First Flight in Over 2 Years: Here's What I Learned

Anyone who has become a pilot knows there is a mega ton of work that goes into it. The amount of knowledge and skill that is needed surpasses many other endeavors someone might embark on. Aviation is something that requires constant learning.

Today was my first flight as PIC in over 2 years. I’m a paraplegic, so finding an aircraft that has hand controls has been tricky, but today I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity again, and it was amazing! The sky felt like home to me.

I was a little rusty, but not as much as one might expect after not taking off for so long. This wasn’t because I’m just naturally talented or have some kind of elephant like memory. I was originally pretty slow at learning to fly in comparison to some of my peers.

What did make a difference was the work I put in while I was grounded. After getting my pilot certificate, I knew I wanted to be in aviation. However, I also knew I was going to have a hard time getting flight time as a paraplegic. So, I figured out an option that would help me move forward anyways. I started working on my ground instructor certificate. 

I spent weeks studying aviation knowledge until I knew it like the back of my hand. When I finally passed my ground instructor knowledge exam, I then continued on and got my AGI as well. Then I started putting that knowledge to use and taught other people. Eventually, I started my own online ground school and I’ve continued teaching ever since.

That made all the difference when I hopped in the cockpit today. I was ready. I was prepared. I felt comfortable. There wasn’t anything that surprised me. Even though I hadn’t actually practiced in an aircraft, I at least knew what I had to do. If I hadn’t continued learning aviation knowledge, I don’t think it would have went so smoothly. I don’t think I would have been able to take off without my instructor jumping in. I don’t think I would have been able to land on my own, touching down gently and staying right on the centerline. I don’t know if I would have even been able to make radio calls.

Flying again after such a long break showed me the importance of ground instruction and confirmed my path running a ground school. People underestimate how important the ground portion is to flying. Getting the knowledge down before getting up in the sky would help so many pilots fly more efficiently and effectively. 

All the people who start flight lessons before learning any ground knowledge are likely wasting a lot of time and money because figuring out how to fly without that foundation makes everything more difficult. It’s going to take a lot longer to get good at stick and rudder when you don’t understand aerodynamics. It’s going to be a lot harder to diagnose an engine running roughly when you don’t know your aircraft’s systems. Even pilots who are current can benefit from ground school. With aviation, if you aren’t learning, you’re losing. If you don’t study, you will quickly forget all of the knowledge you put so much work into learning.

Flying today was a blast, and part of the reason it was so fun was that I got to integrate all the things I’ve been working on over the past 2 years. I felt right at home as I hit the throttle and sent it down the runway. Hopefully, you can also see how much ground school can add enjoyment to your flying experience. See you in the skies! 

William

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