Dissapointed with CFI
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Dissapointed with CFI
Hello,
I am a High School student who also travels half way throughout the school day to a Flight Academy with three other students from my High School. The actual Flight Academy is just a Ground School that goes over fundamentals, navigation, weather and everything that needs to be covered for the FAA written.
My Flight Academy sends groups across the street to the FBO for flight lessons. There are first and second year groups that go (two year program, I am a first year) the FBO across the parking lot, the CFIs and Aircraft are provided by the FBO.
I went on my first flight with a CFI that usually does not teach for students that come from our academy, I guess he does lessons with Student Pilots that aren't affiliated with my Academy. So as I was saying, I went on my first flight with him, heres the bad part. He was a slick guy, heintended he did a pre flight earlier this morning (it was about 12:30 PM), okay, I was thinking straight and proceeded to enter the plane. He then taxied to the runway without teaching me how, he took off by himself, he did banking by himself, he landed by himself, the only thing I had learned that day was how to fly straight
.
I have been an observer in aircraft twice since the beginning of the school year (there is always two other student pilots from the academy that ride in the back watching for traffic) while I was an observer those two times, I learned how to pre flight, the student pilot in command learned how to bank, land and take off. When observing in the back seat bith times was with the regular first year instructor.
Have I been cheated? disrespected? I will be reporting this guy to my Academy and the FBO.
This whole situation has made me very dissapointed and so sad to think that I have been cheated blindly.
Please reply with your feelings about this situation.
I am a High School student who also travels half way throughout the school day to a Flight Academy with three other students from my High School. The actual Flight Academy is just a Ground School that goes over fundamentals, navigation, weather and everything that needs to be covered for the FAA written.
My Flight Academy sends groups across the street to the FBO for flight lessons. There are first and second year groups that go (two year program, I am a first year) the FBO across the parking lot, the CFIs and Aircraft are provided by the FBO.
I went on my first flight with a CFI that usually does not teach for students that come from our academy, I guess he does lessons with Student Pilots that aren't affiliated with my Academy. So as I was saying, I went on my first flight with him, heres the bad part. He was a slick guy, heintended he did a pre flight earlier this morning (it was about 12:30 PM), okay, I was thinking straight and proceeded to enter the plane. He then taxied to the runway without teaching me how, he took off by himself, he did banking by himself, he landed by himself, the only thing I had learned that day was how to fly straight
. I have been an observer in aircraft twice since the beginning of the school year (there is always two other student pilots from the academy that ride in the back watching for traffic) while I was an observer those two times, I learned how to pre flight, the student pilot in command learned how to bank, land and take off. When observing in the back seat bith times was with the regular first year instructor.
Have I been cheated? disrespected? I will be reporting this guy to my Academy and the FBO.
This whole situation has made me very dissapointed and so sad to think that I have been cheated blindly.
Please reply with your feelings about this situation.
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Maybe you should tell your mum what happened?Failing that why not just ask the CFI why he didn't let you do it all? Instead of instantly assuming you have been treated unfair by him and reporting him. Every instructor has a different way of teaching. If he let you do a turn and landyou would probably be complaining why he didn't let you do some other flight maneuvers that a student has been observed doing in the past.
Best you talk to him about it
Best you talk to him about it
Last edited by joseph500s; 23rd Nov 2012 at 04:51.
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Talk to your instructor directly. Failing that, ask the school to assign you a different instructor, but seriously you should talk to the instructor first. I'm sure that if you did something that the instructor didn't like, he wouldn't go and "report" you to the head of the FBO, but would rather talk to you about it first.
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If he flew it to expedite the flight to get to your part of the lesson, I'd get it. But and without overloading a student, you should be hands on at every component part of the lesson. Taxiing included.
For what it's worth as a 737 Captain, I still see this behaviour even now, when it comes to letting the F/O brake on landing to a taxi speed as per SOP's. My bugbear with this is that F/O will never learn to use the brakes if the Captain keeps taking control at say 80 knots. Same thing, just bigger
For what it's worth as a 737 Captain, I still see this behaviour even now, when it comes to letting the F/O brake on landing to a taxi speed as per SOP's. My bugbear with this is that F/O will never learn to use the brakes if the Captain keeps taking control at say 80 knots. Same thing, just bigger
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Actually if its your first lesson effects of controls or ex3 flight experence its not part of the learning points for you to fly the whole thing.
The instructor should though have been constantly talking through what they were doing though.
Its infact a problem with some instructors that they do just let the students go for it in a none structured way then put them into the circuit without the foundations being taught properly.
Book one of most ppl theory courses has long briefs for all the lessons its up to you to read them before the lesson so you get the maximum out of them.
We don't know whats in your training records it could be that you have been signed off for the preflight.
Saying that though it could be that the instructor has just had you dumped on them at the very last moment and you haven't had value for money. I presume at the school you will have a member of staff who looks after the course. Go and have a chat with them.
The instructor should though have been constantly talking through what they were doing though.
Its infact a problem with some instructors that they do just let the students go for it in a none structured way then put them into the circuit without the foundations being taught properly.
Book one of most ppl theory courses has long briefs for all the lessons its up to you to read them before the lesson so you get the maximum out of them.
We don't know whats in your training records it could be that you have been signed off for the preflight.
Saying that though it could be that the instructor has just had you dumped on them at the very last moment and you haven't had value for money. I presume at the school you will have a member of staff who looks after the course. Go and have a chat with them.
ParsonsKHWV.
A sixteen your old on your first instructional flight and you suggest that you might have been disrespected (if there is such a word in the English language). Were you expecting the instructor to sit back, watch you do it all and then for him to remark what a born, natural pilot he had just had the privilege to observe?
A sixteen your old on your first instructional flight and you suggest that you might have been disrespected (if there is such a word in the English language). Were you expecting the instructor to sit back, watch you do it all and then for him to remark what a born, natural pilot he had just had the privilege to observe?
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It not worth it shyte.
It seems to be a big issue for youngsters these days this respect thing. Just seems to be the latest excuse for unprovoked violence and a diversion in dissagreements when someone is blatantly in the wrong.
The youth of today is never wrong its always someone elses fault.
It seems to be a big issue for youngsters these days this respect thing. Just seems to be the latest excuse for unprovoked violence and a diversion in dissagreements when someone is blatantly in the wrong.
The youth of today is never wrong its always someone elses fault.
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I really think you should talk to him before you 'report him'. Maybe the time of your lesson was restricted and therefore he did the pre-flight before. Also have you maybe thought that you didn't do very well when you were learning how to fly straight? And this was why he didn't want you to fly any more? Maybe he wanted to ease you into flying more complicated maneuveres. I think you're putting all the blame on the instructor when maybe you should be think about what you could do better. If you talk to him and he doesnt say there is anything wrong with your flying but still doesn't improve and let you do more complicated things then maybe you should talk to someone about it.
It certainly appears the OP is not a native english speaker.
This almost reads like its been done with Google translator or Babel fish.
If the OP is a foreign student there might be some cultural issues as far as the "respect" thing goes.
We don't have nearly enough information here;
Did the lesson start late hence no teaching of the preflight which can easily take 30-45 minutes?
Doesn't exist under FAA and supposedly you are training at Brookhaven airport? KHWV?
Me tinks dis here issa windup ora troll.....
This whole situation has made me very dissapointed and so sad to think that I have been cheated blindly.
If the OP is a foreign student there might be some cultural issues as far as the "respect" thing goes.
We don't have nearly enough information here;
Did the lesson start late hence no teaching of the preflight which can easily take 30-45 minutes?
student pilot in command
Me tinks dis here issa windup ora troll.....
Last edited by B2N2; 23rd Nov 2012 at 17:44.
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MadJock is quite correct.
If this was your first lesson you start with the basics. You have to be careful with students. Overloading them with information on their first lesson is not the objective. There is no point teaching someone to land on lesson one when they have not learnt, effects of controls, straight and level, climbing and descending, turning, stalling etc. All it will do is overload the student and dent their confidence.
From an instructor point of view he should have briefed this. This is what I used to do with my students. It's all about development of your skills in a structured and manageable method. To reach your goals.
If this was your first lesson you start with the basics. You have to be careful with students. Overloading them with information on their first lesson is not the objective. There is no point teaching someone to land on lesson one when they have not learnt, effects of controls, straight and level, climbing and descending, turning, stalling etc. All it will do is overload the student and dent their confidence.
From an instructor point of view he should have briefed this. This is what I used to do with my students. It's all about development of your skills in a structured and manageable method. To reach your goals.
For what its worth...
I trained at one of the most well known European integrated flight training schools and although I started with a decent foundation in effects of controls, circuits, stalls etc, everyone (myself included) was forced to re-do the straight and level lesson first and then medium turns, climbing and descending lesson by lesson. I guess this is to ensure that everyone had been taught in the exact same techniques and put everyone on a level playing field. Their argument was that a solid foundation in these basic skills was key to good instrument flying technique. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is the way that all of the large flying schools will play it. Some instructors will vary of course, but this will probably be their official policy.
I trained at one of the most well known European integrated flight training schools and although I started with a decent foundation in effects of controls, circuits, stalls etc, everyone (myself included) was forced to re-do the straight and level lesson first and then medium turns, climbing and descending lesson by lesson. I guess this is to ensure that everyone had been taught in the exact same techniques and put everyone on a level playing field. Their argument was that a solid foundation in these basic skills was key to good instrument flying technique. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is the way that all of the large flying schools will play it. Some instructors will vary of course, but this will probably be their official policy.
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Parsons...DUMP THE GUY
Hi:
I've seen a bunch of stuff on this thread that makes me cringe.
first off, presently 737 captain for a major US airline...but many years ago I was a CFIIMEI and taught lots of people to fly.
He (your crummy instructor) should have had you do the full walkaround inspection with him teaching you how to do it. AND you should ALWAYS do a walkaround inspection before each flight PERIOD. Just that he had done one earlier is reason enough to stay away from this guy.
When I was teaching...the very first lesson the student did everything...taxied, tookoff, climbed, straight and level, turns, descent and landing...certainly I was closely supervising and talking the student through everything...even working the radio , though that would be the last thing. The only reason I wouldn't do all of the above is if the weather changed and things got particularly difficult (eg: increase in cross wind).
I would report him to your ''academy'' right away...you can even take my comments here with you. I would also be very careful about spending my own money on any flying lessons anywhere.
where is shoreham? is it near West Point?
your lessons should go like this:
ground briefing in which the instructor tells you what you will do in the plane today and a full explanation of how to do it, why, etc.
thorough preflight inspection...and he should accompany you throughout this inspection until you are very good at it...and always remember to untie the ropes.
flight lesson....he (cfi) may be demonstrating the lesson objectives (eg stalls) but if the CFI is flying the plane for more than 5 minutes in a 1 hour lesson, you are getting gyped.
securing the plane after landing, tie down, shut down checklist.
walk to school room, turn around once to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.
post flight briefing...review what you learned, what problems you had and a sort of assignment for th enext lesson to prepare.
don't bother talking to him...and don't listen to this bit about each instructor having his own way. if you only ''learned straight and level"" then this guy is borderline.
im if you like
you should read a book called, ''stick and rudder'' before you take even one more lesson.
I've seen a bunch of stuff on this thread that makes me cringe.
first off, presently 737 captain for a major US airline...but many years ago I was a CFIIMEI and taught lots of people to fly.
He (your crummy instructor) should have had you do the full walkaround inspection with him teaching you how to do it. AND you should ALWAYS do a walkaround inspection before each flight PERIOD. Just that he had done one earlier is reason enough to stay away from this guy.
When I was teaching...the very first lesson the student did everything...taxied, tookoff, climbed, straight and level, turns, descent and landing...certainly I was closely supervising and talking the student through everything...even working the radio , though that would be the last thing. The only reason I wouldn't do all of the above is if the weather changed and things got particularly difficult (eg: increase in cross wind).
I would report him to your ''academy'' right away...you can even take my comments here with you. I would also be very careful about spending my own money on any flying lessons anywhere.
where is shoreham? is it near West Point?
your lessons should go like this:
ground briefing in which the instructor tells you what you will do in the plane today and a full explanation of how to do it, why, etc.
thorough preflight inspection...and he should accompany you throughout this inspection until you are very good at it...and always remember to untie the ropes.
flight lesson....he (cfi) may be demonstrating the lesson objectives (eg stalls) but if the CFI is flying the plane for more than 5 minutes in a 1 hour lesson, you are getting gyped.
securing the plane after landing, tie down, shut down checklist.
walk to school room, turn around once to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.
post flight briefing...review what you learned, what problems you had and a sort of assignment for th enext lesson to prepare.
don't bother talking to him...and don't listen to this bit about each instructor having his own way. if you only ''learned straight and level"" then this guy is borderline.
im if you like
you should read a book called, ''stick and rudder'' before you take even one more lesson.
I've seen a bunch of stuff on this thread that makes me cringe.
first off, presently 737 captain for a major US airline...but many years ago I was a CFIIMEI and taught lots of people to fly.
Have you even read a book on flight instruction lately?
Like FOI?
Building block of flight instruction?Step-by-step?
Not the drop-em-off-the-deep-end-see-if-they-are-made-of-the-real-stuff method of flight instruction.
I'm surprised you didn't mention spins on a first lesson or did you cover that in the introduction flight already?
When I was teaching...the very first lesson the student did everything...taxied, tookoff, climbed, straight and level, turns, descent and landing...certainly I was closely supervising and talking the student through everything...even working the radio , though that would be the last thing. The only reason I wouldn't do all of the above is if the weather changed and things got particularly difficult (eg: increase in cross wind).
Students need to understand what they are doing not simply being told and following orders.
I would report him to your ''academy'' right away...you can even take my comments here with you.
Your way is the only way I'm sure. What a joke.
You absolutely have no idea what syllabus was used, what the school rules/ops are, what the CFI was supposed to do vs what he did.
You're talking about a 16 year old being taught his first lesson instead of being the ace he thaught he was.
Last edited by B2N2; 23rd Nov 2012 at 20:04.
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MR B2N2
Yes Mr B2n2...I have read FUNDAMENTALS OF INSTRUCTION...FOI
and no I wouldn't spin someone on their first lesson...nor in a plane not certified for spinning and not without a parachute (exception training for CFI).
TELL me what sylabus has pilots taking off in any plane without a current pre flight?
YOU make me cringe. Overloading a student with the four fundamentals of flight? An easy takeoff and talking through a landing...oh come on.
Students understanding...why do you think I indicated a briefing...and reading the best book on flying every written?
SAD state of affairs when you make excuses about ops and sylabus and what the school is supposed to do.
The original poster got a bad instructor...
and the only worse one I can think of is...fill in the blank ACE.
Age 16 is a perfect time to start to learn to fly. Neil Armstrong did it at 14.
Having an instructor takeoff and climb to altitude and then teach straight and level as the only student flown portion of a lesson is NUTS.
if I have passed THREE FAA CHECKRIDES for DIFFERENT INSTRUCTOR certificates, I think I know what I'm talking about...and in case you don't know, a captain on anything is responsible for instructing his copilot in the course of his flying duties.
sheesh...oh...maybe you taught those air france guys how to fly...makes sense.
and no I wouldn't spin someone on their first lesson...nor in a plane not certified for spinning and not without a parachute (exception training for CFI).
TELL me what sylabus has pilots taking off in any plane without a current pre flight?
YOU make me cringe. Overloading a student with the four fundamentals of flight? An easy takeoff and talking through a landing...oh come on.
Students understanding...why do you think I indicated a briefing...and reading the best book on flying every written?
SAD state of affairs when you make excuses about ops and sylabus and what the school is supposed to do.
The original poster got a bad instructor...
and the only worse one I can think of is...fill in the blank ACE.
Age 16 is a perfect time to start to learn to fly. Neil Armstrong did it at 14.
Having an instructor takeoff and climb to altitude and then teach straight and level as the only student flown portion of a lesson is NUTS.
if I have passed THREE FAA CHECKRIDES for DIFFERENT INSTRUCTOR certificates, I think I know what I'm talking about...and in case you don't know, a captain on anything is responsible for instructing his copilot in the course of his flying duties.
sheesh...oh...maybe you taught those air france guys how to fly...makes sense.
Sevenstroketroll, I think you need to read some of the gems you have posted on this board.
The preflight ws done as stated earlier, by the CFI who is the PIC.
For the benefit of expedience, can't see anything wrong with that.
Sure you do....
You instructed 30 years ago, things have changed a little as far as teaching techniques are concerned. Not one single syllabus has the student taking off in the first lesson.
Does "your" airline know that?
I'm sure they'll be more then thrilled about you "teaching" your FO's on what you think to be right. Your way being the only way?
You're a tool, most you post is rubbish.
Go away.....
TELL me what sylabus has pilots taking off in any plane without a current pre flight
For the benefit of expedience, can't see anything wrong with that.
if I have passed THREE FAA CHECKRIDES for DIFFERENT INSTRUCTOR certificates, I think I know what I'm talking about...
You instructed 30 years ago, things have changed a little as far as teaching techniques are concerned. Not one single syllabus has the student taking off in the first lesson.
and in case you don't know, a captain on anything is responsible for instructing his copilot in the course of his flying duties.
I'm sure they'll be more then thrilled about you "teaching" your FO's on what you think to be right. Your way being the only way?
You're a tool, most you post is rubbish.
Go away.....
Last edited by B2N2; 23rd Nov 2012 at 20:54.
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B2n2
Dear Sir:
The point the original poster had made was that the pre flight inspection was not done immediately prior to the lesson...it had been done in the morning and it was already in the afternoon.
Do you do a preflight hours in advance of flight? I don't.
AS to captains teaching copilots...it is quite evident in our company FLIGHT OPERATIONS MANUAL. AND we supervise and make sure the copilots are following the methods taught by the training department.
I'm sure you wouldn't understand if you don't bother to teach takeoffs in the first lesson in your flying school.
I'm glad you called me a tool... before I read that I just thought you were a weak sister and I felt sorry for you.
The original poster has already said he is taking ground school and the concepts of the theory of flight are covered in such a school.
why, why wouldn't someone teach someone to takeoff...it is required to takeoff before you can do anything else in flight.
Do you taxi the plane to the runway, perform the runup and pretakeoff checklist and control check, perform the takeoff and then, after you have trimmed up in level flight let the student control the plane?
wow...pretty lame
my students from 30 years ago are doing quite well having gone on to fine careers at many major airlines in the US.
I see them from time to time and NONE has ever said: gee, you should have taught me straight and level before you taught me how to takeoff.
try reading the original post again...the poster indicated that other students were learning to takeoff on their lessons.
someone who couldn't handle what I have outlined as the first lesson should be warned that using the B2n2 method will cost three times as much and make a pilot competent to solo DUMBO at DISNEYLAND.
Rubbish indeed...
The point the original poster had made was that the pre flight inspection was not done immediately prior to the lesson...it had been done in the morning and it was already in the afternoon.
Do you do a preflight hours in advance of flight? I don't.
AS to captains teaching copilots...it is quite evident in our company FLIGHT OPERATIONS MANUAL. AND we supervise and make sure the copilots are following the methods taught by the training department.
I'm sure you wouldn't understand if you don't bother to teach takeoffs in the first lesson in your flying school.
I'm glad you called me a tool... before I read that I just thought you were a weak sister and I felt sorry for you.
The original poster has already said he is taking ground school and the concepts of the theory of flight are covered in such a school.
why, why wouldn't someone teach someone to takeoff...it is required to takeoff before you can do anything else in flight.
Do you taxi the plane to the runway, perform the runup and pretakeoff checklist and control check, perform the takeoff and then, after you have trimmed up in level flight let the student control the plane?
wow...pretty lame
my students from 30 years ago are doing quite well having gone on to fine careers at many major airlines in the US.
I see them from time to time and NONE has ever said: gee, you should have taught me straight and level before you taught me how to takeoff.
try reading the original post again...the poster indicated that other students were learning to takeoff on their lessons.
someone who couldn't handle what I have outlined as the first lesson should be warned that using the B2n2 method will cost three times as much and make a pilot competent to solo DUMBO at DISNEYLAND.
Rubbish indeed...
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The times have changed and the building block approach works very well.
It still takes the same number of hours if not less because the student doesn't have to work so long at the more advanced lessons.
The FAA has also started going in this direction as well after the dash crash and the studys which say the fundementals are lacking.
The jump in and let the student do everything does work with some students mostly young blokes. For the majority of the rest it produces pilots which may be able to hold it together but have little understanding in what they are doing. And will also take more hours.
When I started instructing my average was 6-10 hours in the circuit before solo when I finished full time instructing it was down to 2-3. The hours before entering went up from 4-5 to 8-12. About the same total time but they had alot more clue what they were doing.
BTW I was taught the jump in and do everything method and only really discovered what I missed when I did my instructors course.
It still takes the same number of hours if not less because the student doesn't have to work so long at the more advanced lessons.
The FAA has also started going in this direction as well after the dash crash and the studys which say the fundementals are lacking.
The jump in and let the student do everything does work with some students mostly young blokes. For the majority of the rest it produces pilots which may be able to hold it together but have little understanding in what they are doing. And will also take more hours.
When I started instructing my average was 6-10 hours in the circuit before solo when I finished full time instructing it was down to 2-3. The hours before entering went up from 4-5 to 8-12. About the same total time but they had alot more clue what they were doing.
BTW I was taught the jump in and do everything method and only really discovered what I missed when I did my instructors course.
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Parsons,
there's so much that cannot be determined from your post for anyone to make a judgement call.
perhaps there was a cross wind, perhaps there was more traffic on the taxi ways etc etc blah blah..
the fact is, your instruction program will be modified to fit how you learn and your individual capabilities...
as a point you may have observed others doing it, but that doesn't mean you know how to do it.
flying straight and level is a base for your flying skills that you will develop; you may think that you can handle the whole flight but you cannot and will pick up bad habits that inhibit your learning later on.
sorry, but the fact is, you dont know it all, you are there to learn.
as a side story back when i did my PPL there was another student that was a 'know it all' backchatted the instuctors, told them they were doing it wrong and wouldnt overcome his bad habits. none of the instructors liked teaching him or flying with him. consequently he solo-ed a lot later than i did, passed his x-country a lot later than i did and also his PPL.
the difference was that i sat down shut-up and listened, learned, asked questions no matter how dumb they seemed and if i didnt feel comfortable with something said so and why. you need to be part of the learning process and that means learning, even if you may feel that it is beneath you.
disrespected by your instructor? you seem to be making a fair job of that yourself.
there's so much that cannot be determined from your post for anyone to make a judgement call.
perhaps there was a cross wind, perhaps there was more traffic on the taxi ways etc etc blah blah..
the fact is, your instruction program will be modified to fit how you learn and your individual capabilities...
as a point you may have observed others doing it, but that doesn't mean you know how to do it.
flying straight and level is a base for your flying skills that you will develop; you may think that you can handle the whole flight but you cannot and will pick up bad habits that inhibit your learning later on.
sorry, but the fact is, you dont know it all, you are there to learn.
as a side story back when i did my PPL there was another student that was a 'know it all' backchatted the instuctors, told them they were doing it wrong and wouldnt overcome his bad habits. none of the instructors liked teaching him or flying with him. consequently he solo-ed a lot later than i did, passed his x-country a lot later than i did and also his PPL.
the difference was that i sat down shut-up and listened, learned, asked questions no matter how dumb they seemed and if i didnt feel comfortable with something said so and why. you need to be part of the learning process and that means learning, even if you may feel that it is beneath you.
disrespected by your instructor? you seem to be making a fair job of that yourself.