uncomfortable with training and instructor

[JediNein]

It sounds like a good time for a chat with your instructor. If his behavior is disturbing, let him know and ask him to stop. Despite being a Master CFI, I still can not read minds, I doubt your current instructor can. If you don't bring the matter to your instructor's attention, how is he to know he is supposed to not do that anymore?

You could just leave and find another instructor, eventually the former one will either learn about the mistakes. Or, he may just get on with an airline before he learns and will be annoying captains and flight attendants for years.

BTW, I will occasionally laugh with a student. I've had some very creative answers and I do appreciate the effort. "Laughing with" means both of us are having a good time. A wrong answer is still a wrong piece of knowledge and needs to be corrected, but ya don't have to feel like an idiot while correcting your knowledge.

Fly SAFE!

 

[jetstar1]

Thanks for the reply JediNein. Laughing with while learning is one thing, and with past instructors as long as i got the point of what he was trying to make it was all good.

 

[nosehair]

am having some issues that i have never had in the past maybe cause i am a lot older now and am embarrased when put on the spot and answer with a stupid remark /only to have my instructor smirk and laugh at me

...mmm, 'smatter, old man?, can't take a little punk jerkin' yer chain?

..aaah, I can say that 'cause I'm older than you. and I'm just kiddin' you, too.

But that's one way to look at it. Like the others said, don't put up with a punk kid's attitude, but don't let it put you in a bad place either.

It may not be too easy to find a good, older, more experienced, instructor. If you can - do it. Just drop the kid. If he's that immature, he probably won't hear you giving him advice about his manners - just drop him like a bad date. You owe him nothing.

But - if you can't find a good one, learn to love the one you're with. Just don't let his crap mess with you, and call him on it.

 

[LarryinTN]

Not every instructor is right for every student. If you don't think that you have a good rapport with him then switch. Don't make it about him, just say that you don't think that you two aren't a good match. It's your money and you'll get a lot more out of it if you're comfortable with your instructor.

 

[UALX727]

I had a few instructors like that when I was coming up the ranks. Matter of fact, I had an instructor who was pretty derogatory towards me at Embry-Riddle back in the late 80's. I ended up switching instructors and it was night and day, best decision hands down. Funny thing - The instructor I switched to was FlightInfo's own BobbySamD, a longtime poster of this board.

Bottom line, dump this instructor asap. Been there, done that. It doesn't have to be awkward, just tell him you are taking a break from it for awhile. Then go out and visit some other nearby FBO's and local airports with flight schools. You'll know it was the right decision when you finally get a replacement instructor you like. Do it sooner than later, sounds like you just started. Trust me, he needs you more than you need him.

There is no rule out there that says you have to stick with the same guy, ask around a bit to find out who does a good job by talking with students from other instructors. I have found that the FBO's will hook you up with the instructor who is generally the most available if you call for a lesson. This is not the way to get an instructor. At other FBO's when you walk through the door they will come at you like used car salesmen, trying to score a new student. This is random as well, not the way to get an instructor.

What I would do is call up a few different FBO's with flight schools. Talk with the manager (don't talk with an instructor yet). Tell the guy your story and who he thinks may be a good match for you. Get those names and hang up. Now repeat that with the other flight schools you are interested in.

By now you'll have 4-6 names of some potential instructors. Now call the FBO's back and ask to schedule a time when you can meet with each of them. DO NOT COMMIT to any one of them until you have checked them all out.(facilities, prices, equipment, training environment, and most important-the flight instructor). The personality of the instructor is a big part of it....go with your gut on this one, who you get the best feeling about. If you still don't know ask to fly with 3 or 4 different instructors for a lesson each. This should give you an idea.

What drives me crazy about learning to fly is the ramdomness at which students pick (or are given) an instructor. It is a total crapshoot if you will get a good one or a jerk. People need to realize that you are in the driver's seat when you walk into an FBO. The FBO want's your business and the instructor needs the flight-time to get that next job. Don't let an instructor be simply assigned to you or let an instructor "lay claim" to you because he was the first guy who you talked with when you walked in the door. Do a little bit of homework and take the "ramdomness" out of the picture. You will find that a good instructor makes all the difference. Anyone who is smirking behind your back is bad news. I would not fly one more lesson with him.

If you are stuck with that flight school:

Hang out in the lobby either before or after you're lesson and start getting to know the personalities of the guys that teach there by chatting with them. Soon you will be able to tell who you would like to have as an instructor, simply by general observations of guys personalities. There are all kinds of instructor types out there. Ask the one you like if you could go up once with him. If you like him as an instructor it will make dumping your current one a whole lot easier.

Now back to your instructor:

Sure you could try talking with him but I don't believe it will solve the issue. He will probably say anything to keep from not losing you as a student (doesn't want to lose the flight hours) and also look bad to the FBO management. And if you do talk it over with him, I believe there will always be some awkwardness around this guy. I instructed at an FBO for a few years and I can tell you just because a guy has an instructor rating doesn't mean he is a good teacher. Some guys hate to teach. They simply do it because it is the only way to build hours to get out of teaching!!!!

Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have a question.

UALX727

 

[jetstar1]

Thanks for the advice UALX727.