Skills Assessment Preparation

For potential pilots, one thing that stands between you and your dream job is a pilot assessment.

Training schools and airlines put applicants through a through assessment process to determine if you have the skills, abilities and aptitudes required to fly a modern airplane for a living.

Preparing for these assessments is critical, as that future career can all depend on that short assessment – but it is difficult to prepare and practise for. There are lots of things you need to know, and be good at; Maths, Physics, hand-eye coordination, teamwork, leadership, decision making. You also need to pass an interview, a whole other scary prospect.

We’ve launched a training guide to help you though – with mock assessments planned! The Pilot Pass

How to taxi a light aircraft

So you’ve had lesson 1 – before we get to ‘flying’ lesson 2, there are some things to learn on the ground.

Taxiing – Ex5.

To fly a plane, you first must taxi to the runway! This is easier said than done, for example if you’re in a tail-dragger, taxiing can be very hard! We’ll assume you’re in a nice tricycle gear aircraft!

Before moving off – you must check where you want to go – what is the runway in use, your taxi route, and your holding point (where you will stop to do ‘power checks’ – we’ll get to those in a later lesson!). Ideally you’ll have a map of the aerodrome, and talk to air traffic control to get taxiing instructions.

Airports can be confusing, make sure you know where you are!

Airports can be confusing, so be sure of your taxi-route.

Moving off – release brakes, rudder centralised, and open the throttle to get the aircraft to move. Once under-way reduce throttle to avoid accelerating. As soon as moving you must check the brakes work before you start going anywhere to quickly! Also once moving check your steering works in both directions. (These items should be on your checklist – if you’ve not got one yet, go and buy one! These lessons assume you are following the checklists appropriate to your aircraft).

Braking – using your toe brakes. Your heels should be on the pedals, tilting feet forward applies brakes. Reduce power when braking so you’re not pointlessly braking against engine thrust.

Steering – is achieved using your rudder pedals, under your feet. Right foot down plane turns right, left foot down plane turns left. Steering may be just via the rudder, or by a steering nose-wheel (usually on springs). Steering will be less immediate at low speeds. Using toe brakes on just one side of the aircraft can be useful for making tighter turns.

Control column – ‘dive away/climb into’ from the wind. I.e. be aware of where the wind is coming from, and make control column adjustments accordingly. Doing this will keep weight off the nose-wheel and keep you in control of the aircraft. ALSO – in general use backwards (upward) pressure on the yoke to keep weight off the nose-wheel – particularly when on rough ground and grass.

When taxiing it’s important to speak to ATC or ‘ground’ control at your aerodrome, and adhere to air laws.

Special situations and failures.

When crossing from smooth tarmac to rough grass, approach the transition at a 45 degree angle. Use this same approach is traversing a  dip or lump of rough terrain.

Steering failure – gently brake, inform ATC, shut-down engine and await assistance.

Brake failure – shut off engine (throttle, mixture, magnetos, fuel) roll to a stop, steering to avoid collisions. If safe or possible, roll to stop in a safe place. Turning into wind can help slow.

PA 28 Cockpit

Lesson 1 – Intro, Cockpit Familiarisation, and Effects of controls

This is the first in our series of online flying lessons. So we’ll start at the beginning – Lesson 1.

For those who are interested, this lesson covers Exercises 1, 2, and 4.1

These lessons are not a substitution for flight training. View them only as a preparation or revision Guide.

Aircraft Familiarisation.

While you’re on the ground, before the engine starts running (and costing you money), it makes sense to learn about your new environment so that in the air you already have the basics down. This step really depends on which aircraft you’re learning in, however most training aircraft are very similar. In any case, focus on the aircraft which your preferred flight training organisation will use.

Focus on leaning about the aircraft your flying school will use.

If you’ve not yet chosen a flight training school – find one!

Cessna 152

Cessna 152 Cockpit

Cessna 152 Cockpit

Takeoff: 55kt with no flaps. Short field, 55kt with 10 degree flaps.

Vx (best angle of climb): 55kts 10 degrees of flaps. Vy (best rate of climb): 65kts 0 flaps.

Glide: 65kts (Glide speed is usually ‘best glide’ speed, where the aircraft flies most efficiently, it’s a speed you’ll use in lots of other situations also!)

PA 28

PA 28 Cockpit

PA 28 Cockpit

Takeoff: 65kt with no flaps. Short field, 60kt with 1/3rd flaps.

Vx (best angle of climb): 65kts. Vy (best rate of climb): 79kts.

Glide: 75kts (Glide speed is usually ‘best glide’ speed, where the aircraft flies most efficiently, it’s a speed you’ll use in lots of other situations also!)

Aircraft inspection

Another part of becoming familiar with the aircraft is examining the outside and inside, using a checklist. This is a key party of safety – which is key to being a good pilot. You’ll become very well practised at doing a walk around / Check A / Transit check – but always take it seriously.

Effects of controls

You will learn what the main cockpit controls do, in a very simple sense. The below video does this best!

The flying

When you fly the lesson, you’ll mainly observe the instructor. You will get to fly a little, to learn the effects of controls, however the main experience of your first flying lesson is to get used to being in the air in a light aircraft – it’s an AWESOME experience.

What to do next?

  • Buy a checklist for the aircraft you will learn in.
  • Go to lesson 2.

Other viewing or alternative guides.
How NOT to do it.
What you have to look forward too!
Video – First flying lesson