Recently, I had the chance to fly with a pair of "foggles" on. They are slightly reminiscent of the glasses my dad kept from his Air Force days known as "BC Glasses," or, "Birth control glasses." Alas, I forgot to take a selfie with them on (but do not fret-- I still have two hours left of foggle training for self-inflicted photo opportunities). For now, however, this photo will have to give you an idea of what I am talking about:
Pilots fly under two different sets of rules-- either visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR). Generally, student pilots and private pilots stick to VFR, meaning that they fly only when the visibility is great enough for them to "fly by eye." However, since weather is relatively unpredictable, there might be a time when a private pilot takes-off with good visibility, but finds themselves stuck in clouds with little to no visibility. For this reason, even private pilots should take a few hours of instrument training.
This is where the foggles come in. In essence, the foggles force the pilot into a {simulated} situation of low visibility. The fogged out portion of the glasses line up with the windshield, deeming the sky practically useless as a tool so that the pilot must focus on the instruments.
For me, this hour of training was quite awkward. I think this was the first time in my training that I felt a relative amount of hatred toward an airplane. Yes, probably the only time I have disliked an airplane, in fact. Experiencing the foggles forces you to rely on the instruments as opposed to your own sensations, which is just stinkin' hard at first. There were a couple of times when the plane was descending quite quickly according to the instruments, but I could not physically feel the descent. It is really difficult to ignore your own thoughts, feelings, and sensations when you are in mid-air and your sensations directly oppose what your instruments are telling you.
However, this special hour of training was almost like the sweet little Piper braiding me a friendship bracelet, saying, "Hey, you can trust me." Especially when conditions are rough, it is important to recognize that the instruments are (unfortunately) more fine-tuned than our human bodies when it comes to flight. Though we might feel that we are climbing, if the instruments say it isn't so, then the instruments are more than likely going to be right (999 times out of 1000).
Thanks, Pipes, for the lovely friendship bracelet. I trust you.
*Ten points if that last line made you think of OITNB*
This is where the foggles come in. In essence, the foggles force the pilot into a {simulated} situation of low visibility. The fogged out portion of the glasses line up with the windshield, deeming the sky practically useless as a tool so that the pilot must focus on the instruments.
For me, this hour of training was quite awkward. I think this was the first time in my training that I felt a relative amount of hatred toward an airplane. Yes, probably the only time I have disliked an airplane, in fact. Experiencing the foggles forces you to rely on the instruments as opposed to your own sensations, which is just stinkin' hard at first. There were a couple of times when the plane was descending quite quickly according to the instruments, but I could not physically feel the descent. It is really difficult to ignore your own thoughts, feelings, and sensations when you are in mid-air and your sensations directly oppose what your instruments are telling you.
However, this special hour of training was almost like the sweet little Piper braiding me a friendship bracelet, saying, "Hey, you can trust me." Especially when conditions are rough, it is important to recognize that the instruments are (unfortunately) more fine-tuned than our human bodies when it comes to flight. Though we might feel that we are climbing, if the instruments say it isn't so, then the instruments are more than likely going to be right (999 times out of 1000).
Thanks, Pipes, for the lovely friendship bracelet. I trust you.
*Ten points if that last line made you think of OITNB*