There seems to be an increasing tendency in flight training to only fly on “blue sky” days; no clouds and little wind. Many schools claim this is “safer” but we are actually creating increasingly weaker pilots with degenerating levels of real skill. True, these pilots (and junior CFIs) could probably survive fine in the right seat of an airliner under close supervision. But what about the 1500 hours they will spend “preparing” the next generation of pilots? We need more proficiency here to correct the downward spiral of timid CFIs teaching increasingly weak pilots. (Contact SAFE for a CFI-PRO™ course at your school).
Last week we examined crosswinds, (80% of accidents in the pattern have wind) but VFR into IMC is one of the most toxic areas of flight: 4% of accidents but 63% fatal! Most new pilots never were exposed to real weather. Add wind and weather together and you have the most common and the most fatal accidents – and neither area is taught in primary training!
It is essential for senior CFIs (SAFE CFI-PRO™) to train junior CFIs to be safe and confident with wind and marginal weather (within the constraints of safety of course). Then these CFIs must expose flight students to wind and weather so they understand this environment and know their real personal limits. Every pilot I have trained in wind or weather comes away from this exposure simultaneously more confident but also personally respectful; understanding their limits. By contrast “blue sky” applicants on PPL flight tests sometimes (over)confidently tell me they could fly X-C in 1-3 sm viz “no problem!” (and why are pilots killing themselves?)
Every private should have 10 crosswind landings (logged) and should demonstrate solid proficiency – because your DPE will never see this on “test day”. All instrument students should have 3-5 hours of actual weather flying experience (ditto). And the fact that CFIIs teach pilots instrument skills and have never themselves been in a cloud is unconscionable. Most learners quickly understand that real clouds are actually easier to fly through – what a confidence builder (and necessary step). Every VFR pilot encountering marginal VFR suddenly gains respect for how minimal “FAA minimums” can be.
No new CFI should instruct without Extended Envelope Training (and hopefully a UPRT course). Try a stall power-off in a full slip – and witness *nothing* happening; “what?” Real experience is required to be safe and confident, both for CFIs and pilots in training. We need to extend our flight training envelope beyond blue sky days. Fly safe out there (and often)!
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Great article David! At the flight department I work at, we use pilot interns trained at a local college flight program. You can really tell that a lot of them are the product of ” certificate-mill ” flight training. Always staying inside the box and never challenged.