What's a good way for a student pilot to practice spotting airplanes

Question

i'm still relatively young as a pilot and i'm learning things little by little but the most nagging thing is finding an airplane after they tell me they're nearby. what's a good way to practice my ability to find nearby planes?

Answer 1

Every chance you get spot as many planes as you can. Got kids?-make a game of it with them. practice/practice/practice

Answer 2

There are a number of things you can do to improve your chances, and there are a few things you should know about what it means when ATC tells you there is traffic.

As others have said, don't scan continuously. Look at one spot for a few seconds. You're looking for something moving. It may be bigger or smaller than you think it will be.

Objects at your altitude will appear to be on the horizon.

Think about distances for a minute: When you're five miles from something that has a 32' wingspan, it's going to be very, very small. You may not see it at all. It's hard to see small planes that are farther than a couple miles away unless you catch the sun glinting off them.

ATC's primary objective is to provide separation for IFR flights. For VFR flights they just provide advisories. So if you're VFR and they tell you traffic is at 2 o'clock and 1000' above you, it's just an FYI. If you see him, fine. The main thing is that you shouldn't turn right and climb.

If you're on an IFR flight plan there is a subtle reason they're telling you about that guy at 2 o'clock. They have to keep the two of you from running into each other. But if you say that you see the other airplane they'll tell you to maintain visual separation from the other airplane and now they're off the hook -- it's YOUR job to provide separation.

So in either case, VFR or IFR, I look where I think the airplane should be and if I don't immediately see it I report back as either "no joy" or "looking". You don't have to stop everything you're doing and find the airplane. The only time that's important is if they report the traffic at your altitude or altitude unknown. Then you have to keep an eye out.

Spotting airplanes is hard because they're so small. Spotting airports is also hard. You get better at both the more you do it, but don't worry about it too much. Try not to hit the big ones and don't worry about the little ones.

Answer 3

Just practice looking for small stuff around you all the time. try to figure the brand and model of a car as far away from you as possible.. look for the smallest details in everything around you. this will help you to be able to search the sky better.

also keep in mind that your eyes can find a moving target much easier, so don't just "look around"... focus on a spot in the distance for a second or 2, and than focus on another spot.  

Answer 4

Great question, and one that I'm glad to see a student pilot asking.  It takes practice to be able to spot traffic in the air.  The most important thing is to scan segments of the sky and give your eyes time to readjust to each new segment.  Avoid making a continuous sweeping motion with your eyes because that doesn't give them time to adjust.  You're actually looking to detect motion with your peripheral vision rather than trying to find an airplane in your central vision.  It takes a second or two for your peripheral vision to start working after moving your eyes, thus the importance of avoiding continuous sweeps.

Here's a 25 year old advisory circular for your reading pleasure... 25 years old, but still current!  http://rgl.faa.gov/REGULATORY_AND_GUIDAN...