New CFI

[monkey]

I just recently got hired as a CFI. Does anyone have any advice for me starting out? And for later down the line? Thanks

[Inferno]

Just what my instructor told me when I got my CFI...

 

It's a student's job to try and kill you. It's your job to try and stay alive. Hopefully you are better at your job than your student is.....

[rick1128]

Just what my instructor told me when I got my CFI...

 

It's a student's job to try and kill you. It's your job to try and stay alive. Hopefully you are better at your job than your student is.....

 

It will appear that way many times.

 

Other things to keep in mind. You will have to live with every logbook book entry you make in someone else's logbook, every sign off and every endorsement. These items could follow you around for a good portion of your career. Make clear and complete entries. If you ever have to defend yourself in court, how well and complete your entries were could make a big difference. If you train settling with power, don't forget to add the recoveries. The other lawyer will not forget to mention it. Keep your own records on your students.

 

Be a professional. Watch how you talk, act and operate aircraft. Students will notice how you do things. Shower, use deodorant, brush your teeth, etc. Personal hygiene is important. If your student is uncomfortable around you, he will move to another school or instructor. Don't talk trash about other schools to helicopters.

 

Do not be afraid to put additional restrictions in your endorsements. When looking over a student's paperwork, like cross country planning, check it completely, including math. Be able to explain his questions or at least be able to find the answers.

[r22butters]

...If you ever have to defend yourself in court,...

 

Does this happen often?

[rick1128]

Does this happen often?

 

There have been a couple of cases. When I started almost 40 years ago, it was unheard of. But now that there are more lawyers that need work, you see these kind of cases from time to time. Plus what the FAA brings. Keep in mind that for the most part FAA lawyers are not pilots. And even if they were, like all lawyers they are more interested in winning. So if you teach stalls, you also teach stall recoveries. Settling with power with recognition and recovery from settling with power.

[kodoz]

It's a student's job to try and kill you. It's your job to try and stay alive. Hopefully you are better at your job than your student is.....

 

Students are there to learn. It's your job to teach them.

[Spike]

Treat all students with respect. True, they are customers and should be treated as such. However, the bigger picture is; you’ll be teaching them more about how to conduct themselves as professional aviators then just how to wiggle the sticks. Never forget, these “cultural” or "attitudinal" lessons can be the difference between life and death. No matter how they test your patience, always remember, they are people with the same dream as you………

Edited January 1, 2011 by Spike

[Azhigher]

Try to learn as much as you can while you teach. Be professional, and try not to ball up an aircraft.

[R22139RJ]

You will have students who will ignore what you have to say or have no idea whats going on, some will never study, some will no show you or be complete assholes, other will take advantage of you, but try to stay positive. Appreciate the hard working students and be nice. You'll have to fly the aircraft without touching controls, be monitoring what the student is doing wrong, learn how to improve their techniques and be very scared while doing it. Go to work well rested and think about drinking less before lessons. It will turn into a job just like everything does but you are one of the few that get to fly everyday! Its an awesome gift.

[Trans Lift]

and be very scared while doing it

 

Hopefully not!

[R22139RJ]

Hopefully not!

 

It happens. Students aren't the most relaxing pilots to fly with. Hover Autos or "power failures from a hover" are scary as a hooker with braces.

[kodoz]

...ignore what you have to say

...will never study

...will no show you

 

On a percentage basis, how many students do you think fall into this category? How do you deal with them?

[Inferno]

Ahh, looks like we have an optimist among us!

Students are there to learn. It's your job to teach them.

[rollthbns]

Congratulations on making it to this point in your career! I am not so far removed from that phase, so my comments here really are for the both of us, as they apply to our future pursuits as well.

 

Place safety at the top of your list.

Make professionalism your word of the day EVERY day you show up to fly.

Make Excellence your continued pursuit.

Always treat your pilot candidates as if YOU were paying the bill.

Serve the organization that employed you. Never take on the "its not my job" attitude.

Learn from those who have gone before you

Learn from those who are coming up behind you

Be a man (or woman) of your word. Make it mean something.

Keep detailed records. Think DETAILS.

When you have the capacity to help others with their careers, reach out and help them achieve!

 

The list really could go on forever, but thats enough for now. Those are the things that helped me through my entire journey so far, and I am just at the beginning. Fly safe!

[RkyMtnHI]

Congratulations on making it to this point in your career! I am not so far removed from that phase, so my comments here really are for the both of us, as they apply to our future pursuits as well.

 

Place safety at the top of your list.

Make professionalism your word of the day EVERY day you show up to fly.

Make Excellence your continued pursuit.

Always treat your pilot candidates as if YOU were paying the bill.

Serve the organization that employed you. Never take on the "its not my job" attitude.

Learn from those who have gone before you

Learn from those who are coming up behind you

Be a man (or woman) of your word. Make it mean something.

Keep detailed records. Think DETAILS.

When you have the capacity to help others with their careers, reach out and help them achieve!

 

The list really could go on forever, but thats enough for now. Those are the things that helped me through my entire journey so far, and I am just at the beginning. Fly safe!

 

 

Very Nice!!

 

dp

[Guest Maximinious]

...

Edited July 30, 2011 by Maximinious

[monkey]

Just what my instructor told me when I got my CFI...

 

It's a student's job to try and kill you. It's your job to try and stay alive. Hopefully you are better at your job than your student is.....

 

 

Ya I have heard this one. It's true. I'm learning stuff everyday!

[monkey]

It will appear that way many times.

 

Other things to keep in mind. You will have to live with every logbook book entry you make in someone else's logbook, every sign off and every endorsement. These items could follow you around for a good portion of your career. Make clear and complete entries. If you ever have to defend yourself in court, how well and complete your entries were could make a big difference. If you train settling with power, don't forget to add the recoveries. The other lawyer will not forget to mention it. Keep your own records on your students.

 

...Shower, use deodorant, brush your teeth, etc. Personal hygiene is important.

 

Would you make copies of the students records to hold on to? This is kinda scary

 

Also I wish my students would take a shower lol cause I do

[monkey]

Congratulations on making it to this point in your career! I am not so far removed from that phase, so my comments here really are for the both of us, as they apply to our future pursuits as well.

 

Place safety at the top of your list.

Make professionalism your word of the day EVERY day you show up to fly.

Make Excellence your continued pursuit.

Always treat your pilot candidates as if YOU were paying the bill.

Serve the organization that employed you. Never take on the "its not my job" attitude.

Learn from those who have gone before you

Learn from those who are coming up behind you

Be a man (or woman) of your word. Make it mean something.

Keep detailed records. Think DETAILS.

When you have the capacity to help others with their careers, reach out and help them achieve!

 

The list really could go on forever, but thats enough for now. Those are the things that helped me through my entire journey so far, and I am just at the beginning. Fly safe!

thanks

[rick1128]

Would you make copies of the students records to hold on to? This is kinda scary

 

Also I wish my students would take a shower lol cause I do

 

I didn't keep copies of my students' records. It is a pain to keep a lot of paperwork. However, I do make detailed logbook entries in my logbook. Fortunately I can keep them more detailed now that I use an electronic logbook. As for the FAA asking about one of your students, it really depends on how long ago this person was your student. Plus for what ratings. If this student was still your student and had an accident or got lost, you can pretty much plan on a talk with the feds. If this pilot was your student 3 or 4 years ago, you probably will not hear from the feds.

 

In my own personal experience, one of the pilots in the air ambulance Lear that crashed taking off at San Diego Brown Field a few years ago, was someone I had checked a little over a year before that accident when I was a check airman for another company. I was asked about the check ride I had conducted with this pilot and his performance and if there was anything else that could have been an indication of future performance. It is not a comfortable feeling, but they have their job to do. And I can only tell the feds what I have personal knowledge of.

Edited January 23, 2011 by rick1128

[rotorpower]

I just recently got hired as a CFI. Does anyone have any advice for me starting out? And for later down the line? Thanks

congrats,any more openings at your place of work?

[Helidad]

I just recently got hired as a CFI. Does anyone have any advice for me starting out? And for later down the line? Thanks

 

Stay within your comfort limits out of the gate.

 

Hand on the throttle all the time when doing autos. That's a obvious one, but once you get comfortable there could be a tendency to relax.

 

Students do the dumbest things, Your job is to keep that from happening.

 

 

Just remember the old saying, "students are trying to do two things, either get you killed or get you fired"...

 

 

Good luck and enjoy it...

[R22139RJ]

On a percentage basis, how many students do you think fall into this category? How do you deal with them?

 

Its hard to give a percentage but I would say No Shows 10%.

 

Ignoring the instructor falls into a couple different categories. Blatantly repeating things until they grasp whats going on or choose to listen (repeating myself 3-4 times before a change is made) 30%. My favorite is I'll listen to what you're saying now but next time around, I'm going to do whatever until the instructor corrects me, which is about 60% of the time. So again, repeating a procedure or instruction during flight.

 

Studying? Whats that again? My older students who have flying jobs and are there for addition ratings (ranging from military test pilots, ag pilots, fixed wing charter, commercial add on) all have studied so well and take interest in the bookwork. Its the younger students that refuse to pick up a book. Nothing is black and white though. Having a job and being in a time crunch usually helps.

 

Dealing with problems involves a subtle balance of LISTEN TO WHAT IM SAYING and being gentle and presenting constructive criticism. For ignoring sometimes I ask "Why were you confused" "How can I help you understand" or if its a continuing problem, like talking about houses, LOW rpm as soon as they start, hey look at that...BAM. Or pulling breakers for fuel gauge or failing an instrument and seeing how long it takes for them to notice. Its a kind way of letting them discover they're being distracted. If the lack of studying comes to a point where their flying can't progress Ill do grounds until they get the hint that they won't fly until their knowledge is on par.

 

As far as showing up late and no showing. I reiterate that I don't come in to sit around and that I'm here for THEIR flight and remind them that showing up on time is what commercial pilots do.

 

Instructing still gives me the golden moments. I love teaching when the student is excited and receptive and I hope ever CFI here is blessed with these types of students.

 

Apologies for the diatribe. I hope I was helpful.

[Goldy]

Its hard to give a percentage but I would say No Shows 10%.

 

Ignoring the instructor falls into a couple different categories. Blatantly repeating things until they grasp whats going on or choose to listen (repeating myself 3-4 times before a change is made) 30%. My favorite is I'll listen to what you're saying now but next time around, I'm going to do whatever until the instructor corrects me, which is about 60% of the time. So again, repeating a procedure or instruction during flight.

 

I am NOT a CFI, however I was a student on several occasions (and hope to be one again soon.) I recall as I was trying to fix a bad auto, or hover in a crosswind (or downwind) or do any of those skills that you don't even think about today...but were tough back then; Each of those times my instructor was trying to talk to me while I was focused on flying, talking on the radio, or listening to other traffic. I still have no idea what they told me. So my advice, is set the bird down and now the student can focus on just you....then you can give him/her some critique and go do it again.

 

I almost never had debriefings and I think that can be pretty valuable as well.

[gary-mike]

I almost never had debriefings and I think that can be pretty valuable as well.

 

No debrief!? I guess Because of my military career, I just expected a debrief was the norm.

Matter of fact I bought me a gopro just for this purpose, I figured it could be an invaluable tool for it... After all I have never found the VTR or a HUD camera for that matter on any of the local schools R-22's. Now I just have to find me a pointy head that can hook me up with the voice recording mods. (pointy head=Avionics...They are typically the ones trained for micro soldering).

 

Mid flight debrief...(set er down and talk through it, go try again). Sounds like the best time to do it. Ahh the benefits of a heli. I would have to say, As a student I imagine my focus during an EP simulation would be to try my best not to kill myself and instructor, listening to critiques would come in second.

 

Is it common practice in civilian flt training to pick up and run to your car after a flight and disreguard any sort of debrief? I know I will get it either way, whether organized or by asking my instructor questions. You can improve your skills much more efficiently with good feedback.

 

 

Good point Goldy

Edited February 4, 2011 by gary-mike