Brad Z wrote:

not quite the same as a student pilot solo cross country flight.



I love to listen to music when I'm doing other things. As a software
engineer, car driver, airplane pilot, snow skier, or whatever, music
usually occupies that part of my mind that seems to need "something".
Relief from boredom, emotional enhancement, I don't know. But it really
helps to keep the thought process and/or enjoyment flowing at times.

Having said that, things can go the other way. Sometimes I find myself
distracted from the task at hand and *listening to the music*. Then,
the music is not helping to relieve or enhance the task at hand - it's
actually hindering me. As a new pilot, I won't be listening to music
until I get real confident; and then only during the occasional boring
stretch on an XC.

One other thing: I've also noticed the occasional aural fatigue - I just
get brain-tired from constant sound. Maybe I need to turn it down a bit
on those occasions. :-P Wish the 172's came with a volume control... I
suppose that's what ANR is for.

-Scott