Newbie question-Flight Instruction

[mrjones30]

Hello and thank you for all of the advice so far.

 

I was wondering how you can tell if the Flight Instructor you pick is a good one. I hear most Flight Instructors don't stay that way for very long, (Especially the good ones). The Flight Instructor I went up with was average at best because a lot of the questions I asked about flying he answered them with very little detail or he just flat out said: "I don't know" He has been flying for over 10 years!.

 

I believe starting to learn how to fly is the foundation for other planes, (I have the cash to purchase a Mooney but I just don't have the experience yet) I'm looking forward to buying my first Mooney!

So what do you folks think? How can I tell the difference between an average Flight Instructor and a Flight Instructor who cares about your saftey as a newbie Pilot?

 

Thank you

[kris_adams]

Well, that's not an easy question to answer. If they have a CFI, they have proven that they can pass the minimum required to get the certificate. That certainly doesn't mean that you wil like this person or learn from his or her teaching style. I've flown with very young CFI's that I liked as well as older CFI's that I liked. Ultimatel, you have to interview a few CFI's that you seem to "click" with.

Btw, the CFI should certainly be happy to answer all of your questions. When I was doing my instrument rating, if I asked a question that the CFI didn't know right off the top of his head (usually some abstract METAR code or something else "weird", we would quite often look it up at the end of the lesson or he would call me back once he had the answer.

Keep up the search. Looking forward to hearing about your solo.

Kris

[1964-M20E]

Well it has been a long time since I got my PPL and I had two different instructors because one of them left town for other work after only about 3 hours.  The second instructor I managed to keep until I was singed off with my PPL and then he left the next day for other work.  I’ve been working on my instrument rating and have mainly used one instructor but I went up with a couple of others for a sanity check.

1. 
   
2. I’d pick an instructor and stick with one at least until you solo. This will eliminate going over the same things more than once and delaying you solo flight.
   
3. You say the instructor answered “I don’t know” to some of your questions.  Well in some cases this is an acceptable answer if followed up with I’ll find out or let’s find out when we get on the ground.
   
4. Approach getting you PPL as a group effort with the instructor.  Your questions should inspire him to get the answer or work with you to get the answers. 
   
5. I’ve heard the best learning approach is see it done, do it then teach it or show someone else.  Other people’s questions will probe your knowledge on the subject.
   
6. If you can find someone else who is a pilot or working on their pilot license then sit down and talk flying, regulations, procedures, maneuvers etc. with them once a week or more.
   
7. When you are not flying the plane fly your car.  Use the same process before you get in and start up the car preflight, checklists, make radio calls to yourself before taxing, emergency procedures, maneuvers etc. My instructor asked me if I thought about flying other than at the airport and I told him no.  He encouraged me to do the above and my flying changed almost immediately and improved significantly.
   
8. Finally get you PPL and get checked out on and fly several different planes at lest 10 to 15 hours each then consider buying a plane.  You do not want to add the responsibilities of ownership with the responsibilities of leaning to fly.
   

[201er]

Quote: mrjones30

The Flight Instructor I went up with was average at best because a lot of the questions I asked about flying he answered them with very little detail or he just flat out said: "I don't know" He has been flying for over 10 years!.

[fantom]

Quote: 201er

Well I guess it would depend on the question too. I'm sure there exist questions that you'd get the same "I don't know" answer on this forum. Like "how is a Bonanza better than a Mooney?" See where I'm going with this?

[Jeff_S]

Communication, communication, communication.  That is the key to a good instructor in any endeavor, but especially in something like flying that incorporates both physical and mental skills.  This is a topic I actually know something about; although not a CFI, I have been a certified ski instructor, scuba divemaster and black belt karate instructor, so I have worked with many students as they learn new skills and mastery of subjects. The best instructors will have multiple ways of trying to impart information, since not everyone learns the same. There is an acronym called VAK, which stands for Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and represents the three commons ways people learn.  So a good instructor will help you SEE what you need to learn, HEAR it through sound explanation, and FEEL it through practicing the technique until it becomes natural to you.

There are multiple styles of course, and some will be more talky while others are more feely, but there you just have to test drive a few and find one that you feel matches your style and temperament. There's no magic formula for that, other than trial and error.  But I do agree that once you find an instructor you like, it's best to stick with them through the PPL, other than right before your test you should go out with someone else to use as a "test" examiner so you can experience having a different person sitting next to you in the cockpit, and also because it's likely this other instructor will impart some new wisdom that s/he has in their bag of tricks.

[smitty9006]

I recommend Jack Tunstill at Bay Air. He was referred to me by another MooneySpace member and I believe he is one of the best. Also, Albert Whitted is a great airport to train from.

Whatever you decide, good luck with your training.

Dan

[mrjones30]

Quote: smitty9006

I recommend Jack Tunstill at Bay Air. He was referred to me by another MooneySpace member and I believe he is one of the best. Also, Albert Whitted is a great airport to train from.

Whatever you decide, good luck with your training.

Dan

[smitty9006]

I think it is the typical lease negotion stuff. Jack on the other hand knows exactly what is happening. He is an active member of the AOPA Airport Support Network.

The Faa honored Jack by naming an ILS VOR approach to final fix for RWY 18 JACKT INT.

http://imageserver.fltplan.com/merge/merge1205/Single/00613V18.PDF

I hope the City of St. Pete makes the right decisions and things work out for the FBO and Bay Air.

[mrjones30]

Quote: smitty9006

I think it is the typical lease negotion stuff. Jack on the other hand knows exactly what is happening. He is an active member of the AOPA Airport Support Network.

The Faa honored Jack by naming an ILS VOR approach to final fix for RWY 18 JACKT INT.

http://imageserver.fltplan.com/merge/merge1205/Single/00613V18.PDF

I hope the City of St. Pete makes the right decisions and things work out for the FBO and Bay Air.

 

 

I'm going to take your advice but I'm going to wait until October to see what happens, in the meantime I will fly intros in airports that are farther from me, (Too long to go there 3 times a week).

 

What happened with the lease at Bay Air?

[mrjones30]

Quote: 201er

Well I guess it would depend on the question too. I'm sure there exist questions that you'd get the same "I don't know" answer on this forum. Like "how is a Bonanza better than a Mooney?" See where I'm going with this?

 

 

 

Yeah, the question I asked him was "What exactly is the Pitot and what does it do to affect the airspeed indicator" His exact words was "I'm not really sure"

[mrjones30]

Quote: fantom

Well I guess it would depend on the question too. I'm sure there exist questions that you'd get the same "I don't know" answer on this forum. Like "how is a Bonanza better than a Mooney?" See where I'm going with this?

[mrjones30]

Quote: fantom

Well I guess it would depend on the question too. I'm sure there exist questions that you'd get the same "I don't know" answer on this forum. Like "how is a Bonanza better than a Mooney?" See where I'm going with this?

[mrjones30]

Quote: fantom

Well I guess it would depend on the question too. I'm sure there exist questions that you'd get the same "I don't know" answer on this forum. Like "how is a Bonanza better than a Mooney?" See where I'm going with this?

[M20F-1968]

I spent the first 15 years of my working life as a symphonic clarinetist.  As such, I had years on one on one teaching culminating in studies with my mentor from high school until my mid-twenties.  I have also taught one to one myself.  It is a wonderful thing when you find some one who can share and is willing to give of their time and knowledge.  You become friends and learn better because of the relationship.  My mentor had several ways to trick his students into feeling and experiencing what he was trying to impart.  The study of a musical instrument is in many ways like flying. The skills must become a part of you and actual experience at each jucture goes along way.

Find someone who is knowledgeable and who you click with.  But, lastly, and most importantly, take his knowledge to allow you to grow and ultimately be your own teacher.  Read alot about flying when away from the airport and let that knowledge become part of your long term memory.  In that way it will unconsciously alter almost every aviation decision you will make.  At always be safe.

John Breda

[mrjones30]

Quote: M20F-1968

I spent the first 15 years of my working life as a symphonic clarinetist.  As such, I had years on one on one teaching culminating in studies with my mentor from high school until my mid-twenties.  I have also taught one to one myself.  It is a wonderful thing when you find some one who can share and is willing to give of their time and knowledge.  You become friends and learn better because of the relationship.  My mentor had several ways to trick his students into feeling and experiencing what he was trying to impart.  The study of a musical instrument is in many ways like flying. The skills must become a part of you and actual experience at each jucture goes along way.

Find someone who is knowledgeable and who you click with.  But, lastly, and most importantly, take his knowledge to allow you to grow and ultimately be your own teacher.  Read alot about flying when away from the airport and let that knowledge become part of your long term memory.  In that way it will unconsciously alter almost every aviation decision you will make.  At always be safe.

John Breda