]

These are all good and refreshly optimistic replies!

For my own two cents I would like to add that if you are really serious about getting into float flying you want, no have to do as much of your licenses on float planes as possible. And like others have said: network, network, network. I wanted to get into float flying myself, but only got my rating three quarters of the way through my commercial license only to find out that float operators (or should I say their insurance companies) want at least 100 hours on floats. It used to be a rating, then 50 hours, and now most require over 200 hours and even then you have to already know someone to stand a good chance of getting hired. Float time and working the ramp or dock will be invaluable in obtaining your ultimate flying dream job. And if you can't work at the airport, at least take the time to hand out, buy someone a coffee, etc.

As far as the training side goes, listen to all the advice above. I have trained people in a matter of months, but most people took years and lots of review. That said, one of my best students took almost 4 years to get just his private license because he started when he was only 13 and flew only once month, but he was always prepared and remembered what I taught him. Also don't be afraid of instructors who charge ground briefing! I don't know why this industry still frowns upon this. Just make sure you are getting what you paid for. In my experience I've seen two types of instructors: The ones that don't charge or charge very little for ground briefing, whom usually don't care about the quality of their training and are there only to build time, and the ones that charge appropriately for the time you spend with them, with whom you'll pay more on the ground but less in the air, where the costs really add up.

Good luck and happy flying!

[jakebrake]

Get a degree and/or into a good aviation college, then some right seat time, then left seat,
then study the giggies and prepare yourself.
Or...get CPL + floats, a summer ramp and/or mechanic job (planes), then right seat or loader
then get degree/college in aviation.
Or get a PL and , say a Taylorcraft and get 250 hours command time (fly to Inuvik, Churchill
Fort Pierce Florida, Texas etc), sell it and further training.
Watch out for complacency, treachery, carelessness, passing the buck, illusions, assumpions,
ignorance, arrogance, greed, hail, turbulence, icing, rocks, notams, paperwork, errors, etc........
........ Hey, but it's a great life. Enjoy.

[jakebrake]

Subscribe to NASA's ASRS. Go to......http:asrs.arc.nasa.gov/ & "Join CALLBACK E-Notification List" link. Accident and incident reports should be your favourite reading.
Canada, Auz. the UK and others produce similar material.