Like any CFI, I’ve run into pilots who struggled with their initial flight training. One example was Bob.. Bob was working with a colleague of mine at the academy and had struggled throughout the second phase of his Private Pilot training (solo and XC.)

My colleague had a great track record of moving students through the program in time, but he was butting heads with this particular student. The first thing my manager told me was that this student wouldn’t fly on windy days. I responded “is he afraid of flying?” After a review of his training folder, it became clear to me that he was. There was a stack of progress reports about an inch thick. “PUI nearly stalled the airplane during attempted go-around” “PUI is very rough on the controls” “PUI not responding to instructor commands, instructor had to take over controls”.  

I met with Bob the next morning for his lesson. We discussed fear and how it can both help and hurt you as a pilot. 

Me: “Some amount of fear is good, it will keep you alive, but too much fear will make you freeze and can hurt you.” 

Me: “So, what’s the deal with not flying on windy days?” 

Bob: “I don’t see the point in flying when it’s windy.”

Me: “Smooth seas make for bad sailors, seriously though; one day, on your solo, it may get windy. Wouldn’t you want to be comfortable with wind on that day?” 

Me: “I was once so afraid of flying that I’d have an anxiety attack on my way to the airport. I had to fight past that fear. Do you know how I did it?” 

Bob: “How?” 

Me: “I flew on really windy days with my CFI.” 

Our first lesson: Right after takeoff I could see that Bob was very tense. It was a smooth day in a great G1000 Cessna with light traffic. Nothing to worry about, but he was wound up tighter than a spring. 

Me: “Smooth, smooth. Pretend that your mom is in the back of the airplane.” No change. 

I took him to a somewhat challenging airport. Always a crosswind and trees on either end of the runway. I worked with him on his landings (but more on his fear). On our way back I asked him to demonstrate a power on stall. Bob was fighting the little cessna. Ailerons and rudders flapping away, to the stopps! 

Me: “She’s a nice girl, but if you keep slapping her, she’s going to slap you back.” 

Me: “Let me demonstrate.” I flew the Cessna all the way to the edge of the stall, then I turned 90 degrees in either direction. Then I stalled and recovered without losing altitude. “You see, If you fly smooth, it’s easy. Now try it.”

Bob once again overcontrolled the airplane. I decided to let him learn the err of his ways the old fashioned way. 

Me: “She’s a nice girl, but if you keep slapping her she’s going to slap you back” I repeated. 

WOOP. Incipient spin! 

As we briefly flipped inverted, I started laughing. “OOH, she slapped you”

My point here was to show no fear. To demonstrate that there is nothing to worry about, if you remain calm. 

Me: “Now fix it.” (Don’t help if you can help it. Let them build confidence) 

Bob panicked and added full power… 

Me: “NO, that’s not how we do it” 

Second turn in the developing spin, approaching maneuver floor. 

Me: in a stern voice. “What do we do?” (Still not helping.)

Bob snapped out of it and correctly followed his PARE procedure. 

In an instant, the forgiving Cessna returned to normal flight. 

Me: “You see, not so bad, was it?” 

Bob was ready to listen to his new crazy instructor. 

Eventually Bob became one of my best students and a good friend. On his first solo the winds picked up to 17 knots across the runway. It took him three attempts (two go-arounds), but he ended with a perfect crosswind landing. That was a proud moment for me. Watching him overcome his fear is one of my crowning achievements of my time as an instructor. 

On his solo cross country, he ran into unforecasted pop-up thunderstorms. He solicited the help of flight service, ATC, Flight Dispatch and even sent me a text message regarding his situation. I watched him on radar as he expertly managed a stressful situation and returned to base safely. The head of safety came to me and asked “was that your student?” “Yup” “Great work!” I pulled Bob over and asked the head of safety to repeat what he just said. “Great job Bob, great job!” 

A once timid student was now a confident pilot. He recently completed all of his training. He’s off to his airline where he’ll continue his ATP and Type rating. 

About my fear: 

I was once a white knuckle flyer. On my first business trip from NJ to CA, my co-worker noticed that I was holding onto my seat like a stray cat on a car ride. Ed turned to me and said, “I don’t like flying either.” I responded, “no, I think it’s awesome, but I’m afraid, too many air disaster documentaries.” Ed introduced me to my other co-worker Lou. Lou was a long time pilot with his very own Cessna 170B. When we got home he took me on a flight up the Hudson River. That was the fall of 2000. I started flight training soon after and was hooked ever since. After earning my PPL, I continued to battle the fear until joining a flying club in Morristown NJ KMMU. There I met more pilots and expanded my horizons. I eventually earned my instrument rating and began flying more often. What was once terrifying, became the thing I’d look forward to. 

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