Pilots: How do you deal with solo fear?

Question

I am a student pilot with 43.2 hours, and about 2 hours of solo time. All of that was pattern work. Today, I went up to do some soloing and it was snowing a bit, but that was no big deal. Then the wind picked up and I felt the drops in alt. and the plane was just banking like crazy. This is a Cessna 152 by the way. It really got me afraid of soloing, and this is not good since I am at the point of doing my 150nm solo x-country. I flew to the wisconsin dells today with my instructor and navigation is no problem. The biggest thing I guess is what to do if something goes wrong ie. Engine failure with no fields to land it, etc. How did everyone else get past that part and not worry about things going wrong all the time?

Answer 1

Well, I just got my Private licence last year ,and I also trained in a 152. My first solo I went up and did one circuit and came down, then did more work with the instructor. If you are scared of solo work, you need to spend more time Dual. Some people ( like myself ) take longer than others. So what if it's time to do a solo 150 X-country......it's doesn't mean you are ready. A good instructor will know when you are ready. I would also try another instructor for a couple lessons, I did and I picked up a few new things. First of all you have to trust your plane. You can't worry that things will go wrong. Perhaps you need to practice more simulated forced landings, don't be shy to ask your instructor. There is always a road or field to put a plane down in, if you have a engine failure , just get your best glide trimmed out ASAP , and look for a place to land, then try restart and go over emerg. procedures.
Don't be scared to tell your instructor your not 100% ready. If he makes you feel bad about that, he is NOT a good instructor. Remember to have fun !!!

Answer 2

Ben,

Others have made some very good points that are right on the money.

The 152 is a very reliable, proven aircraft. They aren't NEW, but how do you suppose they got to be as old as the are? They got that way because they WORK. If you are renting it (as most students do) the aircraft goes through many more inspections than the annual that somebody's personal plane does. If you're renting from a reputable FBO, mechanical problems shouldn't be a big concern. Even if you had a powerplant failure, you can generally glide to anywhere you can see betwwen your wingtip and your prop. Always be aware of the terrain in case you had to make an "unscheduled stop", but don't dwell on it.

Remember, this is FUN! Enjoy the way your 152 will nearly jump off the runway and how much faster you'll climb without your instructor in there with you. Enjoy the quiet serenity that you'll only find flying an aircraft by yourself. Your instructor would not have turned you loose if you weren't ready. I believe your nervousness is a sign that you don't take this lightly, but also believe it's not completely warranted.

YOU ARE NOW A PILOT! How many other people do you know who know how to start a plane, steer with their feet (Look ma, no hands!) takeoff, fly, land, and then put the plane away and still be able to fly it again tomorrow?

I still enjoy going up just before dawn to see that sunrise from a perspective you just can't see from the ground or from some back seat on The Flying Bus.

I'm not sure exactly where you are, but if you're close enough to The Dells to fly over there, there are LOTS of suitable places to set her down in southern Wisconsin if you had to. Try not to worry about it, but do keep it in your mind as you already do. You probably will never need it, but if you do, trust your training and your instruments. You can't count on your butt or your inner ears if you can't see past the prop, though.

Good luck to you and welcome to the pattern. Take a trip up to Oshkosh for the EAA festivities when your ready for that adventure and join AOPA if you haven't already.

Answer 3

Before my father got sick of paying for flying lessons, as well as college, books, tuition and rent, and even after I started paying for my own lessons, I did two things. Whether they'll work for you or not is anyone's guess, but they worked for me.

It was sort of like working out and trying to bulk up; I'd hit a point where nothing I did seemed like it was working, with flying I'd hit a point where I just wasn't ready for the next step.

With both weight lifting and flying, I found that refusing to do it for a few weeks and thinking about it and what was hanging me up would give me the time to go face what I knew I was going to have to do if I was going to get what I wanted.

The other thing I did was make lots of weekend road trips. And on the interstate or 2 lane backroads, I'd keep reminding myself every mile that if I hadn't chickened out, I could be making this a training flight; granted at about four times the cost, but much faster and more fun.

If your instructor is confident enough in your abilities, and a check airman has signed you off for solo, and you still have doubts, chances are you'll be a better pilot than those that think that nothing can go wrong. Yes, you do need more dual time, but the key is being confident that you can handle the most likely things that the airplane and atmosphere are likely to throw at you.

Knowing your limitations is half the battle.

Engine failures typically occur because someone, the PIC, or a line rat, or mechanic, or combination of the three buggered something up.

Overbudget your fuel, get to be familliar enough with the airplane you fly to know it's fuel and oil consumption patterns and only use the POH's specs as a reference. (Older, closer to TBO engines use more fuel and oil than they did when new and during certification.)

If you aren't certain, don't go. It's that simple. The word "maybe" should not be in your vocabulary at this point.

There's no such thing as being too intimate with the airplane even if the preflight is good, if something seems wrong as you're taxiing, don't go until it's cleared up to your satisfaction.

And, you've been trained on what to do in the event of an engine failure. You should know the POH procedures for emergencies backwards and forwards, and have your instructor drill or practically test you on them.

I eat a candy bar and drink a Coke to settle my stomach, then make a nervous trip to the bathroom, then go do what I came to the airport to do.

Good Luck

Answer 4

First of all let me tell you something. I am 14 years old and i am an airplane FANATIC. Im not just one of those people who go oh yah, i really like airplaines, im the person who knows EVERYTHING about any aircraft in sight. I know every aircrafts top speed, maximum capacity, manuverability, ANYTHING, so when i saw this question, i got EXITED and wanted to help.

First of all the Cessena 152 is generally used for flight trainging and personal use. It has been around since the late 1970's and is sturdy and well built. Its wings rather then being on the bottom of the fusalage or the middle, is on the top, which gives it EXELENT lift and GREAT stability.

With this in mind, did you know that you are more likely to die of getting hit with a falling satalite of rocket part instead of crashing in an airplane? Your cessena in an awsome plane with great controll.

In my advice try to angle the Cessena upwards, at a slight angle so that you are asending slightly, angle you aircraft at a about 20 degree angle. Make sure that you accend at a slow speed so you basically stay at the same altitude. WHat his will do is to keep you aircraft from slipping downwards. This is because there is more friction being applied on the underbelly of the aircraft. which in turn slows it decent. Not only that but because your aircraft is going upwards you thrust upwards should also keep the aircraft up.

All first time airpilots experience this alot. Its not uncommon. If you really feel uncommfertable flying you should quit, but you should know that it is so unlikly for you to crash its almost impossible. You are perfecly safe and if you want to you could make a great living off of airplanes.

Though if you really want to be safe you could buy an Aircraft Recovery System. THis is a parrashute attached to the aircraft that can be deployed in an empergeny situation. When deployed a huge parrashute opens up and gently downs you aircraft safly to the ground the website is http://www.brsparachutes.com/default.aspx

I really trully hope that what i have said is usefull. If you want anymore information, please just email me at [e-mail]

Answer 5

I hate to sound harsh, but if you've built 43 hours, only 2 of them solo, something is wrong with your instructor. At 43 hours, I was doing solo aerobatics in an Air Force T-34. That's not because I was anything special, either. It was purely a function of my instructors. They didn't just teach us to fly, they taught us confidence and self-reliance. I've owned a Cessna 152, and it's a great little plane, probably the safest GA plane out there. It sounds suspiciously like your instructor is milking you for every dime he can. Might not be a bad idea to find someone who will teach you how to fly. One man's opinion.

Answer 6

Hi Ben,

The best way to handle fear is to understand it. Fear is a self-preservation response that is triggered by rational and/or irrational thoughts. From what you are describing, it sounds like you are having a rational self-preservation response to the challenging and unnatural thing we love called "flying".

The key here is to not allow fear to overwhelm you in the situation or allow the "fear" of fear to make you avoid the circumstance that brought the fear response (in this case: flying solo).

Embrace the fear response when it occurs and talk yourself through it. Your instructor would not sign you off to fly solo unless he/she was convinced you had the basic skills to preserve your life.

I had the same fears:
1. What happens if the engine quits?
2. What if I pass out and I'm solo?
3. What if the wing breaks off?
4. What if the panel catches on fire?
5. What if another plane hits me?

I overcame the fears by talking about them with my instructor and trusted friends, learning about fear and embracing it for what it is (self-preservation response), and flight training/experience.

What you are experiencing is normal. Continue with your training and you'll make it. Don't make your goal to be 100% fear free. Make your goal to rationally handle fear when it happens and remember that it's a God given mechanism meant to preserve your life.

Answer 7

Geez I got eh weekend off, live near Madison, and have a private ticket, why don't I just sneak on with ya? I'm a "nobody" from way back anyways. I'll hold yer hand. Or bring a teddybear with ya as copilot....

Answer 8

Hey im a student pilot! all you have to do is relax ,and remember what you and your instructor talked about with emergency procedures! The more confident you are in yourself the better it will be!!!!

Answer 9

Most important thing to do is to FLY THE PLANE!! After that just stay calm and remember your training and you should do just fine