Pilot Journey Forums

Hi,

I am a 27 year old Singaporean. I will like to do a PPL.

I have taken a 1/2 hr intro flight and have a slight concern.

I have some 'butterflies in my stomach' when the instructor did a sudden descent or a tight roll, especially during the first 15 mins into the flight, and twice during the flight I had to close my eyes for a couple of seconds. However this feeling went away after we were on approach for descent. This into flight was done in a Cessna 152, which offers me very little confidence, at least initially, as it was a very small aircraft.

Will this pose a problem in my learning?

Thank you

Christopher

Hello Christopher and welcome to the forums at Pilot Journey :)

This will not be a problem at all.  I went through the same thing.  Once your body is is used to the ups and downs those issues will go away.

We humans have been only going forward and backward and not used to ups and downs  :)

I have taken my first baby step towards my PPL application.

Just went for aviation medicals. Went through chest x ray, ECG, sight and hearing tests, provided blood and urine sample, thoroughly filled up my medical history, etc.

Do hope for a positive report from the DAME next week..

Yeong,

First off, congradulations for taking the first few steps.  I hope that you have gotten over your first set of butterflies and have chosen to continue. 

My suggestion, although maybe too late now, is to take a flight with another instructor.  If the last instructor made you feel uncomfortable, you may need another teacher.  Remember, YOU are paying the instuctor.  He should make you feel comfortable and create a positive learning enviroment.  If he doesn't, you will not learn as well, if at all.

Brian

Hello:

I have to agree with the above post. If an instructor was stupid enough to scare you on your first flight, find someone else. Even on your intro flight, YOU Should have been flying the airplane not the instructor. Every intro flight I do, I let the student fly the entire flight

Be glad to help you out

airfreddy

I know this is an old thread but I just joined and saw it. I'd like to post a response that I feel may help anyone who reads it, not just the original poster.
Notice he mentioned that the uneasiness went away as they got closer to the ground. It is common among those who are nervous or fearful to be so only when high up, not when merely a few hundred feet up. (Not counting those who are afraid of heights.) I think it has to do with the fact that at higher altitudes there is the illusion that the plane is not moving forward; it appears to be suspended in the air. Thus the anticipation of falling. At low altitudes you can see from ground references that the plane is indeed moving forward rapidly. At high altitudes if you pass small clouds they too provide visual proof of forward motion. We've been conditioned to accept forward motion as safe because we ride in cars, trains, bicycles, strollers and so on from infancy.

I never thought about it that way mike. I always make sure students look as far out as they can. The closer in people look, the more amplified the movements are

airfreddy

that actually makes a load of sense Mike, i am fearful of my first flight, but i do try to prepare, i doubt anything prepares you for it though!  :D

Melody, perhaps you are fearful right now as you think about the fact that you yourself will actually control the plane. But once you are there doing it, your mind will be focused on the activity itself and you'll be having lots of fun.