Georgia Model Aviators - New Pilot Training

Training Coordinator: David Roberts

Overview 
It is important that the new pilot understands both safety and common sense guidelines provided by the GMA and the Academy of Model Aviation. You should immediately understand that all pilots take a careful and pragmatic approach to flying their aircraft prior, during, and after the airplane leaves the ground.

Our goal is to get you flying safely, responsibly, and with necessary skills to fly on your own.
We will provide trainers (pilots who teach), patience, and guidance. We even have JR, Futaba, and Spektrum buddy boxes available (with prior arrangements).

As a new pilot, you should provide your own aircraft to learn with (we can buddy box to your radio, hopefully). You may need to make a few trips to the GMA skypark getting your aircraft air worthy...and in the end, your pragmatic approach will pay off.

1) Familiarize yourself with the General Field Guidelines...and consider them the quiet rules of conduct at the airfield. Sticking to these guidelines will keep things safe for all. 
2) Following that, the Pre-Flight Checklist should be considered prior to every flight of your aircraft. It's always a good idea to run through this list a few times, starting with the night before the next trip to the airfield (often a time saver at the air park). 
3) We have a carefully determined 10 step process new pilot training program: 
- to allow the new pilot to understand the logical learning path 
- to teach the essentials for a pilot to solo successfully
- to receive sign-off and freedom to fly unencumbered at the GMA air field. 

General Field Guidelines 

When you arrive at the field or finish a flight, turn off your transmitter. 

• Do not turn your transmitter on anywhere at the field unless you have the frequency pin. 

• Put your club ID (or current AMA card for guests) in your frequency slot. If there are other cards in the slot, place yours in the rear. Find the pilot with whom you share the frequency pin. The pilot who is in the front position flies first and then places their card in rear when done for that flight. 

• Only turn on your transmitter when you have the frequency number indication card (Frequency Pin) in your possesion. Hold onto the Frequency Pin during the time that you have control of that frequency. 

• Have your Name, Phone #, Address and AMA number posted inside your aircraft. Also place your name and phone number on your transmitter in case it is ever left at the field. 

• Do not break in your engine in the startup area. 

• Do not start engines in the pit area. 

• Restrain your aircraft while the engine is running. 

• When running up your engine, direct the prop blast away from other aircraft or equipment. 

• You may taxi your aircraft only on the runway or taxiways. 

• Do not walk directly in front of other pilots when walking to a flight station. 

• When on or flying near the runway, call out your intentions (let other pilots know how you will be using the area on or above the runway). 

• When flying in traffic, get someone to act as your spotter (essential for the new pilots). 

• In traffic, fly with the pattern (upwind passes near the runway, downwind passes further out). 

• Low passes over the runway must be called out and made from the centerline runway out. 

Pre-Flight Check List (referred to prior to every flight)

Flight Lessons Syllabus 

Level 1: Radio and field procedures
Level 2: Aircraft familiarization
Level 3: Flight familiarization
Level 4: Flight maneuvers
Level 5: Accuracy maneuvers
Level 6: Orientation maneuvers
Level 7: Take off
Level 8: Recovery from unusual attitudes
Level 9: Approaches to landing
Level 10: Emergency procedures

Flying Lessons...the 10 levels of achievement

Level #1 Field Procedures
- Review of club rules regarding field use and club etiquette. 
- Instructor and club disclaimer for responsibility of lost equipment due to accident or midair collision.

Level #2 Radio and Aircraft Familiarization
- Pre-flight the model looking for deficiencies that could cause an accident or safety hazard. 
- Techniques on starting and adjusting engine. 
- Radio range check. 
- Student fuels airplane.

Level #3 Flight Familiarization
- The flight instructor will test fly the aircraft to verify its air worthiness and handling qualities. 
- Hook up buddy box, check control directions/throws, discuss response of flight controls during flight 
- Demonstrate techniques of taxiing.

Level #4 Flight Maneuvers
- Taxiing
- Level flight in pattern
- Left and right turns

Level #5 Accuracy Maneuvers
- Left and right turns at constant altitude. 
- Throttle control in flight. 
- Left and right climbing turns. 
- Left and right descending turns.

Level #6 Orientation Maneuvers
- Figure eights around the field. 
- Left and right approaches over the runway. 
- Go-arounds.

Level #7 Take Off
- Student will taxi aircraft onto runway and take off into a gentle climbing turn to enter flight pattern.

Level #8 Recovery From Unusual Attitudes
- Slow Flight
- Stalls
- Loops
- Rolls

Level #9 Approaches To Landing
- Left and right approaches. High at first with go-arounds, gradually lowering altitude and maintaining airspeed control with ultimately smooth
landings on the centerline.

Level #10 Emergency Procedures
- Cross wind flight 
- Dead stick landings
- Downwind landings

Solo Flight
The student will conduct the flight starting from getting your transmitter
with frequency pin, starting the engine, taxiing, take off, left and right
approaches, and landing in the upwind direction all without the aid of a
buddy box (no mishaps). Solo flight must be administered by a club
certified check pilot.