Back into Flying / Intro to Backcountry

Getting Back into Flying

-Requirements to get legal

  • Flight Review (AC 61-98D)
  • Medical-
    • Basic Med
      • 2year class, 4 year exam

-Best study material to get up to speed for a BFR /Free resources to brush up on any ground knowledge needed

  • Aopa 2hr Rusty Pilot Course
  • FLY8MA Free PPL Ground School (35-40hrs)

-Getting back in the plane

    • (i) Preflight preparation;
    • (ii) Preflight procedures;
    • (iii) Airport and seaplane base operations;
    • (iv) Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds;
    • (v) Performance maneuvers;
    • (vi) Ground reference maneuvers;
    • (vii) Navigation;
  • (viii) Slow flight and stalls;
  • (ix) Basic instrument maneuvers;
  • (x) Emergency operations;
  • (xi) Night operations,
  • (xii) Postflight procedures.

https://fly8ma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023_PPL_LessonPlans_FLY8MA.pdf

Intro to Backcountry

-Beginner Do’s and Don’ts

  • Don’t spend money expecting improvements without compromise
  • Do spend money on Avgas
  • Do follow around more experienced pilots to expand your skills
  • Do check in with an instructor from time to time to ride along with you or observe from outside the aircraft
  • Do spend hours flying in slow flight at altitude constantly “bumping” the critical AOA
  • Do get out and pace off your takeoff area after landing

-Basic equipment upgrades and their implications (i.e. bushwheels, propellers, etc)

  • Bushwheels 
    • Pros, Cons, costs
  • Propellers
    • Pros, Cons
  • VGs, stol cuffs, larger fuel tanks, metal belly, extended baggage
  • Attitude Equipment

-How to get used to off-airport flying

  • Start with tailwheel proficiency (instruction followed by practice)
  • Follow experienced pilots around (do not always land where they do)
  • Fly A LOT (100hrs per year bare minimum)
  • Stick to a formula 
    • 5 Step landing
      • High-level Pass
      • Survival Pass
      • Drag Pass (both directions)
      • Rolling Pass
      • Full Stop

-How to tell when you are ready to begin flying off airport by yourself

  • You can hold airspeed +3mph/-1mph in all conditions on approach
  • You are regularly not landing with excess energy
  • You never need to look inside to find a knob, flap handle, etc
  • Be able to touchdown within one aircraft length every time
  • Be able to determine wind direction with certainty
  • Know the required “time-distance” for your aircraft to land and takeoff
  • Be able to recover from a practice power on or power off stall with less than 10’ altitude loss
  • You actually have survival gear in your plane and know what is required by State of Alaska
  • You know what the 5-step landing involves