For Instructors - Question About Student Personality Problem

[Bluecruiser]

Kudos to FlytoIST's comment.....Having done flight reviews as both a freelance & school-employed CFI, I can say you have to be very, very careful, your name and blessing is with them. DO NOT ANYONE talk you into a signature until you know they are ready.

Along the same subject, I recently 'fired' a student whom I was having (among other problems) a personality conflict with. First time I have ever done so, I hated it. My student has been successfull in nearly all aspects of his personal & professional life, except in flying. Long story short, we struggled through his private and then the appropriate endorsements for a high-performance single he owned. In addition to having a learning disability, he refused to study and improve and carried a 'chip on his shoulder' every time he was at the airport. Always came to fly with the attitude that I wasn't going to help him, we needed to fly just so he could have that signature in his logbook. After consistently exercising poor judgement and really, really dumb errors, I was afraid he was a smoking hole waiting to happen, probably when his wife and kids were onboard.

My course of action (and what I would recommend for the original post...) was that I told him that we were not making progress and that I believed that safety was a real issue. I told him that I wanted him to succeed, however I felt that things were not moving forward and that it was in his best interest to try someone else (which I provided) to evaluate him and then we could go from there. He took it pretty well and eventually he finished with another CFI. I suppose some will find fault with what I did....but in all honesty I actually slept better knowing I won't see his family in court someday down the road. I hope that helps---remember, you are not Superman, just an instructor...not everyone out there is going to always be up to the task.

 

[JediNein]

If it's someone I don't know, I hand 'em a copy of our flight school's PPSEL/BFR Study Guide. If they throw it in my face, we've not wasted either's time. They go on their merry way thinking what an a$$ I am, and I move on to someone that happily wants to pay me $$$ for my time. If they look at it, grimace, and think they can tackle it, now I'm dealing with someone that I won't be awake at night worrying about their flying.

I don't feel the most responsibility towards the pilot. I feel the burden from the pilot's family. You get to meet the wife and kids, including the two and a half year old that *always* gets sick on landing and after you instructed the father, the kid *never* gets sick anymore (undiagnosed ear infection, kept the descent rate below 300 fpm). Sometimes it is the husband making sure you are good enough to instruct his wife in something she's always dreamed about but he never did. You're going to be sitting next to the remaining spouse at the funeral if you didn't do your job right. This instructor job is tough sometimes.

Keep in mind that you are sometimes that pilot's only hope for an attitude change they can accept and implement in their flying. It sounds like this pilot has an attitude from wherever, but for now, he's still listening. Try to keep him doing so if you can.

I've found that sometimes you have to let them fail, but in a safe environment where they know their personal failings are safe with you. Build the relationship to the point where he can listen to you.

One way to do this is praise the person, correct the performance, praise the person (sandwich technique). Praise "you" (public/private), correct with "we" (in private): [Name], I am impressed by your courage to keep coming here and trying. And you did a good job today. I really liked the way you did [insert whatever]. We need to work a little more on slow flight. Remember how we heard the stall horn [etc]? When that happens we need to [how to fix]. [Maneuver] was fine, [insert reinforcement of whatever]. I'm happy that I got the chance to fly with you today.

Another thought is to offer "tips & tricks" instead of corrections. None of us like to fail. No matter your intention, the message received is that of failure, raising his defenses. To avoid them, try cushioning your corrections: "That might work better for you if you try [x]." "I'm lazy. I don't like to work too hard. I find it easier to do [x]." "While the method you're using works, this might be easier/faster/more efficient." "I have a little trick that I use for that, would you like to see it?" "I've a deep, dark secret for [x] that no one ever tells us." "Of course it's hard, the flight instructors union fought to keep it hard so we can stay in business with BFRs!" "You're working too hard! Try [x]."

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[350DRIVER]

I have given many flight reviews to folks like this who had personality issues, conflicts, etc. It is not that big of a problem, keep in mind that you are there merely to ensure that he is safe, competent, and that he isn't a risk to himself, his passengers, and to those innocent on the ground below. He is not a student pilot nor is he seeking any additional training required for a rating. My sole objective with these kinds of pilots would always be the same, make certain they were safe, aware, and wouldn't put their life in danger or any others. I would not turn these reviews into trivia sessions just to see how many times I could stump them. You can pretty much tell in the first 5 or so minutes into the flight as to what kind of pilot they were.

 

[rumpletumbler]

Grab his testicles with your left hand and squeeze hard enough that you almost black out. Remove your hand and then make a fist and place that fist against the right side window. In one fluid motion then elbow him in the nose with the left elbow putting your weight into it and following through much like a golf swing. Repeat. Now state your last point and see if his hazardous attitude has been corrected. If so you have both won and if not repeat until the desired result is achieved.

 

[Crimson03]

Google 'narcissitic(sp) personality disorder'
The dead pilot doctor/lawyer stereotype fits right in.

 

[User546]

Thanks guys and gals(?) for all your responses and suggestions. Appreciate all the good ideas and perceptions offered.

(Keep em coming if you still wish to contribute!)

 

[Ron Mexico]

I don't work for a flight school, I just do it freelance on the side, all by word of mouth.

I commend this guy, because he actually seeked me out and the first thing he said is "I need to get a BFR sometime, but would you be willing to go up with me for 5 or 6 flights, or however long it takes, and get me back up to speed flying this airplane." The guy recognizes that he doesn't fly very often, and his Mooney is probabably a bit much airplane for him now-a-days. I like the sending him up with another instructor idea.

The "Come to Jesus" talk might not be a bad idea as well. Theres no doubt in either of our minds who the "smarter" one is, and he aknowledges that, but he just doesn't want to be told he's wrong. When he does get told that (even in a nice diplomatic way) he shuts down and quits paying attention to me. I dont think its purposely that he's doing this, i just think its part of his personality, and like most ultra-successfull business people, he probably hasn't been told he was wrong too much in his life!

Just a little psyco babble to think about and keep in mind. If your assesment of him is correct then his frustration may really directed at himself not at you. Most of these older guys who have been flying for awhile may be realizing their time is coming to an end and fighting it!!!! I don't know for sure, so I am guessing here but, the guy has probably been flying forever and he is afraid of loosing it!!! Kindda like when Grandma runs over the Voice box at Mickey D's and drives home with the menu stuck in the grill...All the family has to draw straws to choose who takes her keys!!!!

Remember it is YOUR ticket and if he screws up and kills someone guess who is going to have a nice flight with the FAA!!!? YOUR ticket is more important than keeping this guy happy!!!!