|
| Looking for help from more experienced Pilots? |
The AOPA VFR Mentoring Scheme aims to stem the drift of pilots away from general aviation, encourage them to take on new challenges and help them progress up the skills ladder.
Some 75% of PPLs fail to renew their licences after five years, and one cause is the perceived difficulty of moving from being a newly-qualified, low-hours PPL to being a confident and capable flyer.
Exemplifying the problem is the low-hours pilot who rarely ventures beyond the local area for fear of complex and unknown airspace, mistrusts his own ability to evaluate the weather, isn’t very good on the radio, can’t confidently operate all the kit in the aircraft or unravel the NOTAMs, or sticks to familiar territory for other reasons. For him or her flying will soon pall, and there is a high risk that they will be lost to general aviation.
You don’t have to be a low hours new pilot to benefit from flying with a Mentor. You may be a high hours pilot who has just gained a new rating, started flying a different aeroplane or recently completed differences training, where flying with a Mentor who has more experience in these areas would give you more confidence to build your hours.
Is this You?
If so then you should apply to be registered as an AOPA VFR Mentee and, when registered, you will be given access to AOPA VFR Mentors in your locality.
To be a Mentee you need to be a current AOPA Member with a current Pilots Licence, medical certificate and class rating and also have at least an AOPA Bronze Wings Award, which is awarded free to qualified Pilots. For details of the Wings Award scheme click here
Mentees must register with AOPA, providing documentary evidence of these qualifications. This will be done via AOPA Regional Representatives where available, otherwise through head office. Mentors and Mentees indemnify AOPA from responsibility for the outcome of the mentorship. However, AOPA will have liability insurance in case the indemnity is found to be inadequate. Additionally, both Mentor and Mentee must take responsibility for checking each other’s qualifications before flight. In particular the Mentor must check the legality of the flight.
You, the Mentee, will be the Commander for the whole flight.
A typical example of a VFR mentoring flight could be a trip from a Midlands airfield to an airfield in France for lunch. This would require you, as the Mentee, to plan and execute the flight with appropriate guidance from the Mentor. This type of flight would give the mentee an opportunity to prepare for subsequent AOPA Wings Scheme achievements and would certainly build confidence and keep the fun in his flying.
You can ask your Mentor to provide advice on everything from document review to Customs and Special Branch clearances, weight and balance, weather, NOTAMs, flight planning, correct RT, fuel drawbacks, range and endurance, lost procedures – anything that helps keep a pilot from infringing controlled airspace is especially vital at this time.
Depending on the Mentor’s skills and strengths he or she might provide help with farm strip flying, noise reduction, flying into major airports, or a hundred other issues.
The current guide to the AOPA VFR Mentor Scheme can be found here
You can also download a Mentee application form here.
THERE ARE MENTORS OUT THERE WAITING TO HELP YOU!
REGISTER NOW
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Join AOPA. We're supporting
your right to fly! |
|
 |
|
|
AOPA Membership entitles you to great
benefits,
insurance advice and much more! Find
out more |
|
|
|
|
|
It's time to Renew/Revalidate
your JAR-FCL Instructor Rating
(fixed wing or rotary) |
|
|
|
AOPA will be conducting further
Flight Instructor Renewal
Seminars as follows: |
|
23-24 Mar 10 - Bristol University
20-21 Jul 10 - Wycombe Air Park
16-17 Nov 10 - Wycombe Air Park
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
FREE General Aviation
Magazine for AOPA
Members and students |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to the FREE
AOPA
mailing list for latest updates! |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
