Preparing for FI-course

[Anselmiini]

Hello fellow aviators

I’m thinking of taking a flight instructors course FI(A) in the up coming winter.
I have completed my CPL/ME/IR-training around four years ago and now I’m trying to bring the required theoretical knowledge considering PPL-training, up to date. Another point of view is that even though I naturally remember lots of things about rules and regulations from my training, I would be interested to know what document they are based on.

Thus I was wondering if you had any advices what subjects and documents to study before the cource? Especially I would appreciate if you had tips on what EASA and other regulations to study.

In other words, I’m looking for a ”study package” to be prepared for the course.

Thanks in advance!

[Treadstone1]

Start with these;

Flying Training Instructor Manual by R D Campbell
CAP 804
CAP393
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011
Part FCL, AMC and GM
AP3456 Royal Air Force Manual Flying (Principles of Flight)
UK CAA Standards Documents 10

[Duchess_Driver]

Be careful....

CAP804
CAP393
Standards Document 10

...are UK specific. If you're doing your FI certificate elsewhere these will not be relevant.

The AIP for the country you want to do the training / teaching in is always worth a read - that should show any differences with ICAO standards as well. Any Statutory instruments that cover 'national' licences, again for the country your training in.

More generic, PART-ORA and PART-ARA cover the organisational and administrative parts - always good as background reading.

"Instructional Techniques for the Flight Instructor " from Ontrack is a good document

As a general guide re-read your PPL notes or The Air Pilot Manual Series (Trevor Thoms as was).

[Anselmiini]

Thanks a lot for the tips, and yes I'm not taking the course in UK.

I'm going to plan my preparations based on your suggestions, they are somewhat similar what I had in mind.:ok:

[Big Pistons Forever]

As a FI instructor I see an almost universally poor understanding of even the simple systems found on light aircraft.

You should be very familiar with everything in the POH of the aircraft you are going to fly. A test I use on my new FI students is to pull out the electrical and fuel system schematics and get them to explain to me what all the lines and squiggles mean.

You need to be completely familiar with all the emergency procedures and more importantly should be able to give a short accurate description on why each of the checklist items are being carried out.

On a more general topic one of my pet peeves is the lack of evidence based training. Accidents by low hour pilots usually have a basis in poor training.

A study of the accident record reveals a pattern of a relatively small number of repeating accidents. Broken off nose wheel/prop strikes caused by repeated nose wheel first touchdowns is a good example of a common, but totally preventable accident. As you get into your training ask your instructor how to ensure your students don't continue the cycle.

Finally the European training system seems to have a fixation on teaching aeronautical theory to sometimes absurd lengths and at the expense of practical information.

Theory instruction during actual flight training ( Not ground school ) should IMO be prioritized as follows:

Must Know = Theory whose understanding directly impacts flight operations (eg relationship of temp and humidity to the formation of carb ice, why wing tip vorticies are dangerous)

Good to know = Theory has an indirect impact on flight operations ( eg the relationship between AOA and lift, how clouds form)

Nice to know = Theory which will never be used on a typical flight ( pretty much everything on the written exam :rolleyes:)

[Whopity]

Finally the European training system seems to have a fixation on teaching aeronautical theory to sometimes absurd lengths and at the expense of practical information. Possibly because those who write the questions have little or no practical experience!