Student Pilot Log

Ocean County Modeler's Club's internet version, dated 8/2/01

Student Name: ____________________________

AMA No. __________________________

{end of Cover Page}

    The information in this booklet is intended as a guide for the progression of a newcomer to the field of RADIO CONTROL FLYING.  This booklet should be kept by the STUDENT PILOT, and be kept current as he progresses toward becoming a qualified pilot of the OCEAN COUNTY MODELERS.  The Instructor will use this book as a guide during his flight training sessions with the Student Pilot.  Some Trainees will progress at a faster rate than others, but this booklet should give both the Instructor and the Trainee an indication of the progress that has been made up to the present.

    This guide is by no means an iron-clad directory for learning o fly, but it should be used to assist Instructors and Trainees in determining what state of proficiency has been achieved, and what needs to be done prior to the QUALIFICATION FLIGHT.

    GROUND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE is MANDATORY, prior to the initiation of any flight training, or QUALIFICATION FLIGHT.

    If at any time during flight training, the Student Pilot feels that he can perform the qualification flight without further training, he may do so if he wishes.  But if fails the qualification flight, he MUST go back to the point in the book where he left off, and complete all the steps leading up to the qualification flight, before he is allowed to perform the qualification flight again.

1.  PLANE AND EQUIPMENT:

    The instructor should inspect the entire plane for construction integrity, warps, alignment, and CG balance.  He should also check the radio equipment installation, pushrods, fuel tank, engine and engine mount, in accordance with the Maiden Flight, preflight check list on page 6.  Also, range check the radio and all controls with the engine running.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

{end of Page 1}

2. TEST FLIGHT AND TRIM (primarily for the instructor):

    Range check the radio.  The instructor shall takeoff, establish level flight and if possible, trim the plane for hands off flight.  Check for any unusual flight characteristics.  Land and correct all linkages and/or pushrods for center trim.  Remove wing and re-inspect airplane after its maiden flight.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

3.  FAMILIARIZE TRAINEE WITH EQUIPMENT:

    Instruct the trainee on the proper use of the equipment.  Demonstrate stick use on the ground.  The student should handle the equipment enough to be reasonably familiar with control responses to his stick actions.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

    Note: If possible, a buddy box should be used for all flight training.  If  it is not used, have a clear understanding with the student pilot PRIOR TO FLIGHT TRAINING, how you want to handle the transfer of the transmitter in the event of trouble.

4.  PERFORM CIRCLES WITH NO ALTITUDE GAIN OR LOSS:

    The instructor will take off, establish level flight, and perform the maneuver while explaining his actions.  Allow the student to hold the transmitter while the instructor keeps one hand on it.  Talk the trainee through the maneuver.  Any time a dangerous attitude is encountered, the instructor will retrieve the transmitter, establish level flight and start again with the student.  The trainee should be able to perform right and left hand circles with no loss or gain in altitude.  Do not advance to the next maneuver until this can be done proficiently.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

{end of Page 2}

5. PERFORM FIGURE EIGHTS WITH NO ALTITUDE GAIN OR LOSS:

    The instructor will take off, establish level flight and perform the maneuver while explaining his actions.   Allow the student to hold the transmitter.  At this stage is should not be necessary for the instructor to keep his hand on the transmitter.  Talk the trainee through the maneuver.  Before progressing to the next step, the trainee should be able to perform figure eights to the right and left with no loss or gain in altitude.  Do not advance to next maneuver until this can be done proficiently.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

6.  STRAIGHT FLIGHT OVER THE FIELD AT ALTITUDE:

    The instructor will take off, establish level flight and perform the maneuver while explaining his actions.  The student should be talked through the maneuver while explaining  his actions.  Do not advance until the trainee has demonstrated his ability to control the plane, coming   and going, through straight flight with no altitude loss or gain.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

7.  SQUARE PATTERN FLIGHT - RIGHT AND LEFT HAND PATTERNS:

     The instructor will take of, establish level flight and perform the maneuver while explaining his actions.  The student should be talked through the maneuver several times.  Do not advance to the next step until the trainee has demonstrated his ability to control the plane through the maneuver with no loss of altitude.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

{end of Page 3}

8.  MAKE  TAKEOFF:

    The instructor will take off while explaining his actions.  The trainee should practice taxiing for a period of time, to allow him to become familiar with control actions.  The trainee should execute several medium speed taxi runs before a takeoff is attempted.  When the trainee has shown his ability to control the plane during the takeoff practice run, allow him to takeoff while talking him through the control required.  The instructor should land the plane during the phase of training.  Do not advance to the next step until the trainee has demonstrated his ability to perform a well-controlled takeoff.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

9.  MAKE LANDING:

    The instructor will make a landing while explaining his actions.  During this phase, the instructor should perform all of the takeoffs.  Have the trainee fly square patterns as performed in step 7.  On the cross wind and final, talk the student through altitude loss, apply power, and go around again.  When he has shown the ability to properly control the aircraft, talk him through the landing.  Do it again.  Practice makes perfect!

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

10.  MAKE DEAD STICK LANDING:

    The instructor will demonstrate a dead stick landing by flying to a safe altitude, shutting down the engine and then proceeding to make a safe power-off landing.  During this phase, procedures of step 9 will be followed and several power-on landings will be made before the student attempts a dead-stick landing.  This will be repeated until the student demonstrates his ability to position the aircraft for final approach, maintain speed during the descent (without stalling) and land within the field boundaries without power.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

{end of Page 4}

11.  OBSERVE SOLO FLIGHTS:

    The instructor shall stand by while the student makes a MINIMUM of 10 solo flights before attempting the QUALIFICATION FLIGHT.

12.  QUALIFICATION FLIGHT:

    The qualification flight should take place with the instructor as an observer, and should demonstrate the student's ability to fly alone and safely.  The following is the maneuver list which must be satisfied by the student in order to qualify as a solo pilot.

Checked by: __________________

Date: ________________________

13.  Upon successful completion of the qualification flight, the student will present this log to the Chief Flight Instructor for the club record keeping purposes.

{end of Page 5}

NOTE TO FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS

    Be sure that you do initial training at sufficient altitude so that you can retrieve the transmitter and recover the plane without damage (use a buddy box whenever possible).  The only maneuvers that requires minimum altitude are takeoff and landing, so there should be no reason for crashes prior to these steps.  At the time of landing and takeoff, the trainee should have already demonstrated flight competency, thereby reducing crash possibility.  All flying will be done in accordance with the CLUB FIELD and FLYING RULES.

NOTE TO STUDENT

    Keep this booklet with you, so that you may be assisted by any instructor available, when you are at the field.  Do not be afraid to approach any of the instructors at any time.  They have volunteered to assist you, but you must speak up.  REMEMBER that you are not allowed to fly unassisted until  you have qualified.  This is for your safety and the safety of everybody present at the field.  You may crash during the training, but you should not let this discourage you.  The best flyers also crash, as you will see while observing activities at the field. 

PRACTICE -  PRACTICE - PRACTICE - PRACTICE - PRACTICE - PRACTICE

MAIDEN FLIGHT - PREFLIGHT INSPECTION

INTERNAL (remove wing if attached)

1.   Check all servo mounts, servos, and servo arms secure.
2.   Check all push rods secure.
3.   Check receiver and battery are padded and secure.
4.   Check for loose items and wires that could foul servo or pushrod movement.

WING

1.   Check for breaks, warps,  etc.
2.    Insure that center section is adequately reinforced.
3.    Check aileron pushrods, linkage and clevises (if equipped) prior to securing wing to aircraft.
4.    Brief new pilots on adequacy of rubber bands (if equipped).
5.    After wing is in place, check for proper incidence and alignments as best you can.

{end of Page 6}

ENGINE Area:

1.    Fire wall area is fuel proofed.
2.    Check engine mount, engine, muffler and prop nut/spinner are securely mounted.
3.    Check prop for nicks, cracks etc. and brief new pilots on the importance of this check.
4.    Check nose wheel steering mechanism (if equipped).
5.    Check cowl secure (if equipped).
6.    Check engine for obvious thrust misalignment.

TAIL SECTION:

1.    Check vertical fin, rudder and rudder clevis are secure.
2.    Check tail wheel (if equipped).
3.    Check horizontal stabilizer, elevator and elevator clevis are secure.

BALANCE:

1.    Balance aircraft with fuel tank empty.
2.    Show new pilots proper balance point and balance technique.
3.    Explain the danger of a tail-heavy aircraft.
4.    Tail-heavy situations should be corrected prior to flight.

RANGE CHECK - STARTING ENGINE:

1.    Obtain  frequency pin and attach to transmitter.
2.    Insure that radio batteries have been adequately  charged.
3.    Check that flight controls and engine control move in the proper direction.
4.    Check transmitter for correct rates.
5.    Check flight control surfaces to be in proper trim.
6.    Fuel aircraft, start engine and make adjustments to obtain proper engine idle.  Make sure that the engine can be shut off by lowering the trim control on the transmitter (explain how/why to new pilots)
7.    Range check aircraft with engine running (explain why to new pilots).

NOTE:  If everything checks out properly, the aircraft should be ready for its maiden flight.

{end of Page 7}

ROUTINE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION

INTERNAL (before attaching wing):

1.    Check all servo mounts, servos, and servo arms secure.
2.    Check all push rods secure.
3.    Check receiver and battery are padded and secure.
4.    Check for loose items and wires that could foul servo or pushrod movement.
5.    Check for fuel leaks.

WING(s):

1.    Check for breaks, warps, cracks, etc.
2.    Check aileron pushrods, linkage and clevises (if equipped) prior to securing wing to aircraft.

ENGINE AREA:

1.    Check engine mount, engine, muffler and prop nut/spinner are securely mounted.
2.    Check prop for nicks, cracks etc. and brief new pilots on the importance of this check.
3.    Check nose wheel steering mechanism (if equipped).
4.    Check cowl secure (if equipped).

TAIL SECTION:

1.    Check vertical fin, rudder and rudder clevis are secure.
2.    Check tail wheel (if equipped).
3.    Check horizontal stabilizer, elevator and elevator clevis are secure.

RANGE CHECK and CONTROL CHECK:

1.    When frequency pin is available, attach to transmitter and perform range check.
2.    Check that flight controls move in the proper direction.
3.    Check transmitter for correct rates.
4.    Check flight control surfaces to be in proper trim.

{end of Page 8}

Back to OCM's Home Page