Woooohoooo
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Neither Here Nor There
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Congratulations, flexy.
Much hard work and emptying of bank account pays off.
As for the advice...................................................... ..
Much hard work and emptying of bank account pays off.
As for the advice...................................................... ..
"Remember that the greatest knowledge lies in knowing that you know nothing"
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure - 1989
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Leeds
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Firstly Congratulations!
Quite right.
It has been said that your best student is the one that kills you!
General instructor advice
-Trial Lessons are great fun - you meet lots of different people from all types of backgrounds.
-PPL's - Two types...
1) Those who are starting from scratch and are usually a pleasure to teach - you just need patience and the ability to present things in the best way for the student.
2) Those who have "flown thousands of hours on microsoft flight simulator" and think they know it all - they are quite hard work because they already have misconceptions about flying which interferes with the teaching and learning process. - Its good training on how to be assertive.
And of course there are those, as 18greens rightly pointed out, who are experienced and think the aim of a revalidation is to argue every point and teach you something about flying - just humor these ones and look at the plain facts (are they safe to fly the aircraft or not..etc)
Apart from those instructing is possibly the best job in the world - you get paid to do something you love, you'll meet some wonderful people and work with some great students and most of all you'll have experiences which you'll never forget for the rest of your life.
Enjoy it - you earned it! :-)
All the best.
Quite right.
It has been said that your best student is the one that kills you!
General instructor advice
-Trial Lessons are great fun - you meet lots of different people from all types of backgrounds.
-PPL's - Two types...
1) Those who are starting from scratch and are usually a pleasure to teach - you just need patience and the ability to present things in the best way for the student.
2) Those who have "flown thousands of hours on microsoft flight simulator" and think they know it all - they are quite hard work because they already have misconceptions about flying which interferes with the teaching and learning process. - Its good training on how to be assertive.
And of course there are those, as 18greens rightly pointed out, who are experienced and think the aim of a revalidation is to argue every point and teach you something about flying - just humor these ones and look at the plain facts (are they safe to fly the aircraft or not..etc)
Apart from those instructing is possibly the best job in the world - you get paid to do something you love, you'll meet some wonderful people and work with some great students and most of all you'll have experiences which you'll never forget for the rest of your life.
Enjoy it - you earned it! :-)
All the best.
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: UK
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If you're asked a question, to which you don't know the answer, don't bullsh*t. Say you don't know, but find out what it is (or even better, get the student to find out, if you know where to find it).
If you make a flying mistake, admit it, point out what's wrong, but use it as a teaching experience.
If you make a flying mistake, admit it, point out what's wrong, but use it as a teaching experience.
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Live or let die?
In over 20 years of instructing I have never had a student or anyone else 'try to kill me'. Anyone who has, has not being doing their job properly. When things have gone too far it has been owing to lack of a thorough briefing when it was obviously required or simply that I have let things go too far before intervening.
With regard to revalidations, the flight is not a test nor is it an assessment during which the PPL holder is evaluated for their safety. The purpose is quite simply a matter of constructive ongoing training. This should be stressed prior to flight with the pilot fully involved with what is to be flown and why. It could be that the crusty old veteran has little knowledge of the use of the GPS that they have just purchased, they almost certainly havn't practised a stall recovery nor flown on partial panel for some time but they may well have firm ideas about such things. Why not listen to them and go flying looking at what they say but also introduce your own thoughts as well.
With regard to revalidations, the flight is not a test nor is it an assessment during which the PPL holder is evaluated for their safety. The purpose is quite simply a matter of constructive ongoing training. This should be stressed prior to flight with the pilot fully involved with what is to be flown and why. It could be that the crusty old veteran has little knowledge of the use of the GPS that they have just purchased, they almost certainly havn't practised a stall recovery nor flown on partial panel for some time but they may well have firm ideas about such things. Why not listen to them and go flying looking at what they say but also introduce your own thoughts as well.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: UK
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Homeguard,
I think you might ruffle a few feathers with that remark!!
I once had an experienced PPL have a go at killing me............................I gave him a fanstop at about 700ft...............without warning and quicker than a blink.....he pulled back fully and abruptly on the yoke whilst pushing the left rudder all the way to the stop !!!!.............I managed to recover from the rapidly developing spin..................................
Now I can tell you this was nothing to do with a lack of thorough briefing.
Maybe you have led a charmed life......
UTF
in over 20 years of instructing I have never had a student or anyone else 'try to kill me'. Anyone who has, has not being doing their job properly
I once had an experienced PPL have a go at killing me............................I gave him a fanstop at about 700ft...............without warning and quicker than a blink.....he pulled back fully and abruptly on the yoke whilst pushing the left rudder all the way to the stop !!!!.............I managed to recover from the rapidly developing spin..................................
Now I can tell you this was nothing to do with a lack of thorough briefing.
Maybe you have led a charmed life......
UTF
Join Date: May 2003
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flexy
A bit of advice, if you get a really nervous student or trial lesson who admits they're nervous, just say to them, "you're nervous? I'm about to get into a plane with someone who's never flown before, I must be out of my head"
Just kidding of course, AHMC has it about right, and the worst pilots are those who have had their licenses for eons, they are either there for the reval or the club check out, don't be scared to refuse them a club sign off if they're not up to scratch, but you will find most of them will want to treat it as a refresher and learn from it, I've not had any yet who thinks they know it all.
Most of all enjoy it, now you will really start to learn how to lfy & handle the aircraft properly, your skills & situational awareness will grow exponentially.
Good luck
A bit of advice, if you get a really nervous student or trial lesson who admits they're nervous, just say to them, "you're nervous? I'm about to get into a plane with someone who's never flown before, I must be out of my head"
Just kidding of course, AHMC has it about right, and the worst pilots are those who have had their licenses for eons, they are either there for the reval or the club check out, don't be scared to refuse them a club sign off if they're not up to scratch, but you will find most of them will want to treat it as a refresher and learn from it, I've not had any yet who thinks they know it all.
Most of all enjoy it, now you will really start to learn how to lfy & handle the aircraft properly, your skills & situational awareness will grow exponentially.
Good luck
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Best advice ever!
The best bit of advice I was ever given was to have a sick bag in the back of my knee board, I had 2 pukers in my first few months of instructing and this advice saved me!!!!
Also, pack your bags and move somewhere hot so you can actually get enough flying done to eat!!
Best of luck!!!
Also, pack your bags and move somewhere hot so you can actually get enough flying done to eat!!
Best of luck!!!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: UK
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It sounds really dumb this but - "always make sure you have enough fuel". You don't want to spend the whole detail worrying about the fuel state or have to come when with another ten minutes flying the student would have grasped what it is you have spent the last hour trying to teach.
There have been at least two occasions when I have returned to the airfield and have had to orbit for 20 mins plus, and if I had not refuelled could have been seriously embarrassed.
There have been at least two occasions when I have returned to the airfield and have had to orbit for 20 mins plus, and if I had not refuelled could have been seriously embarrassed.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Polhippo has a good point carry sick bags.
I also get them out for the student and move the microphone out of the way. Nothing worse than a chunky microphone sock. I've never had anyone need to wash out the aircraft afterwards.
Other things 'students' have done
Landed with the feet on the brakes though over concentration on the task of landing.
One guy who had a lapsed licence came for a trial lesson. He wanted to fly but not use the checklist (thats my job apparently) . He then randomly flicked switches when he felt the need in the cockpit. We had words.
An experienced tailwheel pilot who wanted a chippy reval.I thought I was along for the ride until he almost groundlooped it. I sat a bit closer to the controls after that.
Another experienced pilot who tried to round out 20 feet too high. -Admittedly it was windy. You expect students to do it, again I sat closer to the controls.
And its not just in the air.
One experienced pilot who tried to start the aircraft while I was checking the oil. Luckily I heard the fuel pump running and managed to get out of the way. I adjusted my walkround routine after that.
All a massive learning experience for me as much as them.
I also get them out for the student and move the microphone out of the way. Nothing worse than a chunky microphone sock. I've never had anyone need to wash out the aircraft afterwards.
Other things 'students' have done
Landed with the feet on the brakes though over concentration on the task of landing.
One guy who had a lapsed licence came for a trial lesson. He wanted to fly but not use the checklist (thats my job apparently) . He then randomly flicked switches when he felt the need in the cockpit. We had words.
An experienced tailwheel pilot who wanted a chippy reval.I thought I was along for the ride until he almost groundlooped it. I sat a bit closer to the controls after that.
Another experienced pilot who tried to round out 20 feet too high. -Admittedly it was windy. You expect students to do it, again I sat closer to the controls.
And its not just in the air.
One experienced pilot who tried to start the aircraft while I was checking the oil. Luckily I heard the fuel pump running and managed to get out of the way. I adjusted my walkround routine after that.
All a massive learning experience for me as much as them.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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You'll be wanting a job then?
Try not to work all week on a hourly flying wage, especially if you have little cash reserves in the bank. Salaried jobs are rare is seems.
How did the position become available? If instructors are leaving for other schools, is that a problem?
Ask what what their induction plan is for a FI(R); you'll at least need to know how compatible your training is with the school's.
Ask other instructors how many hours they did last month, in the last 6 months and last 12 months.
Ask if any ferrying work is paid.
As a FI(R), ask how much per hour is removed from your flight pay for "supervision" (I kid you not)
Try not to work all week on a hourly flying wage, especially if you have little cash reserves in the bank. Salaried jobs are rare is seems.
How did the position become available? If instructors are leaving for other schools, is that a problem?
Ask what what their induction plan is for a FI(R); you'll at least need to know how compatible your training is with the school's.
Ask other instructors how many hours they did last month, in the last 6 months and last 12 months.
Ask if any ferrying work is paid.
As a FI(R), ask how much per hour is removed from your flight pay for "supervision" (I kid you not)
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
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No I have a job that pays the bills which I love. Instructing just seemed the next logical step as I like to have some purpose to my flying. I found the course a revelation as I am always on courses at work and have learnt nothing but this was great and was really positive. If I never instruct at all I will at least be a better pilot!
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Hey Flexy,
Well done, hope you have enjoy your new instructing career.
Just wondering how you managed to fit in the training around your current job? I take it your job is quite flexible?
It's something I'm thinking about at the minute, how to fit it all around my current job. It's gonna be a long slog but will be worth it in the end.
Enjoy,
Stu
Well done, hope you have enjoy your new instructing career.
Just wondering how you managed to fit in the training around your current job? I take it your job is quite flexible?
It's something I'm thinking about at the minute, how to fit it all around my current job. It's gonna be a long slog but will be worth it in the end.
Enjoy,
Stu
Congrats flexy!
Now, advice... hmmm...
Definitely take sick bags, but if you want to stop them being sick, either give them control or make them close their eyes, and open all the vents. If you give them a sick bag it WILL be used!!
Make sure they arent flying on instruments in the first few lessons. Cover them up if you need to.
Say as little as necessary.
As has been said, make sure they dont have their feet on the brakes.
Probably the best advice, leave any anger or depression on the ground, and enjoy the flight!!!
Congrats again!
Now, advice... hmmm...
Definitely take sick bags, but if you want to stop them being sick, either give them control or make them close their eyes, and open all the vents. If you give them a sick bag it WILL be used!!
Make sure they arent flying on instruments in the first few lessons. Cover them up if you need to.
Say as little as necessary.
As has been said, make sure they dont have their feet on the brakes.
Probably the best advice, leave any anger or depression on the ground, and enjoy the flight!!!
Congrats again!
