Rating a CFI

[clumpinglitter]

I want to keep this objective, and I would like every post to relate directly to this theme so we can create a real sense as to what a student pilot should look for in a CFI. Also, it would be great to give serious CFI's a chance to see how they're doing.

What makes a CFI worth paying for?

Let me throw something additional out there. You can hire a timebuilding CFI, or you can hire someone who instructs for fun. If you're career-minded, you might want to go with the timebuilder. This person has the same goals as you, probably, and he may have more clue and insight into the best ways to go about your training. Not to mention, it's good to start making future career contacts as early as possible, right? I don't agree with the conventional wisdom that bags on timebuilding CFIs.

I'm just speaking from my own experience, for what it's worth. The FBO where I did my private training hires new UND graduates pretty much exclusively. Then, I did my subsequent training at a flight school with mostly part-timers. Anyways, just something to think about.

-Christine

 

[Tonala2k]

Clump, I like that. Finding a CFI based on similar objectives in aviation. You also just redefined 'time builders'. Often it's derogatory meaning those 'time builders' who want nothing to do with CFI. You're right that we can't just look at time builders as bad news. Heck, where would that put me?

 

[IFollowRoads]

I have no idea why I bother screwing with the website. Oh yeah, I remember! YOU stereotypical hypocrite! How dare you spout crap about us you know NOTHING about??? You blew off DCA's policies and they almost canned you for not doing your job. Good thing I wasn't your boss. I'd sent you packing the first day I saw you! 98% of the instructors here work their tails off for their students and you ********************ING know this!

Sorry

 

[IFollowRoads]

I have no idea why I bother screwing with the website. Oh yeah, I remember! YOU stereotypical hypocrite! How dare you spout crap about us you know NOTHING about??? You blew off DCA's policies and they almost canned you for not doing your job. Good thing I wasn't your boss. I'd sent you packing the first day I saw you! 98% of the instructors here work their tails off for their students and you ********************ING know this!

Sorry I missed the post that brought forth this response I guess it got edited out.

 

[xshuttlefa]

When I was learning to fly in a C-150 way back when, I showed up at the airport early one day and the plane I was scheduled to fly along with my instructor were stuck at another airport with some type of problem. The other instructor who worked there invited me for a ride in the back of a 172 with him and his student. This was a real eye opening experince for me.

My two cents

I had my first real experience with being a "back-seat flyer" recently at American Flyers. I was real rusty on instruments and I rode in the back with another guy who was worse then I was! I truly saw what I had been doing wrong and, more importantly, learned what the other guy was doing wrong so I could critique him (since this was the CFII I was working on). This didn't work so well for the commercial maneuvers, but for instrument, it was great.

The option of riding in back isn't explained to most students, possibly because some schools forbid it due to insurance reasons. But you learn so much just watching someone else fly, taking the operation of the aircraft out of your hands to focus on learning the procedure at hand or just to see how someone else flies besides your instructor.

This could be especially useful to a student having a difficult time with a lesson. Riding along and watching might cause them to have a "Eureka" moment that you just couldn't get through to them.

I guess it can be tough to get people to come along, since most people have such a tight schedule anymore. Maybe explaining that one free hour in back could save them three hours upfront. But anyway, it should be offered to students if possible, not just in an "academy" environment like I was in at AF.

Be sure the W&B works out and performance limitations too. And if you want someone to ride along in back, ask your student if they're comfortable with that first.