Not getting so tense.

[youngflyer]

Well I am progressing very well in my flight training and am ready to solo but the one things stopping me is that I sometimes seem to tense up or freeze up every once in a while. It is going away very, very fast but what are some tips you use to not tense up while flying. I love flying and it is fun I think I just sometimes concentrate a little bit to much.

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by youngflyer

tense up or freeze up every once in a while.

There's a big difference between tensing up and freezing up. Can you provide more details?

[charlie1017]

Ok so let's suppose you have a student that freezes up -say after bouncing a landing... How do you deal with this type of student, aside from the obvious "I have the controls!"?

[calcapt]

Originally Posted by youngflyer

Well I am progressing very well in my flight training and am ready to solo but the one things stopping me is that I sometimes seem to tense up or freeze up every once in a while. It is going away very, very fast but what are some tips you use to not tense up while flying. I love flying and it is fun I think I just sometimes concentrate a little bit to much.

Being tense is normal. That little bit of anxiety can be a good thing to keep you sharp. If you feel you are getting a little overwhelmed from time to time just ask your instructor to give you a few minutes to unwind. Also, don't dwell on mistakes - let them go and move on the the next thing. Focus and relax - I know, easier said than done. You are experiencing the same thing all of us did when we were learning to fly. Stick to it and share your progress with your friends here at JC.

[exleardriver]

stress is necessary for survival. too much stress is not a good thing, but 'running from a grizzly bear' in order to survive..that's a good example of stress motivating you to run for safety. that said, everyone needs some degree of stress to function at their optimum and this level will vary from person to person. a couple thoughts right off the bat is that often people under stress are not really 'breathing' properly. make sure that you're not holding your breath too much. a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood may result, which has been linked to anxiety by the medical community. another thing, frequently take deep breaths and let the air out slowly. additionally, muscle tension tends to build in the neck region. roll your shoulders from time to time and release tension. don't rush your training..aviation isn't going anywhere, especially if you're young.

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by charlie1017

Ok so let's suppose you have a student that freezes up -say after bouncing a landing... How do you deal with this type of student, aside from the obvious "I have the controls!"?

Students freeze because they can't decide what to do, either because they have *no idea* or they have too many ideas and can't choose amongst them. Not knowing how to handle a bounce is a side effect of not knowing how to land; once he can land somewhat properly, making him understand he has to keep the nose off after a bounce comes pretty naturally. I would be disappointed to see a bounce past solo.

Overall, I expect freezing to go away as the student learns how to deal effectively with the situations he encounters. IMO, it would serve no purpose to try to address the freezing itself.

Tenseness is another story. Although it normally fades as experience grows, I've known CFI's who were still tense in the airplane. Function of personality, it seems.

[youngflyer]

Thanks everyone. I bounced my first landing and had no clue what to do and now I know to advance power and settle the plane on the runway. I guess that is what my instructor meant by freezing.

[exleardriver]

Originally Posted by tgrayson

I would be disappointed to see a bounce past solo.

best not go flying with me ever, taylor..

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by youngflyer

Thanks everyone. I bounced my first landing and had no clue what to do and now I know to advance power and settle the plane on the runway. I guess that is what my instructor meant by freezing.

Y'know, I thought of something just now that helped me get more comfortable with controlling the airplane and making it do what *I* wanted it to do.

Get your CFI to teach you Dutch Rolls. You'll get REAL adept with the rudder real quick on those, and they're fun. Don't worry - they're not aerobatic.

(as an added bonus, the DPE was very happy that I had those in my logbook)