GOOD AIRMANSHIP - SOME TIPS

1. Whenever possible, schedule your flight during a time when traffic is least heavy.

2. Be so familiar with the layout of your airplane that you can find and work every control without looking. Practice this blindfolded on the ground until you can do it perfectly.

3. Keep the windows of your airplane unobstructed. Don't put maps and computers in the windows.

4. Keep the windows of your airplane clean.

5. Wear sunglasses on bright days. Do not use opaque sun visors.

6. Be sure you are flying at the correct altitude for your direction of flight.

7. Always look around carefully before starting a turn, while in the turn and after resuming straight and level flight.

8. When climbing or descending, do several clearing turns to check the path of your flight for other airplanes.

9. Keep up a regular routine of scanning the sky around you for other airplanes. Don't forget to do this while concentrating on one airplane. There may be others around also.

10. Keep a watch for older or large airplanes and stay out of their way. Visibility out of these types is usually poor.

11. Give your passengers the job of looking for and pointing out other airplanes in the air.

12. Pay attention to the radio as other pilots call in and report their positions.

13. Be precise in reporting over the geographic location requested by the controller. Call at that point and not two or three miles beyond.

14. Once you have accepted an ATC clearance, follow it. If an ATC clearance is not acceptable because of the operational capabilities of your airplane, so inform ATC and ask for other instructions. Ask to "Say Again" if you don't understand. Never acknowledge a transmission if you have not understood.

15. If you fly a high performance airplane, try to slow it down to around 100 knots in the circuit so that your speed matches that of other circuit traffic.

16. Be especially alert when joining the circuit and when turning on final.

17. Be sure to remain VFR and well clear of cloud unless you are cleared IFR.

18. If you are IFR and in good visibility, remember that VFR traffic could be at your altitude and track.