What Makes A Great Flight Instructor - MzeroA Flight Training

[TheGarlicMan]

A great flying instructor is a man who only sweats on the right side of his body!

[michaelsmith]

Like any relationship, there needs to be chemistry. However, as an instructor, the role is similar to a coach: always supportive but firm when correction is necessary.

[mgmm]

1. clear syllabus with a plan/goal listed for each lesson and timeline for expected progress
2. someone exuding competence and confidence whom you feel safe and not uncomfortable in the plane with
3. someone who is comfortable letting you handle the controls and not quick to grab them away from you

[Eltoca]

Before starting my first flying lesson, I was told my first instructor was a very experienced and accomplished long time pilot. I felt instinctively he was not a great teacher in the air and on the ground. I was never 100% comfortable. I broached the matter indirectly and carefully with the company management and his colleagues, eventually just putting it down to nerves and stress of learning to fly as everyone says to expect. This instructor then departed for a higher paying job, and that's when my suspicions got confirmed when I moved across to another instructor. The new instructor was incredible especially considering he was a new pilot and CFI. He was precise detailed technical patient and encouraging in the air and in the classroom. He realized there was much to do to clear out the bad habits I had been taught and steer me in a more proficient studied and correct manner of flying and communicating. I ended up being more out of pocket which was not great, but I was much more confident relieved and felt better for it. I later found out that there had been some ongoing issues between the flying school and my first instructor.

[regiondeltas]

Biggest irritation for me is flight instructors who can't grasp you've been taught differently and declare that method "wrong". I'm always happy to hear alternatives, as sometimes I don't really like what I've learnt, but please don't tell me what I did on my test is wrong, and please don't try and turn a quick checkout flight into rewriting how I land an aircraft. Other than that, the best ones always let you fly your mistakes up until it gets dangerous - for me that's the best way to learn and the best way to get something stuck in my head.

[DirtNerds]

A good communicator! with real world experience. Someone that connects with you!

[IsaiahA]

My instructor is amazing. We laugh but can transition into seriousness quickly. It’s a great dynamic!

[salty]

That is a great point about asking your flight instructor how long they plan to be there. I went to a school, doing my IFR training, and had four different instructors. It seems they kept leaving for the pilot job with an airline. It is frustrating when the instructor makes you redo three or four lessons because they want to see you do it and don't trust the last instructors notes on your performance.

[WoodsAviationLLC]

This pretty much goes against everything that is taught but my instructor is new. I think I'm one of his first 5 and possibly the only one that started fresh with him. I watched alot of videos and demonstrations on how to do stuff and told him all about it upon our first meeting. He was very relaxed, and very funny and was easy to talk to. First lesson he said let's see what you got and let me do everything from preflight to radio calls, takeoff, maneuvers, stalls but he helped land the plane. I really enjoyed it and was complemented afterwards. He works nights as do I so it works out great! Very happy with him and very willing to help him get some more students signed off under him!

[aimhighaviation]

I have a FI who adjust to this student(s). I have fixed days for lessons, but there is no issue if that needs to be changed.
My FI is very patient, explains things in depth and takes all the time for his student before and after a flight.
I wanted to fly on a C172 during my lessons because it is the most suitable aircraft around these days. My FI explained and showed me alternatives compared to the C172 to get flying lessons on. I now fly P-92J, besides that you gain more flying feeling it also saves a lot of money compared to the C172. I had a good connection and click with my FI and I am glad I have chosen him as my FI.

[alessandrostruppa]

I had to switch 3 different flight instructors because of my job relocating me and I loved the different styles and approches. I was able to learn different skills from different instructors and see aviation from different points of view. Based on my experience I almost reccomend having different instructors.

[legoman]

I always think that a great flight instructor is one you can have fun with in the airplane. He has to teach well, and as you said, be able to explain things from multiple perspectives. He or she should have resources to give you on every level to continue to help you learn. It should also feel more like flying with a friend, then flying with an instructor that keeps nagging at you. You should both be having fun, and learning along the way. It really is all about the connection.


- Justin Edmonds

[stubby]

I appreciate your advice on the subject and the other comments below. I live in a rural area with the nearest FBO an hour away with one CFI on board and this position has significant turnover. I'm in it for recreational, not career purposes. I'm curious to hear from others that may be in similar circumstances. Interviewing CFI's can be a moot point when there is only one.

[RunmikerunonTube]

The best is someone who is calm cool and collected. This encourages an atmosphere of the same.
Someone who uses intellect not acting like a bully to get their information across - a good communicator.
.
The worst is someone who barks at mistakes and acts like a power happy drill instructor. Maybe like their own experience when they were in the military. If you feel a little defensive reading this as an instructor this could be a good time to re-evaluate your style. That kind of instructor stresses people out and scares people away from aviation.

[VSangel]

I'm glad this is being covered. It's depressing to find someone you do click with for training but something derails the progress. I've been dealing with personal issues and a heavy work schedule so in the end it didn't work for my recent CFI. Very depressing since the school was close to home and it worked a lot of other ways. Someday I'll get there.

[craigobrien]

I went with an instructor who owned the flight school. So the school and plane were his baby’s. He wasn’t on the lookout for another job. There was also a club house to have conversations with other students and pilots. The club house organise a yearly party so you can really get to know other aviators.

[MrAlwaysBlue]

A great instructor has the patience of a Saint.

[piperpc]

One cheap I would add as rule number one. Ask around! When I was learning to fly, there were two instructors at our little airport. We showed up early for the lesson and talked to a guy who was fueling up his Bonanza. "you're here for your first flight lesson? Who's your instructor? Good. He's the better one." Never looked back. In contrast, I went through about 5 instructors for my commercial rating due to my schedule vs theirs as you mentioned. Finally found someone who wanted to fly as much as I did and we knocked it out quickly.

[XKSS]

My first flight instructor was a nice enough guy but it was obvious he was a time builder and didn't have a passion for teaching. I kept with him for a few weeks but his lack of enthusiasm for instruction eventually did me in. I reevaluated my approach to the process of learning to fly and I realized a large 'academy' at a busy corporate and commuter hub was not what I wanted. Three weeks later I was at an uncontrolled grass strip in a Cessna 170 tailwheel learning to fly the 'old fashioned' way with a professor of the skies who had been there, done that and back again in a forty-year career.

[whoanelly-]

I’ll ask a different question. What Makes a Great Student? 1. One that shows up on time. 2. One that does the assigned reading and homework. 3. One that completes all exercises which are assigned. Such as, going to the airport and listening to a radio for communication practice. 4. One that pays for all the instructors time, if you book a two hour block, you’re billed for two hours. 5. One that realizes he or she is not super pilot and learning to fly a complex machine in three dimensions, in a complex environment, is going to take time, practice and there will be many trials and failures along the way. Success is built on a tough road. 6. Your CFI isn’t a wizard and can’t spell the knowledge into one’s head, hands, and feet. 7. One that realizes, flying may not be for them.