my Name is Robert, 51 years old, i am from Germany and I would like to introduce myself as a "newbie" to PE. (signed up a couple of days ago and did 3 flights already on PE until now).
In real-life I am a (low-time) hobby-Pilot, starting in 1999 when I began to live "the dream" with a Flying Club Membership here in Germany and began my flight-training for a gliders license. Years later I additionally obtained an Ultralight License and in April 2013 made my Single Engine Piston License (PPL).
Like most of my Club buddies, the most flights I do start at uncontrolled airfields (like my homebase) to either a local flight and return to the home-airfield or to another uncontrolled airfield. (There are plenty here in Germany).
Sometimes I request flight-following but thats just all I have to deal with ATC. Although all german Airports do have a (manned) Tower, at uncontrolled airfields it serves as an Informational Station telling us the runway in use and winds and such, there isnt much to talk to them. You Report your Position and then Approach and Land at your own discretion.
The same applys for taxiing at these airfields.
The logical result is a lack in training regarding "talking to ATC AND flying the plane at the same time".
Of course, I have been trained to fly into and out of controlled airspace and to controlled Airports but mandatory are only 2 flights of that kind and thats it, you get your license.
What I experience now while flying on PE is exactly what I suspected if I would do this. BUT even worse....
Things that usually are an easy task while operating the Aircraft now obviously obtain less brain power because of the additional task "to be in contact with ATC and to stay mentally ahead of the Situation thats coming."
The outcome of this (caused by a brain which is working at 100% of it's capacity) is unbelievable....
Want some examples? (The PE Controllers already went through them... I want to tell you MY SINCERE APOLOGIES !
- Landing wrong runway direction
- not contacting Tower before entering class D
- requesting non required permissions
- NOT requesting required permissions
- not responding to ATC at all
- forgetting the least politeness on first contact (good morning..)
- saying "good evening" (when it is actually morning)
- not flying pattern altitude
- not remembering (VFR) cruise altitudes (even/odd/+500ft)
- and so on...
Theres more to come when I once start doing IFR....
All I can say is: APOLOGY for all of this to all involved!
I really take this very seriously and aim on becoming much more professional than I am at the Moment.
I really do not want to spoil others experiences on the Network.
I know I am still acting like a moron sometimes but I know: The only way to get better is to.. practice, practice practice...
Thats why I am here on PE, improve my skills. (This has also to do with safety reasons)
My experiences on the network until now exceeded my expectations on professionalism by far.
The environment and how it is operated forces (at least me) to target on a high professionalism level also. And I am sure it will help immensely for the real-world flying.
I hope Pilotedge receives the honour it deserves. I will Support it for sure. I am impressed !
Regards to ALL PE staff (especially to TIM to whom I talked in the Chat already and who helped me with my (tons of) questions)
Robert
PE is just like real life... My IQ drops 50 points every time I sign onto the network. I sound like an idiot, and there are more "uhhhhs" in my radio calls than actual words and numbers.
)...we can call it "radio stuttering"!
