This post was originally submitted on my previous site on 2016-11-11 by: Michelle, South Africa. It remains relevant, so I re-posted it here:
Hi there flyers,
I thought perhaps it would assist me in overcoming this hurdle by sharing my peculiar experience as a student pilot training towards a PPL license.
I have to say though, my training has been excellent in all my air exercises, from taxiing to landings, was on a good standard and safe flights in addition.
All my dual flights I did experience many crosswinds together, as well as light windshear on final approach occasionally. Oh and severe turbulence late afternoons in this hot weather:-)
I was trained very well, and I still am being trained:-) I just mean 'I was' trained to be above standard requirements to be released on my first solo flight in the circuit.
Will never forget any details of that perfect day, and the pride I had once I successfully touched the wheels on rwy without any fatalities or difficulties, even though I did come in a bit high on final approach. I should have lowered the nose sooner on final, but overall I was very satisfied.
I returned to the flight school a week later, and I didn't know what would we ( my instructor and I ) be doing next since my last solo flight. I went to do my pre flight check on aircraft, and was then told we will be doing 3 hours solo consolidation in that week.
So about 3 dual flights and 3 solo flight, approx 1.0/ 1.1 solo hours each time.
Well it didn't really work out that way!
I ended up doing 0.5 hours solo each time and 6 dual flights! Yes it was a very expensive lesson.
To come to my point is that I requested a full stop each time after ONE circuit.
I can wholeheartedly say and agree that there is nothing wrong with my flying skills in the circuit so far, and nothing wrong with my judgement and assessment, situational awareness in the aircraft and visual surroundings.
However I freeze after my first landing??? Its self confidence and a mental block I have.
Any advise or assistance on this please???
Michelle, I am sure that by now you have sorted it all out. I would have advised that you walk through the flight in the ground, picturing the circuit, and a touch-and-go, and just keep repeating this on the ground, walking it out, and picturing the flight in your minds eye. This will build the neural pathways in your brain that can help you overcome this.
Another way is once you stop, then you can simply backtrack and take off again. Repeat process up to four times for your flight. A flight lesson should not exceed 1.5 hrs, (excluding Navigation of course), as ones focus starts to deteriorate.
Kind Regards
Telani