Qualities of a Good Training Captain
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Qualities of a Good Training Captain
If you were in the market for a Training Captain for your Airline, what qualities would you be looking for at Interview and in the Sim? What qualifications/background would you hope the Candidate would have?
7 is right - the next thing that is of some importance is the ability to teach - i.e put the information over so that the bloke being taught, understands it, and if he takes a bit of time to do so go back to the first quality. Oddly, or not I have found the best instructors are not the ace of the base **** hot guys, but the average Joe pilot. The **** hot ones generally lack the first quality.
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The Ideal Training Captain
(1) As SE7EN said - "Patience, patience and umm....oh yes, patience."
(2) As CDRW said - "the ability to teach". Absolutely agree that the best pilots do not necessarily make the best instructors, they often cannot understand why others cannot cope as well as they do themselves. Of course a good pilot who also has the ability to teach well is a bonus+++
(3) A clear appreciation that no two students are the same, and will learn at diffent rates and in different ways. Often times the slower student ends up being the better pilot.
(4) A clear appreciation that a Training exercise is NOT a test of the candidates skills and techniques, that is a Check flight. A Training exercise is the opportunity for the student to steadily apply pre-learning for the new type and put it into practice with the guidance of the instructor.
(5) A clear appreciation that MOST students learn more effectively if not just taught HOW, but WHY. A clear understanding of why a particular technique is practiced quickly leads to his being able to use the technique (the HOW).
(6) A clear appreciation that a large number of errors made by the majority of the students is not their fault. (You know the type - "All you sods are the same"). It is the fault of the system, the instructor, or for a group of pilots from similar backgrounds entering new dissimilar techniques.
(7) A good instructor will take the student through new procedures in a careful and explanatory manner. The student may have prepared himself well, but a good instructor will assist in his complete understanding and ability to perform consistantly.
(8) Within the constraints of safety, a good instructor will allow a more advanced student some lee-way in "running his own show", but ready to step in quickly if safety or learning is compromised. This builds up the trainee's confidence enormously.
(9) The ability to recognise areas where the student is under-confident, and reinforce his confidence by example and talking him through those aspects which the student finds difficult, and finally to go it alone (oddly enough, I've found that in my own students, their initial points of under-confidence often become their strong points if managed carefully).
(10) The ability to recognise when "on-the-spot" mini de-briefs are desirable during the exercise whilst the event is fresh in the student's mind. Major items can wait for the post flight de-brief.
(11) The ability to recognise when the student is assessing his own mistakes correctly, as he can now work positively towards correcting them. Just as importantly, the ability to recognise when the student is NOT assessing his own mistakes correctly or realising them, at which point much more instructor input is needed.
(12) Although the Instructor does not have to be an "ace" pilot, he must be able, at a moment's notice, to take full control of the aircraft without assistance - reverting to single pilot operation.
That's a mini summary, there's a lot more, but it's among the points that I look for when interviewing potential instructors, and conducting their Instructor training and final approval.
Regards,
Old Smokey
(1) As SE7EN said - "Patience, patience and umm....oh yes, patience."
(2) As CDRW said - "the ability to teach". Absolutely agree that the best pilots do not necessarily make the best instructors, they often cannot understand why others cannot cope as well as they do themselves. Of course a good pilot who also has the ability to teach well is a bonus+++
(3) A clear appreciation that no two students are the same, and will learn at diffent rates and in different ways. Often times the slower student ends up being the better pilot.
(4) A clear appreciation that a Training exercise is NOT a test of the candidates skills and techniques, that is a Check flight. A Training exercise is the opportunity for the student to steadily apply pre-learning for the new type and put it into practice with the guidance of the instructor.
(5) A clear appreciation that MOST students learn more effectively if not just taught HOW, but WHY. A clear understanding of why a particular technique is practiced quickly leads to his being able to use the technique (the HOW).
(6) A clear appreciation that a large number of errors made by the majority of the students is not their fault. (You know the type - "All you sods are the same"). It is the fault of the system, the instructor, or for a group of pilots from similar backgrounds entering new dissimilar techniques.
(7) A good instructor will take the student through new procedures in a careful and explanatory manner. The student may have prepared himself well, but a good instructor will assist in his complete understanding and ability to perform consistantly.
(8) Within the constraints of safety, a good instructor will allow a more advanced student some lee-way in "running his own show", but ready to step in quickly if safety or learning is compromised. This builds up the trainee's confidence enormously.
(9) The ability to recognise areas where the student is under-confident, and reinforce his confidence by example and talking him through those aspects which the student finds difficult, and finally to go it alone (oddly enough, I've found that in my own students, their initial points of under-confidence often become their strong points if managed carefully).
(10) The ability to recognise when "on-the-spot" mini de-briefs are desirable during the exercise whilst the event is fresh in the student's mind. Major items can wait for the post flight de-brief.
(11) The ability to recognise when the student is assessing his own mistakes correctly, as he can now work positively towards correcting them. Just as importantly, the ability to recognise when the student is NOT assessing his own mistakes correctly or realising them, at which point much more instructor input is needed.
(12) Although the Instructor does not have to be an "ace" pilot, he must be able, at a moment's notice, to take full control of the aircraft without assistance - reverting to single pilot operation.
That's a mini summary, there's a lot more, but it's among the points that I look for when interviewing potential instructors, and conducting their Instructor training and final approval.
Regards,
Old Smokey
Old Smokey: You forgot one; as I know you must teach that most important rule to them?
(13) To Trust Nothing; Trust No One
Also that would be a great lesson for the Flight Instructors and Examiners forum here
(13) To Trust Nothing; Trust No One
Also that would be a great lesson for the Flight Instructors and Examiners forum here
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I might add....
'Listen (insert trainees first name here), we are both here to do a job, I teach, you listen and hopefully understand, and follow with appropriate action...and, above all, don't argue, and we'll get along just fine.'
Works like a charm....usually
'Listen (insert trainees first name here), we are both here to do a job, I teach, you listen and hopefully understand, and follow with appropriate action...and, above all, don't argue, and we'll get along just fine.'
Works like a charm....usually
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Old Smokey has clearly identified the ideal characteristics and qualities desired of an Instructor or Check Pilot, but once those qualities have been recognized and the appointment made, a responsible company will insure that the newly appointed instructor receives adequate training and the tools to carry out his/her duties. Courses in instructional technique, pedagogy and human factors should be part of that training.
]It is also important that the company has an ongoing program to monitor the performance and standards of their instructor and check pilots.
]It is also important that the company has an ongoing program to monitor the performance and standards of their instructor and check pilots.
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'Listen (insert trainees first name here), we are both here to do a job, I teach, you listen and hopefully understand, and follow with appropriate action...and, above all, don't argue, and we'll get along just fine.'
"Listen Bloggs, heres the deal, you sit there like a good chap and listen to what I have to say. It may be a complete load of ****, but just do it. Don't open your trap, I'm the Captain; I know everything!"
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"Listen Bloggs, heres the deal, you sit there like a good chap and listen to what I have to say. It may be a complete load of ****, but just do it. Don't open your trap, I'm the Captain; I know everything!"
Listen Bloggs, heres the deal, you sit there like a good chap and listen to what I have to say. It may sound strange but just do it. Don't open your trap, I'm the Training Captain; I know everything.
This works very well for brand new First Officers on type (the 200 hour wonder crowd), and further, if they argue just one little bit, send 'em packing.
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Rest assured his current assignment means he's not likely to come into contact with impressionable trainees any time soon.
We are in the process of selecting local turbopropeller First Officers for upgrade to a heavy widebody jet.
Now, these guys (and one gal, a quite pretty one too) are in the one to two thousand hour range, so these folks are allowed to ask reasonable questions, and they will receive reasonable answers.
Howsomever...the 200 hour 'wonder' has no previous airline flying background, knows next to nothing about line flying (only having just completed a type conversion course) so....the Training Captain says, the trainee brand new First Officer does as he/she is told...period.
End of story.
This is the way SQ trained their original First Officers onto the line in the B707 airplane, and....when finished with the line training, they could make quite reasonable decisions and...fly the airplane remarkably well, considering their previous very limited experience.
This is called...train hard, operate easy.
A proven concept...something I expect ASFKAP would absolutely know nothing about, because...he ain't an airline pilot.
Surprise, surprise.
Don't use the corridor method of training.
ie Ok Bloggs I want you to run down that corridor as fast as you can and when you get to the end turn right and keep running.
So Bloggs goes running down the corridor and when he turns right impales himself on a brick wall.
Instructor says "Well, you won't do that again, will you?"
If the trainee asks you a question and you don't know the answer say "I don't know but lets go and find out"
ie Ok Bloggs I want you to run down that corridor as fast as you can and when you get to the end turn right and keep running.
So Bloggs goes running down the corridor and when he turns right impales himself on a brick wall.
Instructor says "Well, you won't do that again, will you?"
If the trainee asks you a question and you don't know the answer say "I don't know but lets go and find out"
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If the trainee asks you a question and you don't know the answer say "I don't know but lets go and find out"
Therefore, he keeps his mouth shut and ears firmly open, so that he can actually attempt to learn the basics.
Then he can ask questions, however, never argue.
Ever.
And yes...I've trained a few of the these '200 hour wonders', in heavy jet airplanes.
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411A
"All very interesting, however...a '200 hour wonder' just beginning line training, doesn't know what questions to ask, because, he doesn't know anything about airline flying....yet."------>your personal experience as a novice pilot doesn't make the rule...
"Then he can ask questions, however, never argue.
Ever." -----> waow, arguing is a proof he is actually listening to you but may have a different opinion,which obviously you dont accept..great teaching attitude..
"And yes...I've trained a few of the these '200 hour wonders', in heavy jet airplanes."---->the fewer the better,i hope the training was short and someone else rectified your initial poor attitude,lack of training,and overall appalling personality at work.
"All very interesting, however...a '200 hour wonder' just beginning line training, doesn't know what questions to ask, because, he doesn't know anything about airline flying....yet."------>your personal experience as a novice pilot doesn't make the rule...
"Then he can ask questions, however, never argue.
Ever." -----> waow, arguing is a proof he is actually listening to you but may have a different opinion,which obviously you dont accept..great teaching attitude..
"And yes...I've trained a few of the these '200 hour wonders', in heavy jet airplanes."---->the fewer the better,i hope the training was short and someone else rectified your initial poor attitude,lack of training,and overall appalling personality at work.
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arguing is a proof he is actually listening to you but may have a different opinion,which obviously you dont accept...
The trainee is the trainee, not the instructor.
In reality, the trainees opinion simply doesn't count, because...the instructor is actually paid by the airline to instruct, not listen to some nonsense ideas from junior pilots.
Junior pilots are just that....junior.
Not likely to change anytime soon, either.
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I was full of questions when I started line training (200hrs, 737). And all my training captains made it clear at the start of every day that questions were not only welcome but encouraged. Infact the message was "whatever you do, do not sit there with your mouth shut if there is something you need to ask/know." Made for a positive, relaxed training environment.
But maybe they were all doing it wrong....
But maybe they were all doing it wrong....
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But maybe they were all doing it wrong....
However, every once in awhile the instructor finds a smart a**, who will come up with some wild idea, and then want to argue about it.
Sorry, not allowed.
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Quote:
You've got that right, I don't accept.
The trainee is the trainee, not the instructor.
In reality, the trainees opinion simply doesn't count, because...the instructor is actually paid by the airline to instruct, not listen to some nonsense ideas from junior pilots.
arguing is a proof he is actually listening to you but may have a different opinion,which obviously you dont accept...
The trainee is the trainee, not the instructor.
In reality, the trainees opinion simply doesn't count, because...the instructor is actually paid by the airline to instruct, not listen to some nonsense ideas from junior pilots.
Its the difference between rote learning and comprehension, and in the long run is far more effective because whatever the guys misunderstanding is will otherwise follow him to the grave.
pb
The One Your Mother Warned You About
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Twenty four years ago I was the 200 wonder training on the A320. As I got into the sim for the first time the Trainer patted me on the shoulder and said "I love the look on the faces of all you youngsters the first time in here. The self doubt and awe is so obvious." He then proceded to take me and a load of others from being a 200 hour trainee through to being an airline pilot by showing us how to do it, leading us gently on and occasionally yelling "**** Me Boy!! if you keep that up you'll never make it! Now do it again and work harder!"
The line trainers showed us how to operate the aircraft and gave us a lot of tricks of the trade and the rest was willingly passed on by the line captains we flew with.
All these years on I'm pretty convinced that all the good qualities you look for in a trainer are also vital in the line captains too. After all once base and line training are over the learning how to make duty hours work on a day where everything slips is vital, local knowledge about airports makes life easier and and in depth knowledge of company procedures can really only be learned on the job.
The line trainers showed us how to operate the aircraft and gave us a lot of tricks of the trade and the rest was willingly passed on by the line captains we flew with.
All these years on I'm pretty convinced that all the good qualities you look for in a trainer are also vital in the line captains too. After all once base and line training are over the learning how to make duty hours work on a day where everything slips is vital, local knowledge about airports makes life easier and and in depth knowledge of company procedures can really only be learned on the job.