First Dual Given....

[seattle]

I've started studying for the FOI. Looks like a lot to know.

For those of you who instruct, what do you remember most about your first couple hours of dual given? Anything about instructing for the first time that surprised you? Thanks.

Seattle

 

[bobbysamd]

Early instructing experience

Study and learn the FOI. It is not just a bunch of gobbledegook to regurgitate for the CFI practical, it is knowlege and a manual to live by, a way of life, for flight instructing.

I remember that during my first few hours of instructing I knew what I was doing but didn't feel that I had my shtik down. I was teaching a bunch of young pre-solo CAP cadets. I was teaching the same thing three or four flights a day. It gave me a great opportunity to hone my explanations.

I probably was the world's worst flight student. So, it surprised me how quickly my students picked up what I was teaching them in comparison to me learning it. I also remember soloing out my first student. I knew that he was ready, but was I? So, I signed off his student certificate and logbook, stepped out, and sent him on his way, wondering, what if? He did fine, but I suspect that I was more excited about creating a new pilot than he was about soloing.

 

[MYFpilot]

I actually felt bad charging my first couple of students. After about a hundred hours or so of dual given you kinda get the hang of things.

One thing that surprised me when I first started instructing is all the interesting people that you get to meet, and all the different personalities you deal with. You really have to be a people person for this job. Some days you have to be a used car salesman to keep your student coming back. Then the next day you have to be Dr. Phil because your student's a complete basket case. Unfortunately flight training, unlike most other rigorous and complex endeavors, does not require an aptitude test to begin. It only requires money. Which unfortunately some people have a little too much of. So, your challenge as an instructor will be to mold the people who have the "right stuff" as well as those who have the "wrong stuff" into successful, safe and competent pilots.
At least for me, I felt the most accomplished as an instructor not when my "Ace" passed his check ride, but when the one I wondered "how he even drove home successfully" passed his check ride.

However, I think an old and wise flight instructor said it best "Just remember, your students are always trying to kill you"

 

[higherflyer]

The FOI for the most part is good common sense information.

It has been a while, but the thing that I remember most about my first dual given was being nervous. Nervous about being professional, nervous about making a mistake that the student would catch, nervous about almost everything. Like MYFpilot, I felt bad about charging the first few students. It didn't take long to get the hang of it and lose the 'deer in headlights' feeling.

Instructing is a great way to learn and grow as a pilot. Never forget that you are there to make sure that your students learn to be competent pilots and TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. Flying is supposed to be fun and too many instructors seem to have the attitude that students are solely there to provide $$ and hours to the instructor. They are there to learn as much as you are there for a job and to build your time and you will be a better instructor if you keep that in the back of your mind.

Good luck!

 

[Northern Lights]

As far as ground briefings go...

If you use the "lecture method" as described in the FOI book, your students will just sit there and nod in agreement with anything you say. "The sky is purple...sure, The sun rises in the west... ok...."
If you say it they will probably believe you. Then, like any good CFI you say something like "So do you understand?" "Yup." "Do you have any questions?" "Nope."

To find out if they've actually learned anything, ask them a specific question about what you have been talking about.

Good luck!

 

[RX7 PILOT]

Also, your first couple of hours will entail a lot of, "it's like", and "you know" and "uh um huh's".. you'll end up confusing yourself trying to explain some of the how's and why's.

 

[Timebuilder]

I was surprised at how much more clear many concepts became as I had to explain them to another person.

I began to see the shortcomings in my own student experience when my instructor hadn't adequately explained something to me, and that insight helped me to do a better job.

 

[TWA Dude]

The biggest thing I had to learn during my first dual hours was when to keep my mouth shut. My boss generously described my style as "thorough" which I knew to mean "picky". I took a chill pill and both student and CFI started having more fun. It's a fine art to know when your student is receptive to critiquing and when s/he's best left alone to learn. Enjoy!

 

[Timebuilder]

I agree.

My boss said the same thing to me, which didn't make sense in a 141 "accelerated" program. I thought my job was to teach, in the active sense, not just watch someone log hours in an airplane and run up a bill.

You won't please everyone. That's what other instructors are for.

 

[Rook]

**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** !!!! I should've went to San Diego State.

What I remember about my first Duals was the tremendous worry if I was actually going to be able to teach someone the 'right' way. Especially when you realize that some students learn...differently(slower) than others. Another thing I remember is getting some of the problem students at my flight school. I was one of the 'last resorts' so to speak since I have the patience of Yoda. Only without the mad force skills. But all in all you're about to embark on a great start to a career as a professional. Try not to get disgruntled so early ok? And good luck.

Rook
600' AGL Autopilot on.
'WHEW!'

 

[Rook]

OOps sorry censors.

accidentally typed a word that started with 'D' and rhymes with ham.

Rook
600' AGL Autopilot on.
'WHEW!'

 

[starvingcfi]

dog?

 

[ksu_aviator]

Dog rhymes with ham?

What I remember most was how much detail I had to give to students. Silly me, I was teaching a student in his first few hours as a student and my first few hours of instructing. We where doing a crosswind landing, and at 50 or so feet I asked him to add some rudder. WRONG RUDDER!!!!! I managed to get it straight before we hit, but I learned two lessons.

1. stay near the controls (with your left hand on your knee you look relaxed and you can get to the controls very quickly and never keep your feet far from the rudder)

2 be very very very very very very specific.

 

[JediNein]

Howdy!

Go back to the FOI after a few hundred hours of dual given. It's amazing how much the FAA does have right...

Those first hours of dual given were tougher for me than the students. They didn't know what they were getting into. I did.

My greatest surprise was just how nervous I was about explaining things properly. The second surprise was just how inadequate my lesson plans were.

What I remember most about instructing was landing practice with an already-soloed student. Never assume the previous instructor taught anything, or that the student understood what was taught. Even without being complacent, I don't think any new instructor is really ready for what can go wrong during a landing nor how poorly a student can be making uncontrolled collisions with the planet and be passed off for solo.

Some examples:
A flurry of activity in the cockpit, completing checklist items, retracting the flaps in a complex, BEFORE touchdown.
Releasing the yoke before, during, and immediately after touchdown.
"Trim? What's that?"
"My last instructor said to land at 90 knots!" (in a Cessna 150)
"My last instructor said to land at 120 knots!" (in a Bonanza)

MYFpilot is right on. The student IS trying to kill you.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein