For aspiring pilots, getting into the cockpit of an aeroplane, and taking off is a dream they can’t wait to turn into a reality.
If you are an aspiring pilot, it is understandable if you are afraid of how difficult flying an aeroplane may be. From the outside, flying an aircraft looks like an overwhelmingly difficult job. However, once you get into the pilot’s seat, you realise it’s not much different from learning how to drive a car.
Much of a beginner pilot’s anxiety stems from the fear of the unknown, and once they’re in the cockpit taking control of an aeroplane, they realise that technical knowledge and a few ounces of courage are all it takes to fly.
When it comes to piloting an aircraft, the first order of business is gathering the motivation to succeed. Once you have the needed determination to work towards your goals, everything else comes relatively easily. There are a few factors that determine how easy or difficult it may be to fly an aeroplane. The more stressed you are before your flight, the more difficult it may seem.
Therefore, the first step should be to calm your mind before climbing into the cockpit so that you can fly with a clear head. When it comes to technical factors, the size of the plane, what time of day you are flying, the kind of weather you are flying in, and the purpose of your flight may all contribute to how easy or difficult flying an aeroplane is.
This article will discuss each of these factors so that the next time you get into the pilot’s seat, you will know what to expect!
FACTORS THAT AFFECT FLIGHT EASE/DIFFICULTY
Whether a pilot finds a flight difficult or not comes down to their own experience and training, but generally speaking, certain factors make some flights tougher than others. These usually come down to the type of aeroplane, how clear the skies are, what the visibility is like, as well as the reason the pilot is flying an aeroplane.
Type of aircraft
It is an agreed-upon fact that smaller aeroplanes, such as those that belong to the light aircraft variety, are relatively easy to pilot. They do not require as much power to operate, especially when compared to larger aircraft such as commercial airliners. Due to this, these aeroplanes usually only have a single-engine.
Single engine aircraft are less complicated to operate. The controls are simple as opposed to the more complicated controls involved in aeroplanes belonging to the multi-engine variety.
Aeroplanes that are easy to fly are easy to stabilise, which leads to smoother landings as well as take-offs. Comfortability is also a major factor when determining whether an aeroplane is difficult to fly or not. An aeroplane with uncomfortable seating or one that is too small for a pilot’s height may make for an exceedingly difficult flight, despite the simplicity of controls or clarity of the sky.
Weather
Weather is of the utmost importance when it comes to flying. When the sky is clear and the wind is light, a pilot can fly with ease. However, if the weather is stormy, it is recommended that you keep your feet on the ground, especially if you’re a beginner.
Cloudy weather can lead to bumpy flights which may overwhelm pilots since a flight with too much turbulence can be rather stressful. The weather also has huge effects on visibility, with fog or mist leading to several flights being grounded every year. It is highly discouraged to take to the skies when visibility is affected or when there is a threat of lightning such as during storms.
Time of day
The time that you choose to take to the sky is also of great importance when it comes to determining whether or not you’ll have an easy flight. For beginner pilots, flying when the sun is out makes for a much smoother flight.
The fact that daylight provides a high level of visibility means pilots are relatively more at ease during the day than while flying at night. The dark surroundings at night can stress out a beginner pilot. However, with a fair bit of training, flying at night should not be all that difficult either. Apart from the obvious visibility factor, both daytime and night-time flying come with their own sets of benefits as well as drawbacks.
Daytime flights provide better visibility and a greater natural view, while also being biologically better-suited to humans and coming with less dependence on avionics.
As opposed to this, night-time flights do not have to deal with as much traffic and provide a better view of cityscapes. Flying at night also means clearer radio signals, which leads to smoother communication.
Purpose of flight
If you are a recreational flyer who would like to get into an aeroplane for hobby-related purposes or to simply check out the view from above, you are likely to train on smaller aircraft and not need too many ratings. This means your aviation journey will most likely be much simpler than what you would have to undergo if you were to pursue aviation in a more professional capacity.
However, if you wish to become a professional pilot, then you may have to undergo a few extra steps before being able to fly as a career. Firstly, the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) requires about 200 hours of training, which is a massive jump from the 45 hours needed to acquire a Private Pilot Licence (PPL). The CPL is the licence required if a pilot wishes to get monetary compensation for their flying services. It also requires a more stringent medical exam, referred to as the Class 1 medical exam.
THE EASY PARTS OF FLYING A PLANE
There are certain parts of flying that generally come easier to most pilots. These include tasks such as radio communication, flight controls, as well as keeping up a good attitude.
Radio communication
While the language used by pilots over the radio may seem like gibberish to the uninitiated, with a little bit of practice, beginner pilots come to learn that the conversations play out in a predictable manner.
Radio shorthand is thus easy to master, with pilots also being able to learn the language before getting into an aeroplane.
Flying straight
While some aeroplanes may have more complicated controls than others which may overwhelm pilots, the fact of the matter is that for the most part, pilots are working on one control at a time in order to keep the aeroplane flying straight.
Keeping an aircraft stable, especially when the sky is clear, is rather easy.
Staying positive
A good attitude costs nothing. You’ll notice that you are able to master even the most complicated of tasks with a positive mindset, which is bound to make things easier for you as a pilot.
THE DIFFICULT PARTS OF FLYING A PLANE
Some tasks are harder to master than others when it comes to flying, with the ability to manoeuvre in a 3D world, responding quickly and decisively during stressful situations, and dealing with unexpected weather changes generally making it to the top of the list.
Spatial awareness
When you’re driving a motor car, you need to worry about the front and back, as well as what’s left and right. When piloting an aircraft, a third dimension comes into play.
Pilots are also required to keep the vertical plane, which is up and down, in mind when flying. This may be a bit difficult to get used to for beginner pilots.
Quick response
A necessary skill for a pilot is the ability to perform well under pressure and make quick decisions. The need for immediate action may throw off a beginner pilot, but as they move forward in their aviation journey, taking quick decisive action starts to get easier.
Dealing with the weather
For obvious reasons, pilots dread bad weather. Due to this, pilots must master aviation meteorology in order to ensure the flight they are about to undertake is smooth. Being able to predict turbulence can make a big difference, but learning how to do that may take some time.
WHAT ARE THE EASIEST PLANES TO FLY?
In any discussion about how easy or difficult it is to fly an aeroplane, the size and complexity of the aircraft are most important. It should be understood that the bigger an aeroplane is and the more engines it has, the harder it will be to manoeuvre.
This is mainly because with the larger size come more complicated controls. Smaller aeroplanes like light aircraft are relatively easy to pilot because they have simpler controls. The aeroplanes that are used for training are known as fixed-wing aircraft. This is a broad term that refers to most traditional aeroplanes such as light aircraft as well as large commercial airliners.
There are many different types of fixed-wing aircraft, which can be divided into two broad categories: Single-engine and multi-engine aeroplanes.
Single-engine aeroplanes are much easier to fly because they are smaller in size. They require only one engine because they do not need much power in order to operate. Light aircraft, including the smaller microlights, belong to the single-engine variety.
On the other hand, multi-engine aeroplanes are often larger in size and come with more complicated controls. To operate a multi-engine aeroplane, it is necessary to apply for a Multi-engine Piston (MEP) Rating.
Light aircraft
While the fact that light aircraft are smaller and come with a single-engine makes them relatively easier to fly, another reason for their popularity among beginner pilots is that they are easily accessible.
Most flying clubs such as Sherburn have a marketplace where you can buy light aircraft, either on a shared or private basis. The club also has a fleet of aircraft available for rent, perfect for pilots who don’t wish to invest in their own aircraft.
Sherburn Aero Club has a fleet of light aircraft, which includes the Piper PA-28 Cadet, Piper PA-28 Warrior, Aero AT-3, and Robin 2160. The Piper PA-28 aircraft are widely considered to be one of the easiest aeroplanes to train in and are comfortable, efficient, as well as affordable.
Sherburn’s aircraft can be rented out on an hourly basis, which means members only have to pay for the hours that they use the aeroplanes, saving them from additional charges in the months they don’t fly as often.
Microlights
A smaller type of light aircraft is known as the microlight. The traditional variety of microlights is very safe, modern and affordable, making them a great option for novice pilots as well as hobbyists who do not wish to fly larger aeroplanes.
Sherburn’s microlight training facility, Breeze Aviation, houses the EuroFox 560 kg microlight, which is a great option for pilots looking to train on a small and easy to fly aircraft.
Microlights are a relatively more affordable option for pilots wishing to train on a smaller aeroplane or those who are interested in recreational flying.
GETTING A LICENCE
Depending on whether you wish to fly for joy or as a hobby, or because you wish to become a pilot in a professional capacity, you will need either a PPL or a CPL.
A less stringent version of the PPL is the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL), via which a pilot can only fly light aircraft such as those used by hobbyists and beginners. Each licence requires the applicant to undergo medical evaluations as well as pass a series of theoretical exams.
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
The minimum age to apply for the PPL is 17 years, with an applicant required to show at least 45 hours of total flight time, 10 hours out of which must be of solo flight.
Theoretical subjects tested during the nine written exams include meteorology, principles of flight, air law, and navigation.
Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL)
The minimum age of the LAPL with an Aeroplane (A) Rating is also 17 years, however, the number of flight hours that must be logged are only 12. For other types of LAPL, such as those with a rating of sailplanes, helicopters, or balloons, the minimum age drops to 16.
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
For the CPL, out of the 200 hours of flight time logged, 100 hours have to be spent in command of an aircraft. 20 hours out of these must be of cross-country flights.
The minimum age for the CPL is 18, with a solo flight of 300 nautical miles also being necessary in order to obtain it.
The subjects tested in the theoretical exam for the CPL include Flight planning and monitoring, Human performance, Meteorology, General navigation, Radio navigation, Operational procedures, Principles of flight, and Visual flight rules (VFR) communications.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
We offer dedicated CPL training as well as comprehensive PPL (A) training and the required experience for operating aircraft at night. In addition to this, the club also offers simulators for various training needs and to help new pilots gain confidence before the real deal.
Breeze Aviation, our microlight training facility, is based at Sherburn in Elmet and has a unique training environment based at a licenced airfield.
It integrates seamlessly with large scale GA training and hire, helicopter training and charter, commercial and advanced flight training, and classic tiger moth experiences.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
Call us on 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on what to expect when flying a plane and how easy/difficult it is!
Photo by Eva Darron on Unsplash
