still a bit nervous

[Tristan]

Hey there,

I thought I would just tell someone how I'm feeling at the moment. If you haven't read my previous post, I had an engine failure after takeoff with an instructor almost a month ago. We landed safely in a horse paddock not far from the aerodrome. This incident has not deterred me from getting back into the air and following my aspirations, in fact I've gone solo twice since the incident, which was fantastic. But....I'm still dealing with my nerves or apprehension towards the aircraft. I guess it's on the initial climb out that I'm still feeling a bit nervy, or scared it will happen again. In addition, my instructor has been putting me through heaps of emergency simulations since the incident, i.e. glide approach and flapless approach. My nerves are not affecting my flying at all, I seem to be getting better and better in that regard. I'm always looking for an escape plan and preparing for such events and I'm handling the aircraft well, but I just want this uncomfortable feeling to go away. I love flying, and most of all I want to enjoy my training, not having to deal with uncomfortable nerves or fears.


T

[Mr.Maximus]

Hi Tristan,
I can appreciate your feeling the way you do. Unless you've been in a situation of that nature, which most haven't - its sometimes hard to "get back on the horse" and feel comfortable again. It sounds like you have a good instructor. Having you get back up there and practicing "heaps" of emergency procedures is IMHO a wise thing. 1. You're demonstrating to YOURSELF that this something you truly want to do. 2. By practicing/experiencing simulated emergencies teaches you how to deal with them, but through practice and success - teaches you that you CAN deal with them. It's one thing to "pass" a simulated emergency for a checkride - it's an entirely different thing to pass an emergency that is for real. A true emergency requires a calm, educated and practicable reaction. By continuously practicing, you will hone those traits. You will also find yourself becoming much more "in tune" with the entire flight environment, and all of the little intricacies that this entails. Never stop practicing or thinking about "what if" this happened, or that happened. All pilots, whether professional or the occasional pilot are subject to the same laws of physics. What goes up, will come down. Aircraft are machines made by man (or women) and are subject to breaking or failing at some point. Those that are fully prepared for that will end up with a good story - those that aren't prepared will not. For what it's worth, I experienced something somewhat similiar to that about 4 months ago. Departed MIA at night in IMC and at about 6k', the #1 engine completely spooled down. What I thought was an engine failure turned out to be a FCU (fuel control unit)failure - but the end result was the same. Emergency procedures, practiced countless times immediately kicked in - and what could have been really bad ended up being pretty much a non-event per say. We returned to MIA and what really got me (after the adrenaline surge subsided some) was watching the families, and especially the kids and babies get off the plane. It really hit hard that while what we do is the best job in the world - it is a very, very serious job with unbelievable responsibilites.

Keep the chin up, and never, never stop practicing emergency situations - you'll never know when all that practice just might pay big dividends.

[Realms09]

I think that the more you plan ahead and analyze your flying, as you are doing, the more comfortable you will become. If you have a sound plan of action for a given situation and the situational awareness to execute it, there's really nothing to fear.

When flying gliders you prepare for the event of a rope break at low altitude, the equivalent of engine failure in the soaring world. The neat thing is you practice them for real - your instructor pulls the release handle around 200 AGL and you land appropriately. During my solo flights I approached this problem mentally as "IF this happens, I will do this." Then my checkride came along, and I 100% knew there would be a low altitude rope break simulation - it's in the PTS. Mentally I was now thinking "WHEN this happens, I will do this." Although I thought I had been doing a good job previously, after the flight I realized I had achieved a whole new level of situational awareness through this different mode of thought. 100% EXPECT failures to occur on every flight, and you won't be surprised when they do. You'll be surprised when they do not occur. Under this line of thinking the emergency becomes a known and normal quantity, and consequently, nothing to fear.

[Kristie]

altho i don't fly myself, i tend to think that any fear - if you work on it - will go away in time. there's nothing wrong with it taking you more time than others, it all depends on how your reaction was and how you feel as each day passes....but it will go away.. just keep pressing on and you'll be fine.

the thing i really like hearing tho is that you constantly think of "ways out" if need be, you'll get so used to using that method that it just might help you out in the future.. you just never know nor do you want to take the chance of forgetting what you've learned so far.

i don't know if this helps, esp since i don't pilot a plane myself.. but i do find it true even in everday life.

[Tristan]

Thanks for the support. The main thing is that I'm flying well, and enjoying it. I do believe that the nerves will pass with time, but it may take a little time. It's mainly just on climb out, which I guess I'll get more confident.

Cheers

[johntlewis]

As someone once said, Time has a way of healing wounds (or something like that). I can say from personal experience that time is what's needed to make you feel better. I remember after my engine failure in 2002 that it took awhile from me to feel very comfortable doing it again. As time went on, however, I began to relax more and more. Now it's been some five years and I'm completly comfortable again, although I still pick out an emergency landing area on every take off.

So just give it time and don't give up. After 100 more TO's, you'll feel more comfotable than today. After 1,000 more, you'll feel even better.

Keep practicing, keep working, and never give up!

John

[Aero_Engineer]

It will go away eventually, that is when you start really feeling comfortable with your flying skills. Just keep up the good work and you'll get there in no time.

[Grabo172]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Thanks for the support. The main thing is that I'm flying well, and enjoying it. I do believe that the nerves will pass with time, but it may take a little time. It's mainly just on climb out, which I guess I'll get more confident.

Cheers

You've had a real life learning experience. I think by your posts that it HAS made you a better pilot!

You're getting into the habit that every pilot should be in... ALWAYS have an out.

Over time the nerves will go away, but until then, use them to keep you safe and keep you sharp.

[Kingairer]

Nervousness can cause "it" to happen, try the blue little pill.

[SteveC]

[SpiraMirabilis]

Originally Posted by Kingairer

Nervousness can cause "it" to happen, try the blue little pill.

if e=mc2 then!

[Tristan]

Thanks for the nice words.

As someone once said, Time has a way of healing wounds (or something like that). I can say from personal experience that time is what's needed to make you feel better. I remember after my engine failure in 2002 that it took awhile from me to feel very comfortable doing it again. As time went on, however, I began to relax more and more. Now it's been some five years and I'm completly comfortable again, although I still pick out an emergency landing area on every take off.

So just give it time and don't give up. After 100 more TO's, you'll feel more comfotable than today. After 1,000 more, you'll feel even better.

Keep practicing, keep working, and never give up!

John

John thanks for letting me know that, I glad to hear what I'm feeling is normal. If I have an escape plan organised in my head, i.e. "if the engine fails now I'll be cool cause I can land in that field there", I feel comfortable. As you said the more takeoffs I do the more comfortable I'll get.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by Kingairer

Nervousness can cause "it" to happen, try the blue little pill.

You mean prozack?