Today was one of those days when everything just seems to go wrong. My takeoff was all over the place and I imagined the tower controllers slapping ten dollar bills onto the table betting on whether I’d end up in the sewage lagoon or the trees. It’s all very overwhelming trying to simultaneously control ailerons, rudder, elevator, and power settings, not to mention make radio calls and try and maintain a flight path at least close to the designated airway. I have to remind myself that I’m only four hours into my training and that I have a competent instructor in the seat beside me.
On a positive note, I wrote my PSTAR this afternoon and scored 98% or 49/50. The only question I answered incorrectly was: Avoiding wake turbulence [wing-tip vortices produced by aircraft – especially large aircraft] is
a) the sole responsibility of ATC [air traffic control].
b) the responsibility of the pilot, only when advised by ATC of the possibility of wake turbulence.
c) a responsibility shared by both the pilot and ATC.
d) the sole responsibility of the pilot.
I second guessed myself and answered “c”. And while it is true that ATC does provide separation between large aircraft and small aircraft (and provide wake turbulence warnings to pilots) the ultimate responsibility is, of course, the pilot’s. As someone said, “It’s YOUR butt!”
Glad that’s over. Now I just need to study for the “Radiotelephone Operator’s Restricted Certificate” and the “Air Law or PALAW”, and the “Navigation or PANAV”, and the Meteorology or PAMET”, and the “Aeronautics-General Knowledge or PAGEN”, and the practical flight test, and the…
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