"Characteristics of a Distinguished PPC Pilot"
Article written for EAA Sport Pilot magazine
April 2004 by Frederick Scheffel
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OK…the first article (September 2003) of my series on powered parachutes dealt with my love for this sport. This second article addresses the traits that would put you at the top of the PPC Pilot ladder – not just in advanced flight skills, but relative to the total picture – a picture framed by safety.
My experiences in the powered parachute world have lead me to believe that there are at least four main characteristics needed in a remarkable PPC pilot…1) the ability to focus; 2) the awareness to anticipate events beyond the aircraft; 3) the self insight to know (really know) your skill level and your PPC performance parameters; and 4) the courage to take responsibility for yourself and for the ultralight community.
The ability to FOCUS seems to be the first facet that comes to mind when I envision the ideal PPC pilot. The ability to stay in the moment – regardless of the topic of conversation you are having with your flight Student (second seat occupant) – regardless of the emotional or financial events that occurred prior to your take-off roll – and regardless of your current personal problems. To be able to focus on your current flight situation (altitude, weather conditions, and surroundings) regardless of an endless variety of distractions – this is a strong ingredient of a great pilot.
The first distinguished facet of our illustrious PPC pilot easily leads us to the next characteristic – perhaps a sub-facet of the Focus attribute – the capability to anticipate events beyond your aircraft. To be able to think ahead of the aircraft, to plan the next two-to-three actions that you will (or may) need to take while in flight is an invaluable asset to acquire. Yes, I know that the powered parachute is a slow flying craft, that we are usually just cruising at 26 to 32 mph – but all the more reason to stay aware – to avoid the easy & constant temptation of complacency. At this slow speed we PPC pilots are prone to misplace our focus of the ‘here & now’ flight and are thus distracted from the potential problems ahead by the beauty and contours of the landscape below or by the wildlife on the horizon. Moving in 3-dimensions doesn’t just add a 33% degree of difficulty – it triples our need for awareness. We should never lose focus of possible abnormalities ahead or stop planning on the next (and next) maneuvers that may be needed to continue our safe flight.
Honestly knowing one’s real flight abilities (and therefore skill limitations) and the performance parameters of your PPC is yet another facet of this model pilot. PPC Pilots (especially those with 60 to 100 hours of flight time) may believe that they contain the ultimate skill set of a powered parachute pilot. (I mean, come-on, how hard could it really be to fly a 2-axis aircraft that only flies at 30mph?) However, I would guess that about 95% percent of us are wrong (and 99% of those with 60 to 100 hours are wrong) about our personal flight skill set evaluation and comprehension of the PPC’s flight characteristics. Sure, on a calm overcast 70° F morning, at sea level, with 20% humidity, most of us can perform a certain set of flight tasks. But can you perform that same maneuver when an unexpected wind rotor comes over the ridge line, or the ultralight ahead of you veers without warning and your avoidance options are limited, or you take your PPC over 10,000 feet during a cross-country flight? (You get the picture.)
Sure, some of us constantly practice and most of us have a desire toward proficiency. But sometimes we are throw flight scenarios that we have never anticipated, or had a chance to prepare for. Do you really know how to prepare for a landing site during a cross-country, when the engine stops and you cannot reach the canyon wall, where the winds are already exceeding 10mph and the narrow creek bed below could be hosting a 50mph venturi disturbance? Bottom line here – the ideal pilot maintains a flight position with multiple options – and when he hears that inner voice say "I think I can" – then he DOESN’T! And instead, he takes the next option! He takes the flight path option where he KNOWS that he can perform the require flight task! It is just that ‘black or white’ – there is no gray area here. You either know that you can do the flight maneuver successfully, or you only think you can.
(Whew – I kind’a got on a soap box there didn’t I – well, let’s see if I can get back to the task at hand…)
RESPONSIBILITY - I believe responsibility is the facet that pulls all the other characteristics together of an extraordinary pilot. Yea, we all know that in this Fifth age of Earth, in this current age of humans (the 21st century), the first step to saving a solid positive social foundation for mankind is for each of us to take responsibility for our own actions. But I want to go a little farther than this. Why? Because the way you fly affect not just your privileges and freedoms – it affect all of us ultralight pilots! So I would tag the person who takes the time to help educate other pilots with a sense of community responsibility, and therefore tag them with the strongest characteristic of a great PPC pilot.
Now, let’s look at these Great Pilot characteristics from a slightly different angle. If we take a look at some of the most common PPC pilot errors, we should be able to see how the above admirable characteristics would avoid them.
Common PPC Pilot Errors…
Lapse of intelligence: The familiar trait of the human mind to lose concentration of the ‘here & now’ is a piloting error that frequently causes accidents and the PPC community problems. This feature of the present day human pilot has probably caused more PPC deaths than any other. For example, what else but a "lapse of intelligence" would make a pilot want to try a ‘touch-and-go’ on a moving freight train? What else but a "lapse of intelligence" would make a pilot want to Duct-tape the legs of a paraplegic to the PPC frame and then go fly over water?
[The attribute of FOCUS could have simply resolved, and therefore could have prevented these needless deaths!]
Complacency: Kiting the chute – building the wing, has always gone well – "I’ll never roll-over" says the complacent PPC pilot two hours before they place the cast on his wrist.
[As an observer to many, many (OK, literally hundreds of) chute-kitings, I firmly believe that 90 to 99% of the PPC accidents could be avoided by staying FOCUSED – especially during the building of the PPC wing and by ANTICIPATING kiting problems!]
Unrealistic perception error: The pilot over-estimates that he can perform the needed maneuver. Or he over-estimates that the PPC can climb out of ‘danger’. Or he over-estimates the remaining fuel. (All of us that are guilty – raise your hand.)
[Again, if you don’t KNOW that you – your aircraft can, then just DON’T! KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS – KNOW THE PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS OF YOUR AIRCRAFT!]
Ego errors: The spectators, and of course my pilot peers – really need to know just how good I am. (Who hasn’t seen this error produce complications?)
[Why do you need an audience to prove yourself? Isn’t it enough that you know what you can do? For who are you performing the flight maneuver that pushes the edge of the envelope? Why do these people – the spectators - need to be impressed by you – are you that important? How is your risky action going to help anyone? When one considers these things – isn’t your silly stunt really just narcissistic and ineffective – to say the least - in helping the PPC community? RESPONSIBILITY - KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS & STAY WELL INSIDE THE SAFETY ENVELOPE.
If you want to pursue new, unique flight techniques, then do so on your own time, in your own space. And do so in order to advance the sport and to establish solid safe, well-grounded techniques.]
Ok, so you now have a pretty good understanding of the relationship between common pilot errors, and the admirable characteristics of a great PPC pilot.
But before I let you go, let me touch on one more relative area of the acknowledged PPC pilot traits. How this pilot reacts when something does go wrong, how this pilot handles "Murphy’s Law" unexpected scenarios, and how he can help prevent similar errors needs to be addressed. We need a prevention system.
First thing the pilot needs to do to help the PPC pilot community from duplicating the same mistake is to understand exactly what happened and why it happened. In order to help others benefit from the piloting error, the pilot needs insight of the incident. He needs to be honest about WHAT he did, WHY & WHEN he did it.
Next, the pilot must take responsibility for the error. And then just as importantly, he needs to let go of the ego and share the experience with other pilots. No pilot has the time to experience all the problems and safely resolve all the possible flight mistakes. We must be able to rely on the honest experiences, knowledge and basic flying ‘know-how’ of our comrades to obtain those ultimate safe flying traits.
The last step of the prevention routine would be to develop a system for pilots to recognize the signs of the impending problem and then form new habits, new routines that will prevent future pilots from carving the same error in the skies.
In summary…
Avoid complacency, stay focused
Anticipate – think beyond the aircraft
Know you can perform the flight maneuver or take another flight path option
Take responsibility
Educate others
If you have had problems teaching or learning a specific flight task or would like me to address a PPC training issue, please feel free to express your thoughts to me via email at Info@SkyTrailsRanch.com.
Until next time…keep preparing for the possible by maintaining a position with options and remember that the easiest way to solve a (flying) problem is by avoiding it!
Frederick is the author of the "PPC Guide & Training Manual" and the CEO & lead AFI of SkyTrails Ranch, Inc. – a full-time, year-round PPC training center in the beautiful color country of southern Utah.
"UL-PPC Guide & Training Manual" are