AVCANADA

Plenty of bitching here about the skill level of newbie pilots.

Here are some concrete suggestions on how you can improve them

1) fly more. Chuck Yeager said that in his autobiography that the
pilot that flies the most is the best. While it's a little bit more complicated
than that, I do tell any pilot with less than 1000TT to fly twice today,
wx permitting.

2) fly in a more concentrated manner. Let's say you can afford to fly
once a week. Don't do that. Instead, one week a month, fly 4 days
in a row. The concentration of flying will bring your skills up to a higher
level.

3) fly something different. If you're a Cessna pilot, get checked out
on a Cherokee. Or a Katuna. And vice versa. Fly the weirdest stuff
you can find. Add more types to your logbook. If there's any tailwheel
or float flying around, be on it like a fat kid on a smartie. It will improve
your systems knowledge and importantly, your stick and rudder skills.
If you travel for work, make an effort to seek out training while you're
on the road. I know a guy who bought a Pitts and did that, and must
have flown with every Pitts instructor in North America.

4) become a master of crosswinds. Don't shy away from them - seek
them out. Slowly increase your personal crosswind limit until you can
handle 15 knots in a 172, which is what the POH says an average pilot
can do.

5) pull the power on downwind abeam the numbers over and over
again until you can do a descending power-off 180, and you can
consistently land on the numbers without touching the throttle

6) start flying the circuit at 500 feet. Good practice, and less
time wasted climbing and descending

7) get an instructor to give you dual on the following:
- falling leaf: sustained full stall, using rudders to pick up wings
- roll on a point, at the bottom of the power curve, ball in the center
- land on one tire, aileron all the way over, roll down the runway
If your instructor doesn't know how to do the above, fly with the CFI.
If the CFI doesn't know how to do the above, have him email me.

Precision. Taxi, takeoff and land with the nosewheel (sigh) in
the exact center of the runway. Airspeed control on final is
paramount. Work on your altitude control, and other stuff BPF
recommends

There are an awful lot of things that you can do, to become an
above-average pilot.

Fly to some tiny, uncontrolled strips to practice without the constraints of traffic

There is problem with the #6 at the YKZ. We are mandated to do 1000ft AGL circuit. Noise and populated areas etc.
Dan

Go to Downsview airport. Call up and get prior permission (I have never been denied so far departing YKZ). The circuit altitude is at 1500ft and is a bit of a different environment. If not there then maybe go to Holland landing.

Best of luck and most of all have fun!