Multitasking is a skill that pilots must learn in order to operate safely. Multitasking comes harder for guys, and coincidentally most pilots are men. I learned about this new skill first hand on an intro flight I took a couple years ago. My flight instructor had just landed the plane at the Lincoln-Harder Airport and I was given control of the plane once more.
“Taxi to the end of the runway, then we’ll head back to the ramp.”
It was a sweltering summer day and now that we were back on the ground I began to feel the uncomfortable heat building up in the cabin.
“Is it okay if I open the window?” I asked.
“Sure, go ahead.” Taxiing a plane is no big deal at all – steering is done with the feet and the throttle is a sort of cruise control. I turned to my left and started unlatching the window. Immediately my willing plane followed me, veering left toward the grass at a good 15 mph. Woops. I stomped on the right rudder pedal. There we go. Come on window, open. Keep going straight! Finally I got the window open without turning the plane into a lawnmower. My driving was certainly unique, however.
A few minutes later I was in the car heading back to Weimar, having finished my second (most people take only one) introductory flying lesson. Intro flights, while not being full-fledged lessons, still teach students valuable principles: look to make sure it’s clear before you turn, pull back a bit more when banking, and always use checklists. I came back from the airport that day with one more thing to remember: I still have a lot more to learn about flying – especially flying on the ground!
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