PilotEdge Forums

as soon as i touch PTT my brain went blank! Love PE though, time for some practice I guess...

Hey that's funny I'm also a Dave H!

Anyway I've been there too lol I just practiced that first flight a bunch I even went as far as writing the exact phrases and just reading them off the paper til I felt more comfortable. Get yourself feeling confident and before you know it you'll be zipping all over.

Happy flying

Thanks Dave ,
I was trying not to talk over someone, got into controlled airspace and it just snowballed from there! I am going to do the same, write it down and fly it offline several times.

dave h wrote:Thanks Dave ,
I was trying not to talk over someone, got into controlled airspace and it just snowballed from there! I am going to do the same, write it down and fly it offline several times.

If using your PTT is the problem you need to work on, doing it offline will not fix anything. Take a breath, load your sim, connect to PE, make your call.

Yep, the only way to get better at talking to controllers... is by talking to controllers.

There was so much adrenaline on my first PE flight my hands were actually shaking on the yoke. Good times! I'm still motoring around VFR at non-towered airports because I have so much to learn about controlled airspace. Hang in there it will get easier.

dave h wrote:as soon as i touch PTT my brain went blank!

Push To Think button. It'll get better with practice. Make sure you watch some of the tutorial / workshop videos. They're really well done and will help immensely. Welcome to the network.

dave h wrote:as soon as i touch PTT my brain went blank! Love PE though, time for some practice I guess...

What flight were you attempting to do? If it was anything other than the First Flight scenario or the training scenarios, then you're denying yourself the opportunity to work with some really helpful resources that'll provide cockpit videos, ATC transcripts, the works.

If you're not exactly sure what to do or say, those are the best places to get started along with the workshops.

I had the same issue when I first started. What worked for me was writing down what I plan to say and also making sure I copy the instructions to my tablet before reading them back. I did this for every instruction given to me from start to finish, sitting with the tablet on my lap as I fly. Each flight was basically a listening, writing and flying lesson combined into one.

Now I still plan what I am going to say, I just don't have the need to write it down anymore and I am getting much better at listening and reading back in flight instructions and the tablet is mostly used to copy clearances.

Just to second the idea that you should actually try to use all of that material put in place under Pilot Training

Also, stay with one airport (I suggest KSNA) - this way you know the layout very well and can better understand taxiway instructions

I am still only doing my pattern work, but I am getting more confident now