What are our Instructors really doing?
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Aberdeen
I think you misinterperet the light hearted nature of the reply! The particular student in question is a very festidious fellow and applies the same thorough attitude to all of his flying training including the groundschool, I anticipate he will finish his licence in close to minimum hours. The more serious "instructor hat on" part of my reply refers to the confidence building aspect of allowing the student more experience of the aeroplane without the instructor on board. I remember during my basic training being told to check the aeroplane out and start it made me feel empowered and trusted by the instructor. In my short time in the industry I have not met a lazy instructor yet, I refer you to the "Search for the UK's Poorest Paid FI" thread in the instructor forum! We need to work for us livin'!
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: Far East
I sometimes have a quiet chuckle to myself when a student comes back in saying they cannot open the aircraft doors becuase they are locked - we never lock the doors - they just forget there are 2 latches!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Edinburgh
Love the post... I work in a busy school and Foxmoth seems closest in my opinion. It's normally a blissful five / ten minutes of drinking coffee, weeing, reading files, enjoying a break, writing up records, filling in tech logs, quizzing operations, diving into Trevor Thoms to answer previously asked impossible questions and also trying to remove grease / oil / avgas from some obvious part of me.
Also wouldn't dream of doing it with a student who I have never seen check out an aircraft before... and done it thoroughly.
New gag of the summer is turn off the generator in flight (say that you think you can see an easyjet bus behind you so they turn away) and see how long the student takes to notice the GEN failure light even after requesting a FREDAL check. Then ask them what to do and watch the carnage - I reckon 3 out of 5 think it will stop the engine eventually! Sorry - ranting again.
Also wouldn't dream of doing it with a student who I have never seen check out an aircraft before... and done it thoroughly.
New gag of the summer is turn off the generator in flight (say that you think you can see an easyjet bus behind you so they turn away) and see how long the student takes to notice the GEN failure light even after requesting a FREDAL check. Then ask them what to do and watch the carnage - I reckon 3 out of 5 think it will stop the engine eventually! Sorry - ranting again.
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,401
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Yes - nothing like a good healthy voltage spike in flight through the avionics when you turn the generator back on again......
That 5 minutes is the student's first bit of captaincy practice!
But I always check the filler caps and cowling latches visually when I join him/her at the aeroplane.
That 5 minutes is the student's first bit of captaincy practice!
But I always check the filler caps and cowling latches visually when I join him/her at the aeroplane.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I reckon 3 out of 5 think it will stop the engine eventually!
Sounds like either (a) poor instructing because they hadn't been taught the subject they were asked about or (b) ineffective instructing techniques because they didn't recall the information
Maybe a visit to the bookshop and a purchase of something like "Writing Training Materials That Work" by Foshay, Silber and Stelnicki would be appropriate.
Professional application of the cognitive learning will quickly pay dividends for the instructor and the student.
Sounds like either (a) poor instructing because they hadn't been taught the subject they were asked about or (b) ineffective instructing techniques because they didn't recall the information
Maybe a visit to the bookshop and a purchase of something like "Writing Training Materials That Work" by Foshay, Silber and Stelnicki would be appropriate.
Professional application of the cognitive learning will quickly pay dividends for the instructor and the student.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: UK,Twighlight Zone
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: UK
Speaking as the one who started this, I have to say that it doesn't take long before it gets a bit serious does it? Ok, here's another one to lighten you all up a bit;
Instead of a spot landing competition, how about a 'who can land fastest competition'?
Your suggestions are welcome.......
Instead of a spot landing competition, how about a 'who can land fastest competition'?
Your suggestions are welcome.......
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 17
From: U.K.
I'm glad I'm not in tomorrow then!
My usual 5-10 mins is spent most often answering questions that could easily be found in LASORS......
Either that or just trying to throw a cup of coffee or sandwich down my throat.
Oh and obviously praying.........!
My usual 5-10 mins is spent most often answering questions that could easily be found in LASORS......
Either that or just trying to throw a cup of coffee or sandwich down my throat.
Oh and obviously praying.........!
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,401
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
"My usual 5-10 mins is spent most often answering questions that could easily be found in LASORS......"
How true!
And yet I still hear Examiners advising people to "Check with the CAA"....
Examiners are required to have a sufficiently good working knowledge of LASORS to avoid the need for people to pester the CAA with trivia.
How true!
And yet I still hear Examiners advising people to "Check with the CAA"....
Examiners are required to have a sufficiently good working knowledge of LASORS to avoid the need for people to pester the CAA with trivia.
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 2
From: UK
This takes me back to the late '70s when I was doing my PPL. There was one instructor who would take ages to come out to the aeroplane. I'd be sitting there for what seemd a lifetime after pre-flighting it. So one day I drew a little cartoon and gave it to him when he finally appeared.
It was of a C150 cockpit with the door open, a skeleton hunched over the controls, spider's webs in the corners of the doorframe...
It didn't make him appear any quicker for future lessons, but it made me feel a bit better.
It was of a C150 cockpit with the door open, a skeleton hunched over the controls, spider's webs in the corners of the doorframe...
It didn't make him appear any quicker for future lessons, but it made me feel a bit better.
