How many instructors have you had??
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: belgium
Age: 49
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How many instructors have you had??
Hi! I was just wondering about the following:
I am currently doing my PPL with currently 26hrs. I am doing it with a seemingly very good flight academy in Belgium. My question is, since the start of my flight traing I have had about 7 or 8 different instructors, basically the school has over 20 instructors and whenever I book a flight they just give whichever instructor is available. Is this normal, I mean they all have different ways of teaching and sometimes when I do something in flight which I had been taught by one instructor, the new instructor will ask me to do it a different way.
I am curretly doing touch & go's, and still having difficultie's with the flare, but I get quite bugged by all this change in instructors and ways of doing things. A lot of these instructors are new and I also wonder who will eventually take the responsibility to let me solo...
If anyone out there can shed some light into this I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks
I am currently doing my PPL with currently 26hrs. I am doing it with a seemingly very good flight academy in Belgium. My question is, since the start of my flight traing I have had about 7 or 8 different instructors, basically the school has over 20 instructors and whenever I book a flight they just give whichever instructor is available. Is this normal, I mean they all have different ways of teaching and sometimes when I do something in flight which I had been taught by one instructor, the new instructor will ask me to do it a different way.
I am curretly doing touch & go's, and still having difficultie's with the flare, but I get quite bugged by all this change in instructors and ways of doing things. A lot of these instructors are new and I also wonder who will eventually take the responsibility to let me solo...
If anyone out there can shed some light into this I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks
Super-Friendly Aviator
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Reigate, UK
Age: 42
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd want (and had) one instructor for my PPL training. If there's a clash of personalities, which happens, you can always swap.
Surely you can just book slots with the same instructor (they might need a bit more notice)? I presumed one instructor was the norm.
Rgds,
V1R
Surely you can just book slots with the same instructor (they might need a bit more notice)? I presumed one instructor was the norm.
Rgds,
V1R
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 10 west
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hi nanocas,
i have always ecouraged students to fly with others if i was not available but i have encountered what you say from time to time. we all ( despite trying to sing from the same book ) teach a little differently, and so particularly at your stage, i think it is important that, to avoid confusing , you should request that your instruction is done by one person in particular, if available...
this is not an unreasonable request...unless for some reason the rostering would make this impossible or mean that you would only be able to fly on occasions that would make it impossible for the school to get you through your course in the timescale permitted..
good luck.
the dean.
i have always ecouraged students to fly with others if i was not available but i have encountered what you say from time to time. we all ( despite trying to sing from the same book ) teach a little differently, and so particularly at your stage, i think it is important that, to avoid confusing , you should request that your instruction is done by one person in particular, if available...
this is not an unreasonable request...unless for some reason the rostering would make this impossible or mean that you would only be able to fly on occasions that would make it impossible for the school to get you through your course in the timescale permitted..
good luck.
the dean.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Six of one........
Pros and cons of both sir!
I enjoyed sticking with just the one, meant not having to demonstrate where is was ability-wise every other lesson etc.
Instructors often have different styles, and providing your training has not been disrupted by frequent changes, it is quite likely you are the reaping the beneifts of these!
Best of luck with it.
Rossco
I enjoyed sticking with just the one, meant not having to demonstrate where is was ability-wise every other lesson etc.
Instructors often have different styles, and providing your training has not been disrupted by frequent changes, it is quite likely you are the reaping the beneifts of these!
Best of luck with it.
Rossco
Last edited by captain_rossco; 29th Mar 2007 at 19:04.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: belgium
Age: 49
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Dean, as far as I know, this seems to be common procedure at my FTO, once I brought the issue with one of my instructors and he was very surprised that I preferred to not have different instructors everytime I flew. he ended up giving me a short comment to the effect of: "I don't understand why you would have a problem with that" and we left it at that..
I agree that I should try to let them know that I would prefer to have the same intructor everytime but I think they won't be happy..
however, I have only 10 hours of circuit training (touch & go's) and for those 10 hours I had about 5-6 different instructors.. Is this a common thing???
Thanks for your imput!
I agree that I should try to let them know that I would prefer to have the same intructor everytime but I think they won't be happy..
however, I have only 10 hours of circuit training (touch & go's) and for those 10 hours I had about 5-6 different instructors.. Is this a common thing???
Thanks for your imput!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: EGBJ Gloucester
Age: 40
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm currently 30 hours into PPL and have done all my training with one instructor.
I think that learning with several instructors is a detriment to the training that you get as you don't get the same person who can see your progression from lesson to lesson, and there's only so much that can be conveyed by the lesson write-up in your training log.
I also believe however that it is beneficial to have a few lessons with a different instructor occasionally. Because all FIs do things a different way and pick up on different things, the odd one with someone else will actually be to your benefit, especially later on in training.
As V1R said, it may just require more notice to your FTO to get a single instructor, but it would definitely be worth it IMHO.
I think that learning with several instructors is a detriment to the training that you get as you don't get the same person who can see your progression from lesson to lesson, and there's only so much that can be conveyed by the lesson write-up in your training log.
I also believe however that it is beneficial to have a few lessons with a different instructor occasionally. Because all FIs do things a different way and pick up on different things, the odd one with someone else will actually be to your benefit, especially later on in training.
As V1R said, it may just require more notice to your FTO to get a single instructor, but it would definitely be worth it IMHO.
The Original Foot
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Chesterfield
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3 or 4, but 7 is a bit much
I had 4 instructors through my PPL, and I really appreciated the different way they did things and their different views on things. They also picked up on things. I genuinely believe it caused me to extend my PPL training beyond the minimum (but I don't see that as a bad thing). 7 seems like a lot, however, and I would definitely have a word!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Leicester
Age: 34
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had One insturctor the whole way through my training till the point when I was just hour building and doing trips to places with free landing fees. Then very rarely I would take a different instructor if mine wasnt avaliable
David
David
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: London
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd have to agree with bigfoot:
Whilst flying with many different people and several instructors allows you to pick up all sorts of useful (or not so useful!!) tips and things, I think at your stage you need to be concentrating on the basics (and learning them one way) in order to then start developing modified ways of doing things. Having a familiar instructor also makes it easier to ask those questions/approach them for advice etc. when you are starting out so the easiest way to do this in my opinion is to limit the number of instructors at first!
...so in short yeah have a word with the ops dept. or one of your instructors - I'm sure they would understand and if you can be a little flexible on when you're able to train I'm sure together you can fit something together!
Enjoy it! CS
Whilst flying with many different people and several instructors allows you to pick up all sorts of useful (or not so useful!!) tips and things, I think at your stage you need to be concentrating on the basics (and learning them one way) in order to then start developing modified ways of doing things. Having a familiar instructor also makes it easier to ask those questions/approach them for advice etc. when you are starting out so the easiest way to do this in my opinion is to limit the number of instructors at first!
...so in short yeah have a word with the ops dept. or one of your instructors - I'm sure they would understand and if you can be a little flexible on when you're able to train I'm sure together you can fit something together!
Enjoy it! CS
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Scotland
Age: 44
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
12 different instructors
55 hours logged
2 flying schools
5 aircraft types
Chaos courtesy of a well known Scottish ex-flying school.
It's been a mess but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, since changing FTO.
There's some really poor level of instruction out there. But fortunately there are also some very passionate and committed instructors to pick up the mess left by others and help you through the hard times !
The only positive.... If I ever become an airline captain, I guess I'm already used to having a different pilot on the right hand seat every time I fly !
55 hours logged
2 flying schools
5 aircraft types
Chaos courtesy of a well known Scottish ex-flying school.
It's been a mess but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, since changing FTO.
There's some really poor level of instruction out there. But fortunately there are also some very passionate and committed instructors to pick up the mess left by others and help you through the hard times !
The only positive.... If I ever become an airline captain, I guess I'm already used to having a different pilot on the right hand seat every time I fly !
sua cuique voluptas
A woman learning to fly when I did claimed to have had one or two.
Mind you, it was the first thing that went through my mind when I read the thread title
I only had 3 instructors: being blokes I didn't fancy any of them.
Still don't....
Ripline
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh man.
I was in a flying school which also trained helicopter pilots. One day a female helo student came back with a red face and adrenaline up to her eyeballs. She told us she and her (male) instructor had just done an autorotation down from 500 feet. According to her, that was better than sex! But now I'm beginning to wonder what really happened then?
I was in a flying school which also trained helicopter pilots. One day a female helo student came back with a red face and adrenaline up to her eyeballs. She told us she and her (male) instructor had just done an autorotation down from 500 feet. According to her, that was better than sex! But now I'm beginning to wonder what really happened then?
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere near the CPT beacon...
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Haha!
I've so far had 3 instructors (4 if you count T/L) but have had just the one from lesson 7 (thus something over 21 hrs now, I think). I started with our mature male CFI, progressed to a female and now have an immature male
it's an interesting mix and I wouldn't change it for the world but, in hindsight, having one instructor may have been easier!
Lucky I've a good 'un now then!
I've so far had 3 instructors (4 if you count T/L) but have had just the one from lesson 7 (thus something over 21 hrs now, I think). I started with our mature male CFI, progressed to a female and now have an immature male
it's an interesting mix and I wouldn't change it for the world but, in hindsight, having one instructor may have been easier! Lucky I've a good 'un now then!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: England
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
nanocas, having tried some different instructors, most excellent, and are able to pick out tiny details, not picked out by my main instructor, ( & one not so good )
it then occured to me, its MY money, Im spending here, so choose exactly who you want, don't settle for an instructor your not 100% with
it then occured to me, its MY money, Im spending here, so choose exactly who you want, don't settle for an instructor your not 100% with
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Number of PPL Instructors
I used up 15 instructors in the 18 months it took to get my PPL.
Most of that was due to the meltdown of instructors going off to get right hand seat jobs in grown up aeroplanes.
The need for the school to get part-time instructors in at short notice did lead to a few amusing situations, such as;
Climbing out, starting a continuing climbing turn at 900 ft.
Instructor "Where are you going?"
Self "Into the circuit."
Instructor "Well you had better level off then."
Self "It's a 1500 ft circuit here."
Instructor "Is it?"
Most of that was due to the meltdown of instructors going off to get right hand seat jobs in grown up aeroplanes.
The need for the school to get part-time instructors in at short notice did lead to a few amusing situations, such as;
Climbing out, starting a continuing climbing turn at 900 ft.
Instructor "Where are you going?"
Self "Into the circuit."
Instructor "Well you had better level off then."
Self "It's a 1500 ft circuit here."
Instructor "Is it?"
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Down South, preferably inverted
Posts: 235
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think I'm up to 5 alternatives, other than my main instructor (32 ish flat hours) in the PPL at various stages, and 1 extra for aeros at 8 hours (1/2 hour with the CFI on my 3rd flight). PPL & aeros instructor are one and the same.
The others have only acted as fill in when my main instructor is on hols, sick or if someone has beaten me to the booking sheets and he's totally booked up. I've only once managed to fly twice with an alternative instructor that I've flown with before...hence the total body count. Only equates to about 5 PPL hours & 1/2 hour of aeros though.
In the earlier days I was uncomfortable flying with other people (apprehensive) and would get confused by the different approaches.
I didn't feel that I knew much back then... so I didn't know any better, but I don't mind so much now - 'Cos now I know I don't know much
.
If I'm told anything different by one of the others I either point out how I've been taught so the instructor can give their point of view on the alternative they're showing me, and/or bring it up with my main instuctor next time we fly so he can do the same.
The last guy I flew with for 45 mins before being sent off doing solo circuits, provoked a few differences which has encouraged discussion with my normal guy...All good and positive....I might add.
So it's nice to keep the same instructor for consistancy in the early stages, but you can learn a lot and think about what you're doing more when you've got the basics sorted - more brain capacity available.
The others have only acted as fill in when my main instructor is on hols, sick or if someone has beaten me to the booking sheets and he's totally booked up. I've only once managed to fly twice with an alternative instructor that I've flown with before...hence the total body count. Only equates to about 5 PPL hours & 1/2 hour of aeros though.
In the earlier days I was uncomfortable flying with other people (apprehensive) and would get confused by the different approaches.
I didn't feel that I knew much back then... so I didn't know any better, but I don't mind so much now - 'Cos now I know I don't know much
.If I'm told anything different by one of the others I either point out how I've been taught so the instructor can give their point of view on the alternative they're showing me, and/or bring it up with my main instuctor next time we fly so he can do the same.
The last guy I flew with for 45 mins before being sent off doing solo circuits, provoked a few differences which has encouraged discussion with my normal guy...All good and positive....I might add
.So it's nice to keep the same instructor for consistancy in the early stages, but you can learn a lot and think about what you're doing more when you've got the basics sorted - more brain capacity available.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: West Midlands
Age: 58
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The main problem with different instructors is lack of standardisation. I have worked at schools were 5 different instructors had 5 different ways of doing the syllabus and none of this was monitored by the lazy CFI.
Having a different instructor with a different take on how to achieve the same goal is one thing but swapping to one that thinks he is running his own flying school can be very confusing for a student.
At any school which allows you to have more that 3 instructors I would question their commitment and interest in teaching you to fly.
Remember to most schools you are just a wallet, finding a good school with a dedicated management AND dedicated knowledgable vocational instructors is a pretty hard task. The number of instructors that are involved in your training however is a useful pointer.
One of the most often heard statements from PPLs sometime after their training is;
"Well i was never shown/taught that"
Also consider that in the early days of flying most pilots taught themselves to fly. In some cases this is still true today!
ASK CAPTAIN JON
Having a different instructor with a different take on how to achieve the same goal is one thing but swapping to one that thinks he is running his own flying school can be very confusing for a student.
At any school which allows you to have more that 3 instructors I would question their commitment and interest in teaching you to fly.
Remember to most schools you are just a wallet, finding a good school with a dedicated management AND dedicated knowledgable vocational instructors is a pretty hard task. The number of instructors that are involved in your training however is a useful pointer.
One of the most often heard statements from PPLs sometime after their training is;
"Well i was never shown/taught that"
Also consider that in the early days of flying most pilots taught themselves to fly. In some cases this is still true today!
ASK CAPTAIN JON
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK,Twighlight Zone
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There should not be a lack of standardisation. When we do our Instructor courses we are taught from a standard cirrculum following standard lessons. Every Instructor has to pass a pre entry test and complete an end of course test with an independant examiner. These processes are supposed to act as gatekeepers and ensure the student gets consistancy.
The problem lies in the number of Instructors who don't gove a toss about the student, they just want hours in the log book for the jet job. This is where the problems arise in consistancy for the student. I am well known on my views about taking the hour builders out of the frame and encouraging dedicated instructors to stay in GA with better terms and conditions. Increase the use of PPL Instructors and properly police the standards.
Personally I like flying with different instructors, I am never to big to learn after all aviation is one long learning experiance and would hope that my students take away something from me.
The problem lies in the number of Instructors who don't gove a toss about the student, they just want hours in the log book for the jet job. This is where the problems arise in consistancy for the student. I am well known on my views about taking the hour builders out of the frame and encouraging dedicated instructors to stay in GA with better terms and conditions. Increase the use of PPL Instructors and properly police the standards.
Personally I like flying with different instructors, I am never to big to learn after all aviation is one long learning experiance and would hope that my students take away something from me.
Chocks Away!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Manchester Barton
Age: 54
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I learnt with one instructor all the way through my PPL. It was good because he knew the bits I was weak on, and we could carry on easily enough from the previous lesson.