PHILOSOPHY

Minimum Hours Versus Proficiency

We believe we stand out from many other flight schools in that we highly value proficiency, at the expense of minimum hours.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governs and regulates the world of aviation. The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) detail the specific requirements for becoming a Private Pilot and achieving higher-level qualifications. One word appears frequently in the FAR text: minimum. Unfortunately, many in the flight training industry celebrate the achievement of goals in the minimum hours required. The prevailing wisdom seems to suggest that the student who completes their training in fewer hours has mastered the requisite skills more quickly…but is that true? We don’t think so.

At Stick and Rudder School, our approach flies in the face of today’s perceived wisdom. Rather than being “minimalists”, we focus on another common word in the FAR text which tends to be overlooked: proficiency. Take for example the verbiage for operating a tailwheel airplane (see 14 CFR 61.31(i)). The authorized instructor providing tailwheel training must endorse the trainee pilot as, “…proficient in the operation of a tailwheel airplane.” With that requirement, how is it that so many people today receive their tailwheel endorsement in as little as 3-5 hours? Here at Stick and Rudder, we would argue such a pilot is highly unlikely to be ‘proficient’…and in our experience, is at high risk of endangering themselves and/or their aircraft. It’s no secret that insurance rates for tailwheel airplanes have soared in recent years – accidents arising from inadequate training are undoubtedly a major factor.

Stick and Rudder Skills

“Stick and Rudder” is a commonly-used phrase in aviation, originating with the classic book of the same name by the legendary Wolfgang Langewiesche (Stick and Rudder). The term means different things to different people, so it’s important you understand what we mean by it. Simply stated, modern ‘tricycle’ training aircraft (Cessna 152/172, Piper Cherokee, etc.) can be (and often are!) flown without ever touching the rudder pedals. While not recommended, this level of imprecision is possible because designers have largely eliminated unwanted aircraft behaviors caused by poor rudder use. A generation of pilots has grown up with a scant understanding of how an airplane turns, how to use the rudder correctly, and – perhaps more importantly – the potentially dire consequences of all this. Take landings for example. All airplanes want to stay aligned with their longitudinal axis. Simple physics dictates that when a tricycle gear airplane is landed with the nose pointed left or right of the runway center line, it will naturally pull straight again once the main wheels touch. Not so for a taildragger: the exact opposite is true – and crosswind landings can be particularly challenging.

Tailwheel aircraft, then, demand greater stick and rudder skills. Once developed, these skills are directly transferrable to tricycle gear airplanes. Or perhaps we’ll win you over to the ‘dark side’ and you’ll never settle for anything less than the fun of tailwheel flying!

The Importance of Good Ground Instruction

You’ve probably heard it said that “the airplane is a terrible classroom” – meaning the cockpit is an environment ill-suited to learning. Of course, there is no substitute for flight time, but we are firm believers in providing quality instruction on the ground ahead of each flight training session. While many online courses are available today, nothing beats the one-on-one interaction between the flight student and an experienced instructor. Gaining a full grasp of an area on the ground – whether it be basic principles of flight, more complex aerodynamics, navigation, and weather, or any other fundamental aviation concept – shortens the amount of time needed in the air (thus saving money in the long run) and leads to safer, more competent aviators. We also prioritize post-flight briefings, to ensure the maximum learning is obtained from each and every hour spent in the air.