The conversation over my video in the bus thread got me thinking. What do you guys consider the most important lessons you've learned while flying?
Here's a video of one I learned along with the details from the description.
[YT]M_tFq910y58[/YT]
When I took my private pilot check ride the DPE gave me some advice.
Landing with traffic on a parallel runway can be really dangerous, because if you overshoot and he/she overshoots you're going to have a bad day. So if there's traffic on the parallel, always come in on a 5 degree final.
On this day, while flying a left downwind, tower clears us for a full stop on 35L. At the same time they clear an aircraft flying a right downwind for a touch-and-go on 35R. We are also notified the traffic is for the parallel. We spot the traffic as we turn from base to final and decide it would be prudent to come in a little slower while on a 5 degree angle. As the other plane continues to get closer we notice he hasn't begun to turn in yet. I still think he's only overshooting the turn, but I ask my friend to get him on video anyway. To our amazement though the plane keeps coming over, and eventually is almost right in front of us. I don't even think I consciously meant to go around, my right arm just put in power for me as I was in disbelief. So tower gets on the radio:
Tower: Cessna 1234 you were cleared for a touch and go on 35R, make a full stop on 35L!
As we come back around on the downwind my friend and I look at each other with a somewhat uneasy feeling.
"Man, that could have been bad if we flew a regular pattern", I say.
"Yeah", he responds.
I feel it was a good lesson though. Never let your guard down. Even on a beautiful day, even if you have a safety pilot, you need to keep your wits about you.
Here's a video of one I learned along with the details from the description.
[YT]M_tFq910y58[/YT]
When I took my private pilot check ride the DPE gave me some advice.
Landing with traffic on a parallel runway can be really dangerous, because if you overshoot and he/she overshoots you're going to have a bad day. So if there's traffic on the parallel, always come in on a 5 degree final.
On this day, while flying a left downwind, tower clears us for a full stop on 35L. At the same time they clear an aircraft flying a right downwind for a touch-and-go on 35R. We are also notified the traffic is for the parallel. We spot the traffic as we turn from base to final and decide it would be prudent to come in a little slower while on a 5 degree angle. As the other plane continues to get closer we notice he hasn't begun to turn in yet. I still think he's only overshooting the turn, but I ask my friend to get him on video anyway. To our amazement though the plane keeps coming over, and eventually is almost right in front of us. I don't even think I consciously meant to go around, my right arm just put in power for me as I was in disbelief. So tower gets on the radio:
Tower: Cessna 1234 you were cleared for a touch and go on 35R, make a full stop on 35L!
As we come back around on the downwind my friend and I look at each other with a somewhat uneasy feeling.
"Man, that could have been bad if we flew a regular pattern", I say.
"Yeah", he responds.
I feel it was a good lesson though. Never let your guard down. Even on a beautiful day, even if you have a safety pilot, you need to keep your wits about you.
