Always Learning

Now I was agitated. Taxiing should be the easy part, and I couldn’t even do that right? Why did something that seemed so basic to my CFI prove so difficult for me? Then he offered advice that led to an epiphany and one of the most useful purchases in my flying career: “Keep your heels on the floor.”

Standard advice for airplanes with toe brakes like the Cessna 172 I was flying, leaving your heels on the floor keeps your feet off the brakes and allows you to apply smooth pressure on the rudder pedals. The thing is, I couldn’t do it. And not in a conceptual or muscle-memory way—I physically could not reach the floor with my toes stretched out to the rudder pedals. Nor could I fully deflect the pedals, so while turning I was sliding my toe awkwardly from bottom to top to pull the nose around with differential braking. It dawned on me that this wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I bought a seat cushion with a back.

My taxiing improved. My sight picture improved. My landings improved. My legs didn’t ache after lessons. I could see over the panel and keep my feet on the floor.

A different airplane, or a few accessories in your flight bag, can make a big difference in your comfort, safety, and readiness to learn.Then, I bought a fuel gauge for checking the fuel level during preflight—because my instructor, well over 6 feet tall, kept asking me to check if the tanks were filled to the tabs. (To this day I haven’t set eyes on “the tabs” in the tanks of a Cessna.) Now, I wear firm-soled shoes to fly, and carry an extra cushion for aircraft designed for especially long-legged pilots. Carrying extra gear isn’t always convenient, but it makes me a more comfortable and better pilot.

All aircraft designs are compromises. When it comes to ergonomics, manufacturers design for the middle of the bell curve—which means, in the case of aircraft designed during the general aviation boom of the 1960s and 1970s, an FAA-standard 170-pound man. Those of us who are shorter or taller, bigger or smaller need to get creative.

Short renters like me rely on seat cushions to improve rudder pedal authority and visibility over the panel, and owners may have the additional option of installing rudder pedal extensions. The useful load, legroom, or cockpit dimensions of light sport aircraft and other smaller aircraft might put them off limits for larger or taller pilots, but ask around and you’ll find trainers with the capacity you need.

The search for the right fit isn’t limited to your physical size. Pilots with mobility issues may prefer stepping into a high-wing airplane over climbing onto a low wing. Those who can’t work the rudder pedals may opt for an Ercoupe or another model modified with hand controls. Trouble climbing up to check the fuel on a Cessna? Consider a folding stool. Can’t tow your Bonanza over the lip of the hangar by hand? Invest in a motorized tug.

Many of these solutions cost money, of course. But you’re not bound to accept the circumstances of your first flight lesson. A different airplane, or a few accessories in your flight bag, can make a big difference in your comfort, safety, and readiness to learn. (See “The Stuff You Keep” on p. 18 for more suggestions for gear that can help make your training go more smoothly.) As much as flight training is a mental exercise, it’s also a physical endeavor. It’s important to approach each lesson in the right headspace—but it’s just as important to have your eyes over the panel and your feet on the floor.