How do you pick a CFI??

[EatSleepFly]

Re: Re: Part 141- from an instructor's p

This all goes back to what mizzouguy said--the probability that a time builder who is only instructing to build time is going to be a good instructor is very low.

Thats a bunch of crap, or at the very least, too much of a generalization. I know plenty of instructors who don't plan on making a career out of it, that are absolutely excellent instructors.

It's got a lot to do with attitude, and frame of mind. If an instructor has a one track mind, that is, "moving up" as soon as humanly possible, then yes I agree, he/she will probably not be a terrific instructor. On the other hand, if that instructor is one that might say, "sure, I want to move on eventually, but in the meantime, this is my job, I'm going to enjoy it and take it seriously," they're probably going to be a successful CFI (provided they also have some of the other traits necessary to be a good CFI).

It seems to me that theres two types of pilots/instructors: those who want absolutely nothing other than "to be an airline pilot," and those who truely love to fly, want to enjoy the ride, and end up where they end up. I remember my first semester at school...there was a kid in my hall looking at a 777 cockpit poster. He said to me (and I'll never forget this), "man, I don't wanna fly all these little 'prop' planes...I just wanna be in that seat right there." I chuckled to myself and walked away. A year or two later, I found out that he never even made it through his private.

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is, don't NOT fly with an instructor just because he/she is young and has other, ultimate career goals. Thats absolutely rediculous, and could very well be your loss. After conversation and maybe a flight or two, it shouldn't be hard to determine if your instructor has that one-track-mind thing going or not.

My $0.03 USD.

 

[dmspilot00]

Re: Re: Re: Part 141- from an instructor's p

Thats a bunch of crap, or at the very least, too much of a generalization

Notice the importance of the term "only" in those posts. If a person is only a CFI because they feel they have to in order to build time, that is different than a person who flies because he/she likes flying, is a CFI because they like instructing, but is also at the same time hoping to use his/her accumulated CFI time for his/her future career as a pilot. You can certainly find CFIs who are building time but are doing it for more than that reason alone. I was singling out people who had only one reason to instruct -- building time, and nothing more.

I couldn't agree with you more about the kid and his 777 poster--there are too many of those types who did end up making it through their private, and all the way through CFI... although the 777 kid example is more on the extreme side .

 

[Whirlwind]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Part 141- from an instructor's p

Notice the importance of the term "only" in those posts. If a person is only a CFI because they feel they have to in order to build time, that is different than a person who flies because he/she likes flying, is a CFI because they like instructing, but is also at the same time hoping to use his/her accumulated CFI time for his/her future career as a pilot.

I know quite a few CFIs, out of all of them, maybe one or two want to keep instructing part time after getting their next flying job.

This does not make the rest bad instructors, it just means they did not become pilots so they could teach people how to land a 172. Being a CFI is not about flying, it is about teaching. The qualities that make someone a good pilot have little to do with those that make a good teacher.

That being said, of the 20 or so CFIs at my school, about half of them I'd term "good", a few would be "great", and the rest would be forgetable. I suspect that something similar could be found at other schools as well.

 

[Cosmo1999]

what whirlwind said is pretty much true. Until they actually pay CFIs decent salaries there just wont be as much dedication. Most people still do good jobs because its their job. You want to network as much as you can in all your flying jobs and do the best job you can. At the same time however how do you expect someone to have full time dedication to a job that pays part time wages or even less? A pizza driver can make more just in tips alone on a really busy weekend than a CFI makes in a whole week.

 

[Ailerongirl]

Wow...

...I thought this would be a good thread!

Thanks for all the input guys! In regards to BigD's question, if I were to be looking in TX I'd have no problem having someone recommend a CFI for me, but I'll be needing one in TN.

Lots to think about for sure!

 

[8HourPilot]

G-200 is right on. The new guys will try excessively hard for you, not only because they still care, but they want their pass/fail record to be good.

After about 500 dual given, most get a little burned out. Not all, but most.

Shoot for the newbie.