Finding another flight instructor

[Jedi_Cheese]

I fly at two different FBO's. I do my training at one (school) and my casual flying at another (home). It looks like my CFI at home is going to be moving on and he is a pain in the @ss to schedule with (I use him for checkouts in various aircraft). Unfortunately, I am not in the loop at home and thus don't get the dirt on who is good and who isn't.

Is it acceptable to ask for his opinions of the various other CFI's at the school? Is there a good way to phrase it? My experience has been that the CFI waffles and mentions that all the CFIs are equally qualified (please don't insult my inteligence, I am not a new student pilot).

Are there any good questions I should ask the new instructor? I don't really want to play 20 questions about the FARs.

 

[labbats]

Follow the fullest schedule.

 

[El Cid Av8or]

I have worked with quite a few instructors throughout my flight training. I even went back to my current one half way through my instrument training. You have to find one that you "click with." At my flight school, we try to work together to make sure the student is getting trained effectively and is having fun. Some instructors gave up students to other instructors and things were better for everyone. I think it is important for all instructors to know that the students, no matter what stage in training they might be in, are paying the bill and putting money (even if just a little) in the bank. The main goal is to do everything very tactfully. If you feel that you are not getting good training or an instructor is near impossible to schedule with, politely and professionally talk to them and tell them that you want to fly with another instructor. You may have to do it just for your own sake and then make the decision which instructor is better, even if you go back to a previous one.

Sorry for the long post...

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

I am not having any problems with my instructor. If he was to be stick around, I would fly with him (I have flown with him for 4 summers and the only compaint was during the first summer he was a little green). But he has 2500tt, is working on his ATP, and has told me he is looking for an airline job. I am betting he is gone by the end of this summer.

Facing the facts, it is better to find a new instructor now while the other instructor is still around than to have to duke it out with all the other students when he leaves.

 

[pilotman2105]

Start with a recommendation from your current CFI. Then talk to a student of the recommended CFI. If you don't like the look of things, politely say that you want a different CFI. It's your money and you are a consumer. Exercise that right to gain the fullest bang for your buck.

Getting stuck with a moron CFI is a useless waste of money.

 

[flyinlow67]

Never be afraid to check with another CFI. Don't fall to the assumption your CFI is always right. I always send my students with another CFI on occasion to check on thier progress and mine as well.

You are the one paying the money. Get the most out of it and shop around.