mmilano
Pre-takeoff checklist
(from a student's perspective) .. I've had 2 CFIs. The first one was pretty bad, and this one is a LOT better, although there is always room for improvement. I woke up this morning thinking about what would make a good CFI, and thought I would start a list of ideas. I only have a couple, but add to it if you would like
1. Take a few minutes before you meet up with your student to remember what you did at the last lesson, where your student is at in training, and what they need to accomplish next. It is very disapointing when a student has to fill their CFI in on where they are at, or when the CFI starts a lesson and the student has to remind them 'we did this last time', or when a cfi asks 'have you soloed yet.' if you can't remember, then take notes at the end of the lesson.
2. If you notice your student hasn't flown in a while, call them up and say hey, tomorrow looks like a great day to go up and do some ______. It's definately not the CFI's responsibility to schedule the appointments, but it really shows a lot of care and sometimes the student may need a little push.
3. Make your student use the radios. This is the only time they get to practice. Sounds obvious, but one of my CFIs would often take the radio calls. I think he thought he was doing me a favor so I could focus on the tasks at hand. I don't think students will usually question a CFI's method of teaching.
4. Ground School. When a student isn't going through a flight school, the CFI is the only one who can help a student understand how to learn. Most stuff can be learned by reading, but the CFI really needs to give the student DIRECTION, and make sure they are making progress in between lessons. Maybe throw questions out during the lesson and get an idea of the areas the student needs to study up on and then tell them where they can find the info and study it.
5. Spend a few minutes after the flight for a de-brief. Let the student know what they need to think about or did wrong when they don't have the responsbility of flying the plane and impressiong their cfi in their head.
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these just a few things i've thought about during my student experience. if the cfi fails #1, you will look incompitent everytime in the student's eyes. they will think they are wasting money with you. all the others are just bonus.
any others to add?
1. Take a few minutes before you meet up with your student to remember what you did at the last lesson, where your student is at in training, and what they need to accomplish next. It is very disapointing when a student has to fill their CFI in on where they are at, or when the CFI starts a lesson and the student has to remind them 'we did this last time', or when a cfi asks 'have you soloed yet.' if you can't remember, then take notes at the end of the lesson.
2. If you notice your student hasn't flown in a while, call them up and say hey, tomorrow looks like a great day to go up and do some ______. It's definately not the CFI's responsibility to schedule the appointments, but it really shows a lot of care and sometimes the student may need a little push.
3. Make your student use the radios. This is the only time they get to practice. Sounds obvious, but one of my CFIs would often take the radio calls. I think he thought he was doing me a favor so I could focus on the tasks at hand. I don't think students will usually question a CFI's method of teaching.
4. Ground School. When a student isn't going through a flight school, the CFI is the only one who can help a student understand how to learn. Most stuff can be learned by reading, but the CFI really needs to give the student DIRECTION, and make sure they are making progress in between lessons. Maybe throw questions out during the lesson and get an idea of the areas the student needs to study up on and then tell them where they can find the info and study it.
5. Spend a few minutes after the flight for a de-brief. Let the student know what they need to think about or did wrong when they don't have the responsbility of flying the plane and impressiong their cfi in their head.
********************
these just a few things i've thought about during my student experience. if the cfi fails #1, you will look incompitent everytime in the student's eyes. they will think they are wasting money with you. all the others are just bonus.
any others to add?