Alternatives to flight Instruction...????

[VW Pilot]

great info...thanks

 

[VW Pilot]

Well now that I think about it, I think I'd like to become an Instructor
instead of just getting the privilage. The other day my brother became curious about learning to fly and I said to my self....I know i'm no instructor...but let me see just how much I know and how it will sound
telling someone else...So I Imagined him being a student and told him what I could about what he asked....felt like I had passed something good, in the form of knowlege on to someone else....Since he understood, made me feel even better....So I guess had low confidence of being an Instructor...Afraid I'd mess up...So I think I could do it....And have some fun too. Besides alot of Pilots at the FBO says it makes a better Pilot out of ya....as one so eloquently said it.....I read that on here numerous times also....So I'll try it.
when I get there of course....

 

[unreal]

Well now that I think about it, I think I'd like to become an Instructor
instead of just getting the privilage. The other day my brother became curious about learning to fly and I said to my self....I know i'm no instructor...but let me see just how much I know and how it will sound
telling someone else...So I Imagined him being a student and told him what I could about what he asked....felt like I had passed something good, in the form of knowlege on to someone else....Since he understood, made me feel even better....So I guess had low confidence of being an Instructor...Afraid I'd mess up...So I think I could do it....And have some fun too. Besides alot of Pilots at the FBO says it makes a better Pilot out of ya....as one so eloquently said it.....I read that on here numerous times also....So I'll try it.
when I get there of course....

Trust me, don't be at all concerned about your teaching ability when you're a student pilot. You should be concerning yourself with flying the airplane, and that's it. CFI applicants go through a lot of training to hone their ability to teach, and even then, most of us sucked at it when we first started.

Only getting out there and actually being a CFI with real students is going to get your teaching ability to a good level. Not only do you learn new things about flying, but you're constantly figuring out new ways to convey that knowledge as well. It won't happen overnight, and even though I teach the same courses day after day after day, I still have lessons where I feel as though I didn't teach as well as I could have. It happens.

As far as messing up, well, you might mess up a bit when you first start. When I first started, I told my students up front that I was brand new, and they were just fine with that. After a couple months, one of my instrument students even gave me a good compliment: "Hey, you're getting really good at explaining things!" Do the best you can and be professional about it, but don't be afraid to admit that you're wrong. Getting something wrong and then attempting to cover it up is a much worse crime than simply getting something wrong and fessing up. If you mess up, make it a learning experience for both you and your student.

If you're afraid of messing your students up, don't worry about it. The fact that you care about the instruction you're giving to them speaks a great deal about how you'll be as an instructor. As long as you care about their progress and do whatever you can to give them the best and most accurate information possible, you won't screw them up. And keep in mind that if you forget to cover something in a ground lesson, it'll become readily apparent what it was you forgot the moment they try it in the airplane. No harm, no foul.

Good luck.

 

[time builder]

Has anyone mentioned traffic watch? I know some that will hire at 500 hours, mine took 750 hours for insurance requirements. I logged 92 hours my first solid month. On the other hand, like flying the canyon (I did that too), its way too easy flying the same route every day, and I needed to challenge myself, so I got a job instructing.

Seriously though, I was in the same situation, couldn't find a CFI job despite graduating the school with a 3.98 GPA, they wanted to hire me, but didn't have enough students. What can I say, it payed to relocate to Las Vegas.

Before I moved, however, I did an FO program with Ameriflight to get over 600 hours. I know its typically flamebait to post stuff about PFT, but really, I didn't take anyone's job by doing it, and I learned so many things from that which I never could have through instructing (turbine engines, icing, radar/thunderstorms, hard IFR, flows, etc.). Also, the Captains were challenging me, many to the point of flying ATP standards and beyond.

Don't get me wrong, there are those who don't get the experience, they just pass the checkride and coast from there *sigh* , hence the reputation many of these programs get.

At any rate, there's no easy way to the airlines. Many who try to skip the challenges find themselves unprepared for their interviews and or part 121/135 training, or even worse, the challenges they face in real life.

I can empathize with someone who can't find a job as a CFI (the first job is always the hardest to get), but don't sell yourself short of getting the experience you need.

 

[unreal]

At any rate, there's no easy way to the airlines. Many who try to skip the challenges find themselves unprepared for their interviews and or part 121/135 training, or even worse, the challenges they face in real life.

That's just the thing. I couldn't imagine going into a 121/135 interview without the IFR knowledge I've gained being a (primarily) instrument instructor. I'm sure people do it and do just fine from such jobs as traffic watch, but it's nice to have experience instead of rote memorization of the facts. No offense meant to anyone.

 

[SPilot]

I thought I wouldnt fit as an instructor, and was for a long time uncertain if I should become one. I'm a little shy, didnt always like to meet new people, and didnt think I communicated clearly. However, within the first 30 hours of dual given, I felt confident, and within about 100 hours dual given I was a highly appreciated and recommended instructor, loved by my students (except one) and they achieved great results in short time and low cost, which was partly the objective at the school I worked at.
Its not so much how good a people-person you are, but much more how much interest you take in your students tiniest little learning steps, and your attention to their progress - giving praise anytime something good comes out of their practice. Also being highly knowledgable helps, but again, I think as a student I thought it was much tougher being an instructor than it really is. Your first students will probably need to learn how to fly straight and level, what a stall is, learning to flare and land and all that basic stuff, they dont need to know technicalities from the instructor pilot syllabus.

 

[JediNein]

To be honest, I'd say I'm surprised I survived my first 2,000 hours...in another 3, I'll probably be surprised I survived my first 5. It's amazing how much I learn every time I go up...

-mini

Hopefully I'll feel a little more confident when I survive the first 5,000 hours. The 2K mark passed recently, yep, I'm surprised I survived it.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[adisk811]

like everyone else said, as a CFI, you learn more than you ever thought possible. I have learned more teaching 300 hours, than in my previous 500.
As to your question though, i flew jumpers for 6 months, got 250 hrs with 50 of that Multi-Turbine PIC time in a twin otter. If you get on with a good Drop zone then its not too bad. However, most of the owners are not pilots and will try to get you to fly piles of junk in weather conditions not exactly as good as the regs say you need. Either way, get multi-time, its like gold.

good luck