Words from the Wise?

[Blackshift]

As a newly qualified CPL about to commence Flying Instructor training, it would seem like a good idea to request hints and tips, dire warnings of common pitfalls etc. from those 'old sweats' who may be kind enough to pass on such nuggets of wisdom.



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Today is a good day for vanity and chasing after the wind.

[RVR800]

Dont talk too much
Dont hog the controls
Revise Principles of Flight and know it
Concentrate on accurate flying
Enjoy the course its fun better than CPL!
Good Luck!

[kabz]

Not wise, but a slightly singed student...

1. Don't make pretend 'Cabin Announcements' all the time, even as a joke... We already know you probably want to be an airline pilot, from the BA/SAS/KLM models on your desk.

2. Make the student talk more about what they're doing.

3. Don't 'help' so much, like immediately banging the flaps up after getting into a 172. Let the student do it.

4. Debrief properly.

5. Set a proper reading list. e.g. Stick and Rudder, ABCs of Safe Flying etc etc.


Sorry, the first part of that was meant to be a joke, but in my case it's actually true...

[Luke SkyToddler]

If in doubt about letting a student go up solo ... don't.

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

Golden rule #1

Always carry a couple of sick bags for when your students go all "quiet"....
(one for them, and one for you!)

Golden rule #2

The CFI is always right even when they're wrong.

Golden rule # 3
Make friends with your students but don't socialise with them.

(OK OK I married one of mine but that was AFTER he got his licence!!)

[chicken6]

Keep your own lookout + listenout.
Keep it shorter rather than longer, they can always come back but they have to want to.
If in doubt, interfere earlier rather than later. Your supervisor will let you know when it's OK to let things go.
Remember Murphy's Law, and stack the cards in your favour.
Don't try and teach them more than one thing per lesson, maybe two for the really good ones (who will be pointed out to you when you talk about them afterwards).
Talk with your supervisors. They know.
Don't do what I'm doing here - all good points, but too many! Writing is OK because they can come back to it, but verbally, only one or two things to remember at a time. One to start with.

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Confident, cocky, lazy, dead.

[Angle of Attack]

"Monkey see, Monkey do" 1

Follow all the rules and regs both on the ground and in the air. Don't take any shortcuts either, eg don't ever say, "The oil is OK Ive just been flying!" because if you say that he/she will do the same later on! Practise what you preach!

"Monkey see Monkey do" 2

Don't be afraid of re-demonstrating sequences if they are struggling(particularly circuits) just because you think you are denying the student "more hands on time", they need to see what they are aiming for otherwise its just trial and error and theres no way they can remember that first circuit demo completely!


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Ba$tards !!

[chicken6]

one more to keep the thread alive

In the briefings, white space is good! Just had a look at my last post and it's all cluttered and hard to see where the new points are, but everyone else's are so clean and tidy...

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Confident, cocky, lazy, dead.

[chicken6]

Another couple before bed

"Make the soundtrack fit the movie" said my testing officer i.e. no point talking about things that have just happened, or aren't happening at all, talk about what IS happening or is about to.

And a corollary to that, don't use the word "obviously". I used it when doing my Instructor's Rating and had it pointed out to me that obviously this thing is not "obvious" otherwise the student would have picked it up.

It came up trying to teach circuits (which is HARD!), and I said "we're obviously too low here so I'll put a bit of power on..." - what makes it obvious? Spell things out in single concepts - runway shape, stall warning sound, airspeed reading X instead of the normal Y etc.

[Crossunder]

'Guess most of the "hands-on" tips are submitted, so here's another side of instructing.
Teach your students the proper attitude and make sure they are disciplined.
Read Tony Kern's "Redefining Airmanship";
ISBN 0-07-034284-9

Good luck!


[This message has been edited by Crossunder (edited 06 May 2001).]

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

Avoid the temptation to "ghost" on the controls.
One of the commonest complaints from students is "the instructor kept grabbing the controls"

Also during training ensure they are aware of their legal liabilities and responsibilities once they are qualified.

[willbav8r]

Eat all your vegetables.

[A and C]

Dont work for cabair.

[Centaurus]

CFI. Surely you were not serious when you stated your Rule 3 - "Don't socialise with your students".

Rather toffy-nose attitude, madam...
This may surprise someone of your lofty position in the aviation society, but socialising with your students can lead to many a long lasting friendship. I have done this for 45 years and learnt much from my students opinions and different point of view.
One became the Chief of the Air Staff RAAF, others went on to high rank in the airlines.

[Centaurus]

CFI. Humble apologies for previous post. Have just been re-educated by my wife as she said that your post was firmly tongue-in-cheek and that I was wrong to bite!

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

Thank you Mrs Centaurus!!

Seriously though I think it's a good idea to keep a respectful distance especially if alcohol is involved!

[This message has been edited by Charlie Foxtrot India (edited 10 May 2001).]

[Blackshift]

Thanks for all the advice so far. I'll try to bear it all in mind.

CFI, sound's like you have a few stories up your sleeve which you're not letting on about!

I completely understand, since I have frequently been foolhardy enough to mix situations where the opportunity exists to make an ar*e of myself with alcohol. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/redface.gif

However by applying "reductio ad absurdum" to this proposition: life itself is just such an opportunity writ large, therefore life and alcohol should not be mixed.

Hang on, perhaps that's the answer? Is there a "Salvation Air Force", do they recruit ab-initio instructors? :)

[Short and Sweet]

If you stuff up a demonstration, tell the student that you stuffed it up and why. They will learn from your mistakes rather than think you are a hypocritical instructor. Most students can tell you stuffed up.

Also never say "OK" in a briefing. When I was doing my rating, I was also going to uni and I counted approx 150 OK's from one of my lecturers during a very frustrating lecture. After that I swore I would never say OK.

[rambler]

1. thorough briefs and debriefs..
2. dont hog the controls
3. draw the line between friendliness and helpfulness
4. be professional, even if having a bad day
5. know your theory..!!
6. fly your demo's as accurately as possible
7. do not show inadequate knowledge of tech stuff. if you dont know the answer, buy some time, ask the student what he thinks and how he can think logically to come up with the correct answer..it helps you as well..!! having said that, be careful..they know if you are bluffing

lastly, have fun..you will be surprised how little you know as a brand new CPL..!!

[Keef]

As one who long ago wondered where to learn all this stuff the instructor talked about but never taught me ...

DON'T ASSUME THE STUDENT KNOWS! Brief the poor soandso before the flight, debrief after, and if you aren't teaching her groundschool, make sure she knows what's expected.

Would have saved me a lot of pain in the early days...

[Delta Wun-Wun]

Please excuse this post,it was posted in on the wrong forum in error...sorry.


[This message has been edited by Delta Wun-Wun (edited 14 May 2001).]

[oldbeefer]

1. Give a proper demo, and be honest if it was less than perfect - most studes arn't stupid.
2. Ask if she/he has any questions when you've told them what you want them to do.
3. Give them control, then SHUT UP - most instructors I've test have prompted/nagged too much. Give the stude a chance to recognise his/her own errors, and see if they know how to correct them. Short prompt if its obvious that they haven't. Take control if it's about to become dangerous.
4. Tell them here they've gone wrong, and how to prevent it happening again.
5. Give 'em a bit of praise when they do well.
6. MOST IMPORTANT - don't show off - they will try to copy you when solo. ALWAYS show your studes how it should be done.

[N1, Bug UP]

Leave the ego at home...
Youvre worked hard to get this far, dont get a reputation by letting your ego fly a lesson.

A good preflight, demo and debrief, will earn you great respect from your student.
Dont be afraid to say when YOUVE "*^*"+ up.

Make it enjoyable, keep it relaxed, and dont cause peer pressure.

[Sensible]

Do Not ever figjht the student on the controls! decide who is going to be in control of the soddig aircraft, you or the student but either way announce "your airplane" or "my airplane" nothing worse than an instructor who "helps" without letting you know in advance!!!!

[Evo7]

(from the POV of a student)

Be honest - if what I've just done is awful, don't tell me it was good. I might believe it.

[t'aint natural]

Rule 1: Brush your teeth and wear a deodorant.

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I thought YOU checked it...

[Blackshift]

It took years and cost millions, but I got there eventually - albeit on the second attempt :( .

Many thanks for all the wise words.

t'aint natural, have we met? :D

[crackerjack]

Keep a close eye on the ones you think are "good", they're the ones that'll get you into trouble.

Best piece of advice I was ever given: "They are *all* rubbish" :D

[Say again s l o w l y]

You can usually trust your students alot more than than the ppl's you do check-outs with. Now that really can be frightening.

Sick bags and a sharp pencil are absolutely essential. Why?? Sick bags are obvious, and as for the pencil, you'll find out soon enough!! ;) ;) :eek: :eek:

[GroundBound]

Having just completed PPL training, what I liked about the "good instructor(s)" was
- they let me get on with it
- they asked "are you happy with the (particular) situation" making me analyse Yes/No myself
- they didn't say it was good when it wasn't
- they did say it was good when it was
- they asked me to explain to them what it was that I couldn't get right, and tried alternative ways of solving/explaining the problem
- they talked to me outside the cabin

What I didn't like:
- they took over the controls but didn't let me see what they did to correct the situation (a hard one, this, since it often occurred about the flare!)
- they didn't help me to "see" what was developing, or talk me through the corrective action (e.g. you're drifting right, more wing down (or some such).

What did you like/dislike about your instructors when you were doing your training? :) Might help.

[fireflybob]

Above all set a good example - your student will learn as much, if not more, from this than any "formal" teaching.

Part of setting a good example is admitting that you are wrong or have made a mistake!

[LowNSlow]

In the early lessons explain radio calls before you make them and after you've received them. This'll give the student a chance to translate the G-ABC hiss crackle VFR bzzzz QNH 1 bleep crackle 6 into what was really communicated.

It worked for me anyway. Eventually. :D

[Tinstaafl]

G-ABC hiss crackle VFR bzzzz QNH 1 bleep crackle 6

Jeez, I thought that was all of the message! :o :eek: :D

[GoneWest]

Tinstaafl - good attempt at a readback...but your callsign should go at the end!!

[Night Rider]

Always set your students a good example to follow.

Encourage a GOOD LOOKOUT and proper use of CHECKLISTS & PROCEDURES.

Make sure you have a good knowledge of all aviation subjects yourself. (When your student wants to know what the minimum visibility required for VFR flight above FL100 is they will ask you - and they'll expect you to know!

Have fun and take pride in your work. :cool: :cool: