Far North QLD flying schools

[black Pilot99]

Heading up cairns way with a CPL and are looking at doing either a ME-CIR or instructor rating up there. Not too sure which is the best school to approach out of the three I have enquired about? Any comments good or bad will be most helpfull.

Barrier Aviation
Far North QLD Aero club
Bob Harris Flying School -Innisfail

[Torres]

The first two are not in the same class as the third.

[av8trflying]

Would have to disagree with the above. As far as I know Bob isnt flying anyway and it depends if you dont mind being sworn at whilst you are flying.

The other two, well, good luck. Both organisations are flat stick at the moment and it is almost impossible to get a booking. Busy times with no instructors.

I know this because I am struggling to get anything done. You might be better off down south where there are more options.

Just my two cents.

[Unhinged]

It's true that Bob isn't flying for another few weeks, but he is still teaching and doing extensive sim work with students, and will be back in the air in the not-too-distant future.

Bob is not a one-man band; There are still other extremely experienced, committed instructors and a testing officer at his school.



(Declaration of interest: In the past I have worked full-time for 2 of the 3 schools named, and still do occasional days for Bob as my flying workload permits)

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

Ditto to what Unhinged has said above!

"Sideshow" Bob (a FTDK term of endearment) should be back in the air in May.

One of THE BEST instructors I have flown with - and a great bloke to boot!

Dr :8

Declaration of interest: I have done my last 10 or so IR renewals with BH ...... and on the odd occassion I have tested his patience to the limit (and if I NEVER see a King GPS again it will be too soon)!

av8trflying - if you have been sworn at you must have really f*cked up

[Arm out the window]

Bob knows what he's talking about, and if you do either rating with him you won't go far wrong, I reckon.

[WannaBeBiggles]

I have never flown with Bob, but can attest to the praised he has received from past students.

I'd put up with someone swearing at me if I F*ed up... better to get a wrap over the knuckles from someone with that much experience then have a 19 year old sh!t himself when you do something stupid :p

[av8trflying]

Gents

The swearing that I mentioned is from a personal interaction. And it wasnt a one off. (and just for the record, i didnt f**k up)

Of all the people around here that I know (and it isnt a small number) who has flown with bob, what they say is "Knows what he is on about, but you just have to put up with him"

Unfortuantely I believe (and this is of course just my opinion) that Bob's instructional technique is from the past.

Those who dont care about getting sworn at, well good on you. Not everyone learns the same way. If you knew anything at all about instructing people, whether it is flying or any other subject at all, you would realise that this type of behaviour is not conducive to a proper learning environment.

Flying can be hard enough as it is. Not everyone brings the same level of experience or knowledge to every situation. Thats what instructors are for, to LEARN, not to be sworn at and belittled.

[Flying Binghi]

Moderator,

This is one suspect thread - perhaps a bit of rubbish the compitition going on ?

[Arm out the window]

What are you on about, mate? The person asked for opinions and got them, hardly suspect I would think.

[GoDsGiFtToAvIaTiOn]

Bob's instructional technique is from the past.

Ah yes! The instructional technique to which you refer would be the one where students are trained to a high standard! That does appear to be from a past era.

You struggled to make the grade huh, av8trflying (http://www.pprune.org/forums/member.php?u=182002)!

GGtA:E

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

The swearing that I mentioned is from a personal interaction. And it wasnt a one off. (and just for the record, i didnt f**k up)



"Your flying very well today, av8trflying! You &@#$%^ *&^%$#!

Yeah right!

[tail wheel]

Flying Binghi. I don't get too upset, indeed, I find the thread amusing! Harris deserves a bit of stick for the hangovers he's given my in the Innisfail "Aero Club" bar over the years!

He doesn't abide fools easily, his teaching techniques are a bit old fashioned - chalk, talk and learn - and he has time, knowledge and experience to explain to students in terms they comprehend!

Yeah, Harris is old school!

What is being posted in this thread says far more about the person who posts, rather than about Bob Harris!

:}

Tail Wheel

[av8trflying]

Gents

Once again as I said earlier this is just my opinion. I have given you my personal experience and some insight from other people that have flown with him that I have talked too.

FDTK: The comment that you made is not what I said. I am basing my comment on my knowledge of what happened at the time. You are basing your comment on no knowledge of the situation at all.

Gods Gift: We can’t all be god’s gift or a legend. Some of us are just mere mortals.

Tail wheel: And “what” does it say about the person? Black pilot asked for people’s opinions good or bad, and he got them. Whether you agree with them or not they are still opinions. And you’re supposed to be a moderator of a forum? Surely you understand this concept.

Just for further clarification I did say in my second post “he knows what he is on about”. My beef is with his personal interaction skills. Maybe I should have taken the bottle of scotch with me.

[tail wheel]

"And “what” does it say about the person?"
For example, it doesn't say much for FTDK if he is a "colleague" of Bob Harris! :E

A person is judged by the company he keeps! :=

And if Harris swore at you I can assure you he was not singling you out for any special treatment!!

:} :} :} :} :}

Tail Wheel

[av8trflying]

Tail wheel,

Well, I stand corrected then sir. I assumed you were having a go at me.

All I was trying to do was pass on my experieces. And yes I know I am not the only one who has received this treatment, I just thought the original poster might like to know so that he/she will be going in with eyes open.

[Stationair8]

If the blokes survived this long instructing he probably knows his stuff and can pass on something to the student.

Whats modern instructing methods? A group hug or the instructors sends the student a text message?

[flyingcircus]

BH reputation is stand alone in FNQ, walk into any airline and anyone that has known him or had dealings with him would only have good words to say. can he be hard? yes (as i can testify myself) but when its a dark and stormy night and your in a world of pain, you will be thankful that he was.