Seggy
Well-Known Member
Finally I have been able to start the long road to fulfilling my dream and becoming a commerical airline pilot. My lessons are going very well (wish I could fly more! I will once exams are done!) and my instructor is happy with my progression, skills, attitude, knowledge, and decision making I have shown for a very low time student pilot.
My biggest concern right now though is how I will handle my first emergency/situation. I guess its not a matter of if but when. Obviously my instructor and myself have talked about and we have done some practice with emergency situations but I guess there are other ways to prepare and would like your feedback.
I have been studying about the 'most common' emergencies and I do have plans in my mind on what to do if they occur. For example if I lose an engine on the climbout shortly after takeoff I have a pretty good idea of the fields and roads around the airport that I will put the plane down in. In the cockpit I keep it clean with the checklist opened to the In-Flight Emergency Checklists so they will be easy to get to in case I need it. And I think it would be beneficial on working to memorize the Emergency Procedure Checklists as well. In cruise I always keep an eye out of my surroundings and am always looking for suitable fields and golf courses I can land safely in case I need to.
I guess what I am getting at is that the approach I have taken to handling my first in-flight emergency is to take steps to prevent and prepare for it. I am trying to prevent it in doing things by the books and being very detailed when it comes to pre-flight planning, checklists, and understanding my limitations and surroundings. I am preparing for the situation if it arises by having thought about different situations that can occur and a plan of action I have in my mind on what to do when it occurs.
Is this the best way to approach in-flight emergencies? It is not something I am dwelling on, I just want to be sure that when one arises I will have the confidence in myself to handle the situation that will be derived from training, preparing, and studying for the situation that arises.
My biggest concern right now though is how I will handle my first emergency/situation. I guess its not a matter of if but when. Obviously my instructor and myself have talked about and we have done some practice with emergency situations but I guess there are other ways to prepare and would like your feedback.
I have been studying about the 'most common' emergencies and I do have plans in my mind on what to do if they occur. For example if I lose an engine on the climbout shortly after takeoff I have a pretty good idea of the fields and roads around the airport that I will put the plane down in. In the cockpit I keep it clean with the checklist opened to the In-Flight Emergency Checklists so they will be easy to get to in case I need it. And I think it would be beneficial on working to memorize the Emergency Procedure Checklists as well. In cruise I always keep an eye out of my surroundings and am always looking for suitable fields and golf courses I can land safely in case I need to.
I guess what I am getting at is that the approach I have taken to handling my first in-flight emergency is to take steps to prevent and prepare for it. I am trying to prevent it in doing things by the books and being very detailed when it comes to pre-flight planning, checklists, and understanding my limitations and surroundings. I am preparing for the situation if it arises by having thought about different situations that can occur and a plan of action I have in my mind on what to do when it occurs.
Is this the best way to approach in-flight emergencies? It is not something I am dwelling on, I just want to be sure that when one arises I will have the confidence in myself to handle the situation that will be derived from training, preparing, and studying for the situation that arises.
