Flying in the NorthWest

I just wanted to see how the flying was in and out of the Northwest with all of the Wild fire smoke. I was in Seattle today and noticed many planes flying low, I’m assuming to get under the the smoke. Does anyone here fly up this way?

Pat

Pat,

Most airplanes will simply avoid the smoke, or at least the smoke plume itself. I have flown through it though, too. As long as it isn’t too thick, it really isn’t a big deal.

Chris

I see, I was able to see many planes coming into Seatac much lower than I’m used to seeing them.

I flew into PDX the other day and it was a little hazy but nothing to terrible. All airport have vectoring altitudes due to traffic and terrain and it’s seldom if ever adjusted for weather (including smoke). It may have just appeared the planes were lower or they were using a different arrival procedure.

Adam

oooooh, Ok.
On another note, I am still working on getting a Loan for ATP. I have been reading the private pilot test prep book and then trying to implement what I am learning on X plane. Should I just focus on the Private pilot stuff for now or should I also start studying IFR?

Pat

Pat,

You will hear many differing opinions on flight simulation software. I personally think that it teaches a lot of bad habits that can be hard to un-learn when you get into the real airplane. If you think about it, it is just a video game and there is no CFI there to correct you. I always asked my students to not use the software.

Chris

Pat,

I’m not sure how much of the PP Test Prep stuff translates to X plane but the test prep is just that, a test prep. Have you taken any practice exams? You’re looking to consistently score in the 90s. Keep in mind the tests expire after 2yrs so you don’t want to get too ahead of yourself. It really depends on how close you think you are to starting at ATP.

Adam

Pat, I pretty much grew up using flight simulator and although I think it helps in some aspects it hurts in others. Chris is right, you do develop bad habits with it. When I started my private training I was constantly told by my instructor to keep my eyes outside of the airplane. I had a very bad habit (from flight simulator) of looking at the instruments. This is good for instrument flight but will hurt you during you private training. I can’t help but think it did help in many ways though too. For someone who has a significant amount of hours on flight sim vs. someone who has never seen a cockpit, I would tend to bet the flight sim student would have a better grasp of stuff. I soloed with around only 8 hrs and I do contribute some of that to flight sim I think. But keep in mind, the controls are similar but the feel is so much different. There is no good way to replicate everything in sim that you will feel in the real airplane.

What it can help with is your IFR flight. I practiced multiple approaches with the flight sim. It helps with your scans and multitasking. There are also online interfaces that you can get real life people that act as air traffic control that will help tremendously with radio communication.

In my personal opinion, most people have issues with the knowledge and not the actual flying, so make sure you are solid on your studying and I wouldn’t worry so much about flight sim and how it compares to the knowledge portion of the private pilot. It takes lots of hours and memorization, plane and simple, that’s it. Good luck with your PPL.

I understand that the Sim is not like the real thing and that it is just a glorified video game, I mainly use it like Garret said. I study how a gauge is supposed to work and then in the sim I can see it in action. I can manipulate the plane to see how it effects the gauge without the fear of crashing. I know it is not like the real thing but it helps to understand how certain things work from a visual stand point.

Chris,
I have not taken any practice tests yet, I have used the sportys study buddy website quizzes along with the test prep book. The problem I am finding is that some of the questions on the quizzes are not in the test prep book. I have already gone through the book once and am going through it again from the beginning and re reading what I cant remember from the first time through.

Is there another source I can use to learn what is on the test but not in the Prep book?
Also where can I go to take a practice test?

Pat,

As crazy as it sounds, you really don’t need to learn the material, at least not for the written portion of your training, you just need to be able to pass the writtens and that simply involves rote memorization. If you really do want to learn the written information, I would recommend buying the King Schools video series on it, check eBay for the best prices.

The Sporty’s Study Buddy website is a defect practice test.

Chris

So if I am understanding what you are saying, and correct me if I’m wrong. Study what I need to in order to pass the written and then wait to actually learn the Material until I get to ATP and can actually put it to use?

Pat,

Sporty’s Study Buddy is the only resource you’ll need to pass the Private
Written. That is also where you can take your practice tests. If you want
you can purchase used copies of Kings Schools videos. The videos aren’t
considered test prep material, but they’ll help strengthen your ground
knowledge.

In order to be eligible to take the actual Private Written exam you’ll need
to score 90% or better on at least 3 practice tests. Take screenshots of
your scores and then call ATP Training Support at 904-595-7992. An
instructor will review your practice test results and then email you an
endorsement to take the test. They’ll also find the nearest testing center
to schedule your exam.

Tory

So would you say it is worth spending the $200 to purchase the program? or just study the questions in the free section of the website.

Pat

Exactly.

MovieP https://airlinepilot.life/u/moviep Pat
https://airlinepilot.life/u/moviep
September 8

So if I am understanding what you are saying, and correct me if I’m wrong.
Study what I need to in order to pass the written and then wait to actually
learn the Material until I get to ATP and can actually put it to use?

Visit Topic
https://airlinepilot.life/t/flying-in-the-northwest/7331/11 or
reply to this email to respond.

In Reply To
Chris https://airlinepilot.life/u/chris
https://airlinepilot.life/u/chris Pilot Mentor
September 8
Pat, As crazy as it sounds, you really don’t need to learn the material,
at least not for the written portion of your training, you just need to be
able to pass the writtens and that simply involves rote memorization. If
you really do want to learn the written information, I would recommend buyi…
Previous Replies
Chris https://airlinepilot.life/u/chris
https://airlinepilot.life/u/chris Pilot Mentor
September 8

Pat,

As crazy as it sounds, you really don’t need to learn the material, at
least not for the written portion of your training, you just need to be
able to pass the writtens and that simply involves rote memorization. If
you really do want to learn the written information, I would recommend
buying the King Schools video series on it, check eBay for the best prices.

The Sporty’s Study Buddy website is a defect practice test.

Chris
MovieP https://airlinepilot.life/u/moviep Pat
https://airlinepilot.life/u/moviep
September 8

I understand that the Sim is not like the real thing and that it is just a
glorified video game, I mainly use it like Garret said. I study how a gauge
is supposed to work and then in the sim I can see it in action. I can
manipulate the plane to see how it effects the gauge without the fear of
crashing. I know it is not like the real thing but it helps to understand
how certain things work from a visual stand point.

Chris,
I have not taken any practice tests yet, I have used the sportys study
buddy website quizzes along with the test prep book. The problem I am
finding is that some of the questions on the quizzes are not in the test
prep book. I have already gone through the book once and am going through
it again from the beginning and re reading what I cant remember from the
first time through.

Is there another source I can use to learn what is on the test but not in
the Prep book?
Also where can I go to take a practice test?
huxfirefighter36 https://airlinepilot.life/u/huxfirefighter36 Garrett
Fagen https://airlinepilot.life/u/huxfirefighter36
September 8

Pat, I pretty much grew up using flight simulator and although I think it
helps in some aspects it hurts in others. Chris is right, you do develop
bad habits with it. When I started my private training I was constantly
told by my instructor to keep my eyes outside of the airplane. I had a very
bad habit (from flight simulator) of looking at the instruments. This is
good for instrument flight but will hurt you during you private training. I
can’t help but think it did help in many ways though too. For someone who
has a significant amount of hours on flight sim vs. someone who has never
seen a cockpit, I would tend to bet the flight sim student would have a
better grasp of stuff. I soloed with around only 8 hrs and I do contribute
some of that to flight sim I think. But keep in mind, the controls are
similar but the feel is so much different. There is no good way to
replicate everything in sim that you will feel in the real airplane.

What it can help with is your IFR flight. I practiced multiple approaches
with the flight sim. It helps with your scans and multitasking. There are
also online interfaces that you can get real life people that act as air
traffic control that will help tremendously with radio communication.

In my personal opinion, most people have issues with the knowledge and not
the actual flying, so make sure you are solid on your studying and I
wouldn’t worry so much about flight sim and how it compares to the
knowledge portion of the private pilot. It takes lots of hours and
memorization, plane and simple, that’s it. Good luck with your PPL.
Adam https://airlinepilot.life/u/adam
https://airlinepilot.life/u/adam Pilot Mentor
September 8

Pat,

I’m not sure how much of the PP Test Prep stuff translates to X plane but
the test prep is just that, a test prep. Have you taken any practice exams?
You’re looking to consistently score in the 90s. Keep in mind the tests
expire after 2yrs so you don’t want to get too ahead of yourself. It really
depends on how close you think you are to starting at ATP.

Adam
Chris https://airlinepilot.life/u/chris
https://airlinepilot.life/u/chris Pilot Mentor
September 8

Pat,

You will hear many differing opinions on flight simulation software. I
personally think that it teaches a lot of bad habits that can be hard to
un-learn when you get into the real airplane. If you think about it, it is
just a video game and there is no CFI there to correct you. I always asked
my students to not use the software.

Chris

Visit Topic

https://airlinepilot.life/t/flying-in-the-northwest/7331/11 or
reply to this email to respond.

You are receiving this because you enabled mailing list mode.

I would just study the questions. You’re going to get all of the ground you
need once you start ATP. I bet you can find a lot of answers to specific
questions you come across on YouTube.

Tory

Good old YouTube! Your right, I have used it to help clarify many questions I had.
Thank You

Thank You all for the replies, it really helps.