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Traits of a Good Instructor

Read the articles in the Section Things to Ponder before Spending Your Time & Money for more perspective on CFI choice.

  • Uses a written syllabus you both access.
    • This gives you a structured, efficient training regimen that progresses steadily towards a goal respecting your time and money.
    • See more about syllabus options for private pilot and instrument rating.
  • Debriefs every lesson outside the airplane in a comfortable environment
    • Reviews what you accomplished, weak areas, strong areas, and your achievements against a standard.
    • Gives you a chance to evaluate your own performance before CFI input (builds your skills to evaluate your own performance post-solo and as a pilot).
    • Is done in a comfortable setting AFTER you’ve had a few minutes to decompress post-flight. Generally, a private section of the FBO, classroom area, outside at a picnic table (or similar) are well-suited locations AFTER you’ve put the plane away, had a chance to walk away form it, get a drink of water, etc.
    • “See you next time” is NOT a debrief.
    • Debriefing in the cockpit and/or during taxi in is absolutely inappropriate.
    • Skipping the debrief becuase the CFI is late for his next lesson is disrespectful to you and wastes a significant portion of your lesson.
    • Here’s a good starting point for what to expect out of a pre and post-flight brief (Gleim Aviation)
  • Discusses the next lesson and assigns homework every meeting.
    • Ensures you both understand what is coming up
    • Assigns or discusses the knowledge and practice expected before your next lesson to maximize the lesson’s value & efficiency
    • Encourages you to “chair fly” between lessons with a simulator or cockpit poster (this is free )
  • Starts where you left off without prompting
    • Your instructor and you know where you are starting and what you’re accomplishing when you meet.
    • Never asks “where are we?,” “what are we doing today?,” or “what do you want to work on?” as the framework of the current lesson.
    • Is based on the post-flight discussion from last lesson.
  • Is co-invested in your training progress
    • Your CFI is supposed to be your champion.
    • Wants to see you succeed.
    • Is empathetic to your struggles and exuberant over your victories.
  • Evaluates you to standards
    • You pass your checkride based on standards (Airman Certification Standards (ACS))
    • Your CFI must get you to those standards before your checkride.
    • If the CFI doesnt discuss these with you as you progress through training, this is a major red flag. Some CFIs don’t know what is in the ACS.
    • Every lesson should have standards (earlier lessons won’t meet the ACS but there needs to be a goal)
    • Example: “Pretty good” altitude control is not a standard. Maintaining altitude within 200’ between two waypoints is a standard.
  • Treats You with Respect
    • Makes you feel like a worthwhile learner.
    • Never belittles or degrades you for substandard performance.
    • Doesn’t direct his/her frustration towards you. (Really good CFIs don’t show you frustration.)
    • HOWEVER, holds you to a standard (like coming to a lesson with the agreed upon homework done)
  • Respects Your Time and Money
    • Is ready to go immediately upon meeting you each lesson
    • Is on time
    • Wastes no time in progressing through the lesson
    • Doesn’t dawdle with the airplane running (pad his/her own hours at your expense)

Bad CFIs and Why Students Quit

Food for Thought on Spotting Bad Instructors & Flight Schools:

Bad (and frequent) CFI Behavior

  • “Winging” your training - no syllabus use
  • Texting
  • Showing up late
  • Charging for time not instructing
  • Dawdling with the aircraft engine running (padding their time on your dollar)
  • Debriefing the lesson during a taxi in
  • Rushing to the next lesson
  • Yelling or belittling you; expressing their frustration with you for honest effort
  • Arrives to the lesson and doesn’t recall where you are in your training
  • “Burned Out” building hours and unenthusastic about you and your progress

Why 80% of Student Pilots Quit

It's unfortunate. A lot of articles cover this. Make sure that they don't apply to you and be sure to discuss concerns with your instructor.

The Big Takeaways from those Articles

  • MEDICAL. You've got to pass a FAA medical at least once before shifting to the less stringent Basic Med process.
  • MONEY. It costs a lot. There's no sugarcoating that. If you periodically run out of funds and take breaks in training, it will cost you way more repeating lessons.
    • I try to lay out honest estimates on the cost page (not optimistic estimates to hook you in).
    • Ensure you have enough cash or income to take frequent lessons and can reach your goal using realistic estimates.
  • POOR INSTRUCTION. Link to the instructor_equitte and CFI rapport pages.
  • UNSTRUCTURED TRAINING. Talk about a syllabus and link to the private and instrument rating pages.

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