Lesson Log

Today I read an interesting story on the Flying Magazine website about keeping a journal of “flying lessons” throughout your flying career. They suggest that it is useful to write down the things you’ve learned from every flight.  For the article, click here.
I’ve kept a log book like this since I’ve started flight training. I can’t express how useful it has been. From my first flight where I clung to the control column with an iron fist, being too scared to even look outside, to doing my first takeoff, my first radio calls, my first stalls, to gaining more aptitude, losing my fear, and being able to confidently fly on my own and take photos at the same time – it’s all there in chronological order.  It’s fun looking back at some of my old entries and seeing how far I’ve come.  There are also useful bits of information that I always refer back to. I mark important sections such as when I learned specialty takeoffs and landings – soft field and short field – and other exercises like slow flight, stalls, and circuits, for the first time.  I also highlighted the point when I switched airports and instructors.
I highly recommend a book like this during flight training. What’s more, is this type of tool can be useful throughout your flying career, since a pilot is always learning. A quote I really like is one I’ve read in a book about flying – where a student pilot asks his instructor how long it takes to learn how to fly and he responds “I don’t know, I’ve never finished.” A good motto to take along? I’m not an experienced pilot, but I know enough to know that with flying, you never stop learning.