{"id":24746,"date":"2023-04-27T15:25:13","date_gmt":"2023-04-27T19:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hartzellprop.com\/?p=24746"},"modified":"2023-04-27T15:25:14","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T19:25:14","slug":"what-rusty-pilots-can-do-to-refresh-flying-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hartzellprop.com\/what-rusty-pilots-can-do-to-refresh-flying-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Back in the Left Seat: 3 Things Rusty Pilots Can Do to Refresh Flying Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Has it been a while since your last flight as Pilot in Command? If so, you\u2019re not alone. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aopa.org\/training-and-safety\/lapsed-pilots\/rusty-pilots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AOPA<\/a>, more than 500,000 pilots in the United States are inactive. If you\u2019re itching to get back in the air, there\u2019s no time like the present!<\/p>\n<p>First, let\u2019s be clear: Being a rusty or lapsed pilot is not something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Life happens, and there are many reasons why people take a break from flying:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Time.<\/strong> Finding the time to fly can be difficult, especially when other life events come up. You might find yourself more focused on your work, starting and raising a family, or pursuing other hobbies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Finances.<\/strong> There\u2019s truth to the old joke: \u201cWhat makes airplanes fly? Money!\u201d Taking a break from flying for financial reasons is perfectly normal, although you may look into cost-saving options like joining a flying club or shared aircraft ownership.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Personal reasons.<\/strong> Things like health issues, changing careers, or relocating can certainly get in the way of one\u2019s flying goals. Not to mention, after a long hiatus, the idea of flying again can feel too intimidating to even consider.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The good news? It\u2019s not as difficult as you may think to get back into the left seat! The key is to be aware of your rusty skills \u2014 and intentional about rebuilding them.<\/p>\n<p>Here are three things you can do to knock off the rust and return to the skies safely:<\/p>\n<h2><strong>#1: Check Out Online Courses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>One way to knock off the rust faster is to hit the books. Luckily, it\u2019s easier than ever to access quality aviation education. You could go through your local flight school, or check out AOPA\u2019s Rusty Pilots for fun, interactive online <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aopa.org\/training-and-safety\/lapsed-pilots\/rusty-pilots\/rusty-pilots-online\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">courses<\/a> that provide all the information needed to get current again. Completing a <a href=\"https:\/\/pic.aopa.org\/events\/category\/52\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rusty Pilots webinar<\/a> earns you a logbook endorsement that counts for two hours of ground training toward your flight review, as well as two FAA Wings credits.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>#2: Meet with a Flight Instructor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>According to FAR Part 61.56 <strong>(c)<\/strong>, active pilots must complete a flight review with a CFI every 24 calendar months. This isn\u2019t a check ride, but it is required. If you\u2019re rusty, schedule time with your favorite flight instructor to get current and feel confident before your flight review. A few flight lessons will help you brush up on the basics in a comfortable environment, and your instructor should be able to help you identify areas for improvement.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, it\u2019s natural to feel discouraged if your skills aren\u2019t where they once were. Stay patient and enjoy the process. It\u2019s worth it!\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>#3: Invest in Simulator Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you can\u2019t get flight time with an instructor yet, or if you\u2019re apprehensive about going up in the air again, try starting with a flight simulator. Modern at-home flight simulators have become incredibly realistic and surprisingly affordable. Your local flight school may also have a simulator to help you rebuild basic skills. If you can\u2019t access a sim, chair flying is free and beneficial at any stage of flight training.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Welcome Back! <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>At Hartzell Propeller, we have a deep-rooted passion for general aviation, and we\u2019d love to see as many rusty pilots as possible return to flight with confidence and proficiency. That\u2019s why we support programs like the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center, which offers immersive, hands-on experience in an innovative simulator environment. If you\u2019re planning to attend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eaa.org\/airventure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AirVenture 2023<\/a>, be sure to visit the PPC and register for a scenario-based simulator experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here at Hartzell Propeller, we want to share three things rusty pilots can do to knock off the rust and return to the skies safely. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":923,"featured_media":23697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[14,119,239,256,501,143,279,136,698],"class_list":["post-24746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-aopa","tag-aviation","tag-eaa","tag-pilot-proficiency","tag-pilot-proficiency-center","tag-pilot-safety","tag-pilot-safety-tips","tag-propeller","tag-rusty-pilots"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - 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