As each of my kids went through fourth grade they were taught the concept of the learning line.
The learning line has four stages: Novice, apprentice, practitioner, and expert.
As in most things in life, some people are better at a given task than others. In learning line speak, while I may be a novice or apprentice, others are practitioners or experts.
It is a tool to get kids to stop telling themselves they are “dumb” or “will never understand.”
No, they aren’t dumb, they’re a novice and they need more time and practice.
My youngest kid is a junior in high school, so it has been a few years since I’ve thought about the learning line.
And yet, as I read Barry Schiff’s new book, “An Illustrated Guide to Flying,” the learning line popped into my head.
The certificate I carry in my wallet reminds me I am a Commercial Pilot. The ratings on the back side of my card include: Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine Land; Instrument Airplane; Private Privileges Airplane Multiengine Land. My limitation is Airplane Multiengine VFR Only.
While I am proud to be a certificated pilot, the entire year of 2022 passed without my operating any aircraft as pilot in command. Sigh. Such is life.
But as I was reading Barry’s book, at several points I thought to myself, “I remember that.” And yet, at other points, I thought, “I don’t remember that at all.”
Suffice it to say, in some areas of aviation knowledge I’m a practitioner and yet in other areas I am a novice. I don’t count myself an expert in any category.
For sure, I’m a rusty pilot.
An Illustrated Guide to Flying is a dense book. It feels like CliffsNotes for flying.
The words are exacting. There is not a lot — or any — fluff. It packs a lot of information — words and images — into just 203 pages and 13 chapters, including:
- Aviation History
- The Science of Flight
- Aircraft Variety
- Aircraft Engines
- Flight Instruments
- Flight Maneuvers
- Basic Navigation
- Radio Navigation
- Performance
- Weather
- Airports and Air Traffic Control
- Aviation Regulations
- Learning to Fly
You won’t be check ride ready after reading this book, but it may just jog your memory on a topic you’ve not thought of in many years or it may provide the exact jumping off point to go deep on something of interest.
ASA’s 2023 FAR/AIM is 1,088 pages. There is a lot to know and a lot to forget if you don’t exercise that knowledge regularly. And that is just the regulatory and advisory information from the FAA. Never mind aircraft specific knowledge and skills.
Whether you are a many decades active aviator, just took your first flight lesson, are thinking about learning to fly, or are a rusty pilot like me, An Illustrated Guide to Flying is a book you should consider adding to your bookshelf.
As we often hear, a pilot certificate is a license to learn. So mind your learning line, and do all you can to stay above the apprentice level. If that sounds reasonable, this book may just help.
An Illustrated Guide to Flying is priced at $19.95 and is available from ASA.
What, no weight and balance chapter? Interesting!
Weight and balance are part of Chapter 9, Performance.
Got it.
I always add another point to the learning line – Teach. When you teach someone what you have become accomplished in doing, it makes you think about why you do what you do.
That is a great addition. Thanks Richard.