Challenges with the Simulator and Internal Stress

Well the last two days have not been fun for me. I'm still struggling with the simulator and flying smoothly, while trying to learn the art of instrument flying.  During yesterday's lessons I was all over the place, making my life not fun. My troubles are basically summed up by a few things, over controlling the control yoke, not scanning my instruments quick enough and focusing on things too much, (altitude being the major culprit). So with these troubles I was having a hard time concentrating on learning new challenging skills, such as holding patterns, single operation IFR, and various approaches.  Overall I'm learning alot, but I feel like I'm not learning it quick enough.    Matt tells me that these challenges are tough and the flying I'm doing will be the toughest it gets.  Which makes me feel better but still worries, and frustrates me.  The simulator troubles came to a head today with me, I couldn't handle the altitude and it pushed me to far. I had to stop the training and ask Matt to help me figure the simulator troubles out. So thankfully Matt was patience and worked with me, till we figured out the issues.  Finally by the end of the day, I was able to hold altitude and stay on course.  I learned that I was being gentle on the controls, but when I got into trouble I was over controlling. Once I figured out the control feeling to keep the altitude under control (still needs work but better). Matt pounded into me to keep my scan of the instruments moving.  Finally after a few hours I was feeling better and the simulator and I were getting along... Thanks Matt!
 
The stress from my pending divorce is bothering me more than I'd care to admit which is not helping. Additionally the days I'm taking off to deal with the divorce lawyer and the Navy Reserves, are getting me behind with school and in hot water with ATP.  So if I can't wrap things up soon, I've been told I'll need to go to the self paced program (vs the 90 day program I'm currently in), which may be better for me, but it costs another five thousand dollars so that creates a little problem, I'll need to find the cash before I can go that route.

Just a glimpse of the items affecting my training with a little venting!!!   Overall I'm loving it, and can't wait to be a professional pilot, but I need to get past the instrument rating monster, a skill that is tougher then I expected, but not insurmountably, very useful and important!     Well enough for now, time to get ready for my Navy duties with weekend.

Simulator and Mental Gymnastics

Today was another day filled with the simulator and ground work. We keep moving forward covering some new subjects, some old ones, just a little deeper then during the VFR training.  All of the information is alot but I'm trying to get as much as I can during the first look. And make good notes to go back and study those I'm still fuzzy about.   Today's lessons were basically centered around the theory of intercepting headings and holding at a fixed point while waiting for air traffic control's instructions to land.  The challenge is to keep flying while mentally thinking about which direction to turn, at specific rates, and time the turns to make them consistent.   I was warned that the instrument rating is the toughest to get, but now I'm really understanding the warnings.  It's all good though..

The best part of the day was that I was able to tame the simulator and my pesky altitude control issues.  I didn't master it, but there were many more times were I had the altitude holding steady then they were out of control.  Better but it still needs practice.  So with the altitude under control, I was able to concentrate on the task of learning the new holding and intercepting procedures.   I'm loving it all, it is a huge challenge leaving me pretty mentally tired at the end of the day. But I must keep going my test is only two and half weeks away. Yikes...   Matt promised we will actually go flying tomorrow after the morning simulator, so that will be a blast.  It'll be early though.. class starts at 7...   With that thought  I'm headed to bed.

Bookwork and Simulator time

Well today wasn't exciting but it was educational. Matt held a little ground instruction on instrument rating work. The knowledge for IFR instruments is much like VFR instruments but a deeper knowledge of the instruments is required for IFR flying.  In addition we covered anti-icing and de-icing capabilities.  After lunch we headed to the simulator. 

 Matt was nice at first, having me fly solely by instruments, the engines kept dying on take off, giving me a challenge, even causing a nice fireball at one point proving Matt's point about staying awake.   Afterwards he covered more basic maneuvers that I've seen before, but now I was doing them solely by instruments.  I was doing ok, but still very frustrated with the sensitivity of the simulator. I can get the handle of the turning, but I can't stay on altitude to save my life.   I keep telling myself to be gentle and I'd tried flying using three fingers, but still no luck. Matt keeps telling me "baby corrections" but smoothness is still elusive.  Grrrrr.   After a quick break, back to the simulator we went.  This time around Matt ran me thru some basic instrument maneuvers, climbs, turns, climbing and descending turns.  All my maneuvers were ok, not good or great. My frustration with altitude control was making things tougher then they needed to be.   Finally after four hours in the simulator, Matt gave me a break and we wrapped up the day with some more ground instruction.   Tomorrow beholds more ground instruction and simulator work.  In total I'll spend 50 hrs in the simulator, only 38 more to go.  I'm going to practice the altitude control on my own tomorrow.  I need to stop fighting with the simulator and get a handle on the altitude control!...    Well back to studying!

First Multi-Engine Instrument Cross Country

Awesome first instrument instruction day! Today was long but a lot of fun and educational. The morning started with some review of VFR rules, airspace and chart identification.   After a brief break we meet up again and started going over IFR flight planning.  Matt and I planned a trip to San Luis Obispo. The plan was to fly up during the day and then return in the evening.    Our flight would take us over Carlsbad, Burbank, and then on to San Louis Obispo.

The flight was uneventful, my landing sucked but it was effective. We headed into town for a bite to eat. The San Luis Jet Center   kindly loaned us Toyota Prius to drive into town.  

Picture of the Ramp in front of the Jet Center

 Thankfully Matt went to college in San Louis Obispo so he knew where to go.  The chosen eatery was Firestone Grill, and we weren’t disappointed.   I had the Tri-Tip sandwich and Matt had the Steak Cobb salad.  The dinner and conversation was good.  After returning to the jet center and checking the weather.  Matt and I had an hour and half wait before we could take off to log night hours, so we reviewed the IFR charts, some much of it is new to me so it looks greek. Some of the features are common to the VFR charts but most are not.  It was a good use of our time.   

 As the evening United Airline flights landed, Matt and I headed airborne.  Once we leveled off at 9000’ the lights of LA were off in the distance.   Matt and I chatted about IFR rules and flight as we made our way south.   As we flew over LA we watched the fireworks over Disneyland.  

Unfortunately about the time we were getting comfortable with our flight I noticed the attitude indicator starting to go bad,  then it started to tumble.   Matt just smiled and said now you have a partial panel.   After a little awhile I got the hang of it.   Soon we were given decent directions for Montgomery.  Matt reminded me to watch out for the night illusions on landing.  

Thankfully, my landing was acceptable .. not bad for my first multi-engine landing.    Well it’s a late night…  tomorrow that simulator is waiting for me.  Darn it! 

Prepping for the up coming week.. Starting Instrument Rating

Today was a fairly busy day, the morning was spent hanging out with the family.  After a great lunch, I headed south to San Diego.  Once at home, I reviewed all the subjects for tomorrow's Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) classes. Its nice to have a "new" subject.  I suspect I'll be singing a diffirent tune at the end of the week.   Until tomorrow..