Too many instructors????
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 17
From: U.K.
I'm afraid you aren't quite ready. Probably not a million miles away, but don't worry this is unfortunately nothing new. I've lost count of the number of people who've come on here in the last 10 years and asked a similar question to you.
As an FI I've had to deal with many students who've been rushed through the basics. As a CFI, this was something I dealt with, with my own team of FI's occasionally (not the 6 FI's in 8 hours stuff though, if I ever found something like that going on, then there'd be hell to pay) especially with the less experienced FI's.
Don't get despondent about it, just make sure you get the most experienced FI you can, or the most professional one at least. Try not to fly with hour builders who have one eye on an airline job, rather than both eyes on your progress.
Some are very good, but in general stick to the more grizzled FI's if you can.
As BPF mentions, once you can trim properly, fly straight and level without thought, climb and descend at set air speeds and rate of descents with good accuracy and have covered things like stalling, then you are ready to go into the circuit. Until you can free up enough capacity to fly the aircraft, do the checks, listen to the radio and respond to it, then all you are doing is wasting time in the circuit and you might actually go backwards as you get wound up and annoyed at a perceived lack of progress.
All the best with your training and you're already ahead of most by realising yourself that what has been going on isn't good enough.
As an FI I've had to deal with many students who've been rushed through the basics. As a CFI, this was something I dealt with, with my own team of FI's occasionally (not the 6 FI's in 8 hours stuff though, if I ever found something like that going on, then there'd be hell to pay) especially with the less experienced FI's.
Don't get despondent about it, just make sure you get the most experienced FI you can, or the most professional one at least. Try not to fly with hour builders who have one eye on an airline job, rather than both eyes on your progress.
Some are very good, but in general stick to the more grizzled FI's if you can.
As BPF mentions, once you can trim properly, fly straight and level without thought, climb and descend at set air speeds and rate of descents with good accuracy and have covered things like stalling, then you are ready to go into the circuit. Until you can free up enough capacity to fly the aircraft, do the checks, listen to the radio and respond to it, then all you are doing is wasting time in the circuit and you might actually go backwards as you get wound up and annoyed at a perceived lack of progress.
All the best with your training and you're already ahead of most by realising yourself that what has been going on isn't good enough.
Last edited by Say again s l o w l y; 16th January 2011 at 18:51.
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: New Zealand
I had Three instructors (the club's full time compliment) and all of them taught me different and valuable things, Some had a more rigourous professional method of flying which passed on good habits (being AT altitude and AT speed not +/-) and some had highly valuable prictical advice, not just about flying the A/C but practical local weather knowlege and handling tips.
As for Spinning before the circuit?? what? we covered advanced stalls (as in stalling in the landing config) before going into the cuircuit, but i'm sure we didn't cover stuff like spinning or wing drops until later?
As for knowing when your ready, at some point you'll find yourself going downwind and saying "ho Hum this is taking a while" you've nailed your height, trimmed and are on approach speed and finished your checks.
I remember i was porposing around busy doing my checks and downwind calls i'd look up (yes i know- head out the cockpit plse) and it would be time to lower flap and turn base. there never seemed to be enough time!!!
As for the flare.... gotta love tommie undercarriages... stronger than diamonds!
As for Spinning before the circuit?? what? we covered advanced stalls (as in stalling in the landing config) before going into the cuircuit, but i'm sure we didn't cover stuff like spinning or wing drops until later?
As for knowing when your ready, at some point you'll find yourself going downwind and saying "ho Hum this is taking a while" you've nailed your height, trimmed and are on approach speed and finished your checks.
I remember i was porposing around busy doing my checks and downwind calls i'd look up (yes i know- head out the cockpit plse) and it would be time to lower flap and turn base. there never seemed to be enough time!!!
As for the flare.... gotta love tommie undercarriages... stronger than diamonds!
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2008
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 102
Likes: 4
From: Ireland
"As for knowing when your ready, at some point you'll find yourself going downwind and saying "ho Hum this is taking a while" you've nailed your height, trimmed and are on approach speed and finished your checks."
I've just revisited this thread having taken back to the air after taking (involuntary) time out from training. I've put in some intensive time to catch up and I'm finally at the "Ho Hum" place mentioned above. I've stuck with 2 instructors all the way and I'm almost ready for solo. Loving every second of it apart from the occasional "Go Around" due to due dodgy crosswind approaches. I'm very happy with my chosen instructors, they push my limits without getting me overwhelmed. Incidentally I'm training in EICK where ( it seems) crosswinds are a way of life.
I've just revisited this thread having taken back to the air after taking (involuntary) time out from training. I've put in some intensive time to catch up and I'm finally at the "Ho Hum" place mentioned above. I've stuck with 2 instructors all the way and I'm almost ready for solo. Loving every second of it apart from the occasional "Go Around" due to due dodgy crosswind approaches. I'm very happy with my chosen instructors, they push my limits without getting me overwhelmed. Incidentally I'm training in EICK where ( it seems) crosswinds are a way of life.
