Procedure, Technique, and Tech-cedure
Throughout your training, you will be exposed to different procedures and the techniques to accomplish those procedures. In flying the T-6B, there is a great amount of technique used to execute the given procedures. You cannot have one without the other and as you go forward into the fleet, you will see this concept over and over. Now is a great time to make sure you understand the difference between the two.
Let's look at procedures first. A "procedure" by definition is a series of actions conducted in a certain order or manner. All of your various books (Flight Training Instructions, FWOP, etc.) will be very specific in laying out the procedures (or steps to accomplish) in executing a specific maneuver. These procedures usually contain actions and numbers that you must know cold...even though you've never done the maneuver. During your many briefings and when introducing new maneuvers, your instructor will start off by asking you the procedures of the maneuver. For example, they would ask you to tell them the procedures for a power-on stall. You would then be expected to regurgitate the procedures but really have no experience or knowledge in the exact execution of them. Regardless, never sit down at a brief and be unable to table-talk the procedures for any maneuver (especially new maneuvers). Having never flown the maneuver, this is where techniques enters in.
The definition of a "technique" is way to carrying out a particular task or a skillful/efficient way of doing something. For most of the procedures you will learn, your IP will give you a technique on what they feel is an easy or efficient way to accomplish the given procedures. The IP may give you a technique of where to look and when, a good way to blend the maneuver in to energy management, or other small details that make the procedure better in their opinion. Remember that their technique is just that...THEIR TECHNIQUE! Almost every IP you fly with will have certain techniques that they like to use. Really good IP have numerous techniques to offer up. In any case, technique can NEVER override the procedures! An example would be an IP telling you that his technique is to start the maneuver at 200 kts when the procedure specifically calls for the maneuver to start at 150 kts.
There will be times when the IP you are with will want you to use their techniques exclusively. When you use any other IP's technique, they may dissuade you from using it and insist that you use their specific technique. This is a problem because what is in focus is the technique at hand and not the overall procedure. If it is the first time accomplishing a maneuver, they are just trying to be helpful as you have no tricks in your bag. It can, however, be uncomfortable when you have a technique you like and your IP is less inclined to support that technique. Remember, a good IP does not get caught up in the techniques. Good IPs should not be a one-trick-pony and must be able to provide a student with several techniques to accomplish the same procedure. A good IP will realize and evaluate when you have a technique at hand that works for you...even if it is not theirs. In IP circles, this problem is called tech-cedure. It is a satirical humor to the belief that one persons technique is so perfect that they truly believe it is the procedure! You need to realize when this is happening and keep a clear picture of what the actual procedure is about. Most students in training, can tell you who the IPs are where you "must" use their technique.
Let's look at procedures first. A "procedure" by definition is a series of actions conducted in a certain order or manner. All of your various books (Flight Training Instructions, FWOP, etc.) will be very specific in laying out the procedures (or steps to accomplish) in executing a specific maneuver. These procedures usually contain actions and numbers that you must know cold...even though you've never done the maneuver. During your many briefings and when introducing new maneuvers, your instructor will start off by asking you the procedures of the maneuver. For example, they would ask you to tell them the procedures for a power-on stall. You would then be expected to regurgitate the procedures but really have no experience or knowledge in the exact execution of them. Regardless, never sit down at a brief and be unable to table-talk the procedures for any maneuver (especially new maneuvers). Having never flown the maneuver, this is where techniques enters in.
The definition of a "technique" is way to carrying out a particular task or a skillful/efficient way of doing something. For most of the procedures you will learn, your IP will give you a technique on what they feel is an easy or efficient way to accomplish the given procedures. The IP may give you a technique of where to look and when, a good way to blend the maneuver in to energy management, or other small details that make the procedure better in their opinion. Remember that their technique is just that...THEIR TECHNIQUE! Almost every IP you fly with will have certain techniques that they like to use. Really good IP have numerous techniques to offer up. In any case, technique can NEVER override the procedures! An example would be an IP telling you that his technique is to start the maneuver at 200 kts when the procedure specifically calls for the maneuver to start at 150 kts.
There will be times when the IP you are with will want you to use their techniques exclusively. When you use any other IP's technique, they may dissuade you from using it and insist that you use their specific technique. This is a problem because what is in focus is the technique at hand and not the overall procedure. If it is the first time accomplishing a maneuver, they are just trying to be helpful as you have no tricks in your bag. It can, however, be uncomfortable when you have a technique you like and your IP is less inclined to support that technique. Remember, a good IP does not get caught up in the techniques. Good IPs should not be a one-trick-pony and must be able to provide a student with several techniques to accomplish the same procedure. A good IP will realize and evaluate when you have a technique at hand that works for you...even if it is not theirs. In IP circles, this problem is called tech-cedure. It is a satirical humor to the belief that one persons technique is so perfect that they truly believe it is the procedure! You need to realize when this is happening and keep a clear picture of what the actual procedure is about. Most students in training, can tell you who the IPs are where you "must" use their technique.