The following editorial is guest written by Jared Jacobs.
There are numerous paths pilots can take when making the piston to turbine transition. The more gradual approach is to start with a single-engine turboprop, move to a multi-engine turboprop, then graduate to a multi-engine jet. But in today’s market, there are also plenty of options that allow pilots to jump from a piston straight into a single or multi-engine light jet.
Whichever path you choose, there are many changes and differences to consider in operation and ownership of the airplane. This T &T issue contains insights to help inform and educate on some of those considerations. Here are a few tips from my personal experience climbing the piston to turbine ladder to kick things off!
Prioritize Your Training
While I’m not saying you need to pay for the most expensive training option (or that price is even an indicator of the quality), do your research. Find the training most compatible with your past experience and your new aircraft. Simulator-based training is known to be the industry standard because it can introduce weather, system failures, and other dangerous situations in a controlled environment. But in-aircraft training can provide real-life, tangible experience in your own aircraft that a simulator just cannot replicate. A combination of simulator training and in-aircraft could be an effective option. Find a few different options, compare their pros and cons, and make an informed decision that is right for you.
A second point is don’t skimp on how much of your time and effort you give. In these training events, you truly get out of it what you are willing to put in. To get the most out of your investment and build your skill set, you need to properly prepare ahead of time by going over any pre-course study material. Once in training, pay attention closely and participate in the ground school, asking any questions you may have and completing homework assignments. Life is sure to try and distract and pull you away, but for the period of time you are in training, look at it as your new full-time job. It deserves complete and uninterrupted attention.
Find a Mentor
Some insurance companies will require a certain number of hours flown with a mentor pilot in your new aircraft. At first, that may seem restrictive, but it is a great way to become familiar and comfortable in the aircraft. I would recommend this practice to anyone moving into a turbine for the first time or pilots transitioning to a different turbine.
Having an experienced set of eyes follow along on a pre-flight will help you understand what is normal and what you should possibly be on the lookout for. You’ll also receive guidance on items such as running checklists or flows, handling tricky clearances in the new avionics, and how to best configure and fly different approaches. Taking a mentor along on the first few flights will allow you to solidify what you’ve learned in training while picking up some rules of thumb and gaining valuable real-world experience on routes you commonly fly.
Take it Slow
Again, I have a couple of points here. The first is that a turbine aircraft has expanded capabilities from what you may have been accustomed to with previous aircraft. But just because the aircraft is capable doesn’t mean we should immediately explore and test all of those capabilities at once. Layer new experiences and pressures on slowly so you don’t wind up overwhelmed. For example, if you’ve never experienced meaningful icing before, don’t let the first time flying in moderate or greater icing be in an area of low IFR. Similarly, if you haven’t flown into a mountainous airport in the aircraft, select a nice VFR day if you are going to do so.
Said another way: Know your limitations and recognize that these limitations may have changed drastically from your last aircraft. With experience (and input from a mentor pilot), these limitations can be reevaluated, and you can quickly start expanding into the new capabilities of the aircraft in no time.
The second part of this tip is quite literal. If you feel rushed or behind the airplane at any time, slow it down! A common misconception I suffered from early in my turbine transition was thinking that I had to be flying fast because I was flying a turbine-powered aircraft. Yet, most common first turbine aircraft you will encounter have very wide airspeed envelopes and can fly fantastically at airspeeds similar to a high-performance piston aircraft. When things start happening too quickly, slow the airplane down to a speed you are more accustomed to.
This is clearly a condensed list, but I believe it’s a good place to start with more content on the pages to follow. One last tip that I hope goes without saying is to have fun! Flying a turbine aircraft will be a fun challenge that will ultimately make you a better pilot. And the experiences you gain and the places it will take you are bound to lead to many enjoyable memories.
