Originally Posted by
mad_jock
And if the person isn't in trim while your pattering this Big?
Hammer the attitude.
All that does is promote needle chasing which is basically what screwed AF477.
Set the attitude trim it then correct for the needles then repeat.
trim is not an "instrument flying" skill it is a
FLYING skill. I actually don't initially stress trimming because
1) By the time they get to instrument flying they should automatically trim the aircraft. If they don't then IMO you have failed as an instructor.
2) I don't want them flying the trim wheel as it starts a bad habit right at the beginning, something I have noticed is common on the first lesson
3) The aircraft won't always be in trim but you still have to accurately control
it so a good scan will ensure you can always control the aircraft
4) The point of the initial lesson is to teach the scan. To do that you need to automatically look at the right instrument at the right time for the right amount of time. Students are not born with this ability they have to be directly taught how to do this hence the directed patter.
Yes I will prompt the students to trim when appropriate but that will only be if the aircraft is in the correct attitude first.
Two good instructor tips FYI
1) Get the student to hold the wheel with a relaxed grip. If it looks like the student is white knuckling the wheel get them to grip the wheel with only 2 fingers
2) When and I mean when not if
the students start chasing the needles call "freeze". You will have briefed that this means they are to hold the wheel steady without moving it at all. It is amazing how quickly the airplane settles down when the students stops messing with it
Mad Jock
I noticed many of your post consist of snide remarks and rubbishing other posters idea, but hardly ever are actual details of how you would do the lesson.
How about telling us precisely how
you teach the initial instrument lessons ?