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10/07 - First Flight - Part 1

By Steve Krog
Steve Krog is a flight instructor, EAA member and president of the Cub Association.

You’ve made your decision to pursue a Sport Pilot Certificate and you’ve done your homework locating a reputable flight school and qualified flight instructor (Vol. 1, No. 1). You have visited the flight school and met the instructor. An appointment was made and today you are scheduled for your first flying lesson. What should you expect?

If you are like most beginning flight students, you’ll probably arrive at the airport at least 30 minutes early. You’re a little anxious and excited and you don’t want to be late for the first lesson. The additional time before the first lesson can be spent becoming familiar with the flight school and its surroundings.

You’ve been looking forward to this day and now it has arrived. Apprehension is common. You’re not quite sure what to expect but you are ready to accept the challenge!

After being greeted by your flight instructor and, hopefully, being put at ease, your instructor will outline for you what to expect and what you will accomplish on this first lesson. Each lesson thereafter will involve nine different steps.

Preflight Briefing
The first step is the preflight briefing. Before each flight you and your instructor will review what you will be doing during the flight. Your preflight briefing for the first lesson will proceed something like this:

“Today we’re first going to conduct a preflight inspection of the airplane we will be flying. In addition, we’ll identify and review the required documents that must be in the airplane each time we go flying. Just like the automobile you drove to the airport today, certain documents are required. Specific documents are required for an aircraft. They include the Airworthiness Certificate, Aircraft Registration, Aircraft Operations & Limitations (commonly referred to as the Pilot Operating Handbook [POH]), and the aircraft Weight & Balance. It’s easy to remember the required documents by using the acronym AROW: A= Airworthiness Certificate, R= Registration, O= Operations & Limitations, and W= Weight & Balance information. All of this information might seem like a lot to absorb at this point, but with each flight you’ll become more and more familiar with the terminology and requirements.

“After conducting the preflight inspection - sometimes referred to as a ‘walk around’ - we will get comfortable in the airplane and discuss all the gauges, and controls. Using a checklist, we will go through starting procedures and taxi the airplane. When you taxi the airplane you’ll find it to be a bit awkward at first because you will be “steering” the airplane with your feet. Within one or two lessons, though, it will begin to feel natural to you.

“Once we’ve taxied the airplane to the desired runway for takeoff, we’ll conduct a pre-takeoff check to assure that all systems are working properly and our various gauges, such as the altimeter, are set properly.

“Then we will make the takeoff together, climb and depart the traffic pattern. Once we’ve reached a safe altitude, we’ll go to work and learn how each of the control surfaces function. You’ll begin to develop a feel for the airplane and how the controls perform around each of the three axes - longitudinal (roll), lateral (pitch) and vertical (yaw). Then we’ll proceed in learning how to fly straight-and-level, climb, descend, and make turns. By the time we’ve accomplished these tasks we’ll be ready to return to the airport for our approach and landing.

“After proceeding with the landing and taxiing back to our starting point, we’ll go through the procedures for shutting down and securing the airplane. Then we’ll sit down for a few minutes and review all that we have accomplished today. This is a good time to share any questions or concerns.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If there is something you don’t understand, or you have any apprehensions, it is important to discuss them. Your instructor will be happy to answer questions, no matter how simple you feel they may be. Any concerns are important to share with the instructor so you are clear and focused during your flight.”

Preflight Inspection
As you walk to the airplane the excitement builds. This is your very first lesson. You’ll actually be sitting in the left (pilot’s) seat and flying the airplane! It’s a day that you’ve dreamed of for a long time and now your dream is about to be realized. It’s like Christmas morning when you discovered the gift you always wanted under the tree!

Safety is foremost when it comes to all aspects of aviation. Before each flight the aircraft will be thoroughly inspected by you, the student, with assistance from your instructor to assure that everything is in proper working order. As part of the preflight inspection a fuel sample(s) will be drawn, checking for water or other contaminants in the fuel, and the engine oil level will be checked. Your instructor will teach you each of the steps of the preflight inspection prior to the first flight and thereafter will assist you if you have questions, or observe you to make sure you haven’t missed any part of the inspection. Most all aircraft have a printed checklist to assist you so don’t worry about having to remember every step. Many of the terms will be foreign to you but do not worry. With each flight you will become more familiar with the airplane and you’ll soon know and use these terms with confidence. You will be taught to use the checklist each and every time you fly so that nothing gets overlooked. There is no need to try and memorize the checklist.

Starting and Taxi
You’ve completed the pre-flight checklist and found everything to be in order. Now it’s time to enter the aircraft. This can be a challenge unto itself depending on the type and model of airplane you will be flying. Most aircraft are designed for flying; ease of entry and exit was further down the designer’s list. Your instructor will demonstrate the easiest way to enter the aircraft.

Once in the airplane, you’ll notice a variety of gauges, instruments, lights, buttons, switches, dials, knobs, and handles. The number of instruments will depend on the simplicity or complexity of the aircraft. The cockpit aroma may be foreign to you as well. It is a mixture of aviation fuel, electronics, etc. You should find it to be different but not unpleasant.

Your instructor will demonstrate how to properly adjust the seat (if it is adjustable) to comfortably place your feet on the rudder pedals and reach the toe or heel brakes. Seat belts and shoulder harness are then snapped into place.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the many gauges located on the instrument panel. Your instructor will explain that they can be divided into three categories. First, you have the engine gauges, which include oil temperature and pressure, a vacuum gauge and a tachometer. Next, the instructor will point out the attitude dials and gauges, including an artificial horizon, directional gyro (DG), vertical speed indicator (VSI), altimeter, and compass. The last group of dials and knobs make up the navigation and communication items. Are you completely lost yet? Don’t worry. Each item will be explained as you proceed with your first flight

It’s time to start the engine and once again your instructor will provide you with a printed checklist for the proper starting procedures. They are: Fuel flow valve “on” and mixture control “rich”; prime as required. Master electrical switch “on” and magneto switch to “both”. Throttle advanced ¼”. Visually and verbally “clear” the area around the airplane. Hit the starter button—the prop begins turning—and suddenly the engine barks to life. Excitement begins to build. You’re actually sitting in the cockpit with the engine and prop turning!

Within seconds after the engine begins to run, your instructor will point out the engine oil pressure gauge. You’ll want to see the needle move into the “green” arc for proper pressure.

Next, you will place the communication headset on and you will be shown how to turn on the radio and intercom system and adjust the volume.

The time has come to begin to taxi the airplane to the desired runway for eventual takeoff. Your instructor will have you place your hand on the throttle and advance it just a bit and you begin to roll forward. Immediately you try to “steer” the airplane with the control yoke or stick, forgetting all about the instructor’s explanation to steer the airplane with your feet. You then hear in your headset the instructor’s direction to steer the airplane using your feet and the rudder pedals. Within a few seconds you finally take a deep breath, begin to relax and heed the instructor’s suggestions. Slowly turning the airplane from left to right and back again, you realize it isn’t so difficult after all. As your heartbeat begins to slow and the muscles in your legs begin to relax you find it quite easy to direct the airplane where you want it to go. Taxiing speed should be about 7-10 MPH and you should now find it quite easy to keep the airplane centered on the painted yellow line on the taxiway. This isn’t so hard, is it? But the fun is only beginning!

- To be continued -

In the next issue we will cover the remaining steps of your first flight.

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