Rating a CFI

[TRGFlyer2006]

Could someone what is DCA?

DCA (Delta Connection Academy). But Don't listen to most of what that guy, Buffy: AKA Buffettck, has to say about it. His opinion is way to skewed. He has nothing objective to say. Just ignore his stupidity. If you do that, this thread will be just fine. :beer:

 

[CKJET]

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. I actually became freinds with that student and we still speak to this day. A few years later when I was an instructor I would use this when the situation warnted and I felt the two students would mix well. For example if student (A) was having trouble with steep turns but student (B) did a nice job with them I would ask student (B) if he would mind if someone rode in the back. 9 out of 10 times the student who was havoing the troble would do much better. When you can sit back and just watch it can really help, stress levels are reduced and student (A) feels that if student (B) can do it then why can't I.

My two cents

 

[flyer172r]

Another one came to me (I'll probably put up little tidbits as they cross my mind). If you can find an instructor who doesn't mind when you call him up at 9 at night with some question, and he then helps you through whatever you're struggling with, he's definitely worth hanging on to.

 

[Goose Egg]

Most CFIs I know are rated PG-13 for language and adult humor.

-Goose

 

[Tonala2k]

Ouch! I hate that one. I wounder if they have any idea what they're doing to their students.

 

[Tonala2k]

Hey, I can't get to page 3

 

[Gryphon]

Yeah, i can't either... has happened before on this site.. anybody know why? This is a good subject, and in fact i've been considering dumping my latest instructor... he makes number 4.. First one went on to bigger and better things.. i've called his cell a few times over the past couple years, never answered, i guess he's too important now. Second one was laid-back, no worries dude type... so laid back and no worries that half the time he wouldn't show up, he was finally canned.. Third one had come back to instructing from a many year hiatus.. was rusty but ok, after a few months decided he couldn't keep up the pace of his day job plus instructing... why the hell did he come back then? So now i'm on number 4.. he seems to think repeating and repeating serves some purpose even when i've demonstrated i know the manuevers. Also seems that none of them had thought to give me the pre-solo written, so that i could actually solo, and # 4 had told me not too long ago that if i'd had the written out of the way, he would have solo'd me that day ! WTF? no one told me.. last time we went up, he changed from flying to another airport, wanted to see if i could navigate, draw up some kind of flight plan, to practicing emergencies.. hmmm ok, i'll just put my sectional with all the lines, and the notes i'd made for the trip away... I'm irritated by this time, and yes i screwed up the checklist flow.. had no problem manuevering the plane where he wanted me to put it, just messed up the procedure... you know, glide airspeed, pick a place to land, go through the re-start, radios and transponder to thier proper numbers, etc. Missed some, mis- placed others... on the way back he wanted me to work on the emergency flows... armchair fly.. and wasted .5 of my time on the ground restating the same thing... he feels repetition is the way to go to get the flows to be second nature, and heck i want to learn to be the best pilot i can be, but give me a break...he also doesn't stop talking, and i think it's just the way he is, and he wants me to be able to operate with distractions, but what happened to learning ? Not helping me to move forward, thats for sure, so now, 24.1 hrs, no solo, and not sure i want to go back anymore. They are my friends there, but i think it's time to change for the better. Thanks... needed to rant a bit.

 

[Tonala2k]

Gryphon, check out "Not the customer" in the training section. It sounds like you've had it bad, but don't get too discouraged. Pick up the FAR (Part 61) and figure out what you need to do to get your ticket. Then x-ref all that to whatever manuals the school sold you. Check in here from time to time to ask your questions, and before you know it you'll be teaching them a thing or two. (you're not training at my airport, are you? hehehe)

 

[Prof. ATP]

Signs of a good instructor, according to my own meandering experience:

-He says he doesn't know something but will get back to you, and then actually does get back to you with the information

-He makes sure you don't do a single maneuver in the air that you haven't discussed on the ground

-If it's his first time flying with you, he takes the time to find out how far you've really progressed before he gives a lesson too far ahead for you

-Doesn't just say what you're doing wrong, but also offers suggestions on how to improve

-Never, ever belittles you or your concerns/fears

-Avoids a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude

-Takes the time to try to get to know you as a person, while maintaining a professional relationship

Pretty good list, but I would add one more thing: a good instructor is always learning, not just to prepare for the next job, but because he or she is curious and wants to be a better instructor and better pilot.

 

[sqwkvfr]

I couldn't agree more.

A good instructor understands fully that he/she will most likely never become a fully-developed instructor pilot and acts accordingly.

 

[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.