Were you concerned about being a good instructor?

BrianNC

BrianNC

Well-Known Member
I know that probably the best way to build time and gain experience is instructing, but to be honest with you, I am not really sure just how good I would be at it. It makes me nervous just thinking about it. :)

Did any of you have the same problem when starting to pursue your career or did you really look forward to instructing with no problem?
 
I feel the same way. I'm just about to start instructing and I don't know what to expect. It makes me a little nervous.
 
J22 said:
I feel the same way. I'm just about to start instructing and I don't know what to expect. It makes me a little nervous.
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Did you just graduate from one of the flight schools or just go the local FBO route?
 
"Good instructor" is such a broad term. Every instructor has strong and weak areas, especially starting out, but that's life.

Are you referring to not knowing if you'll be able to explain things adequately, or not being able to communicate your ideas well enough? In that case, no, I wasn't really nervous. I've always had the gift of gab and have been told I have a nack for explaining things, so I wasn't worried about that part.

What I was worried about was the responsibility that comes with making sure a student knows everything they need to know, both legally and practically speaking. Aviation is so vast it's mind-boggling. There are so many things that can come up that could cause problems for a student when flying solo. All the little details you haven't thought about in your own training stand out when you have to teach somebody else. Handling emergencies, dealing with ATC, analyzing weather, navigating on XCs, the list could go on and on. It's a challenge to prepare somebody to be a pilot in a reasonable amount of time. There is a fine line between pushing them out the door before they're ready and doing excessive training, wasting their time and money.

As long as you care about what you're doing, work hard, and don't be afraid to ask other CFIs for help, you'll do fine. The learning curve was pretty steep for my first 100 hours of dual given, but then I got fairly comfortable with everything.
 
jrh said:
"Good instructor" is such a broad term. Every instructor has strong and weak areas, especially starting out, but that's life.

Are you referring to not knowing if you'll be able to explain things adequately, or not being able to communicate your ideas well enough? In that case, no, I wasn't really nervous. I've always had the gift of gab and have been told I have a nack for explaining things, so I wasn't worried about that part.

What I was worried about was the responsibility that comes with making sure a student knows everything they need to know, both legally and practically speaking. Aviation is so vast it's mind-boggling. There are so many things that can come up that could cause problems for a student when flying solo. All the little details you haven't thought about in your own training stand out when you have to teach somebody else. Handling emergencies, dealing with ATC, analyzing weather, navigating on XCs, the list could go on and on. It's a challenge to prepare somebody to be a pilot in a reasonable amount of time. There is a fine line between pushing them out the door before they're ready and doing excessive training, wasting their time and money.

As long as you care about what you're doing, work hard, and don't be afraid to ask other CFIs for help, you'll do fine. The learning curve was pretty steep for my first 100 hours of dual given, but then I got fairly comfortable with everything.
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I have the gift of gab also and am actually a teacher. :) But when you instruct in a school environment there is no immediate practical application of teaching them how to actually do something. It is more just imparting knowledge.

I guess it is more the responsibility part and knowing how to get them from point a to point z in their training in the most effective manner for them. I guess you just learn as you go along as you said.
 
BrianNC said:
I guess it is more the responsibility part and knowing how to get them from point a to point z in their training in the most effective manner for them. I guess you just learn as you go along as you said.
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Yeah, it's not as hard as you might think. I'm sure your experience as a school teacher will carry over even if you don't expect it to, especially when it comes to thinking through things logically and teaching what needs to be understood before moving on to the next step. Use a good syllabus, do what your favorite instructors have done in the past with your own training, and you'll be set.
 
Look Brian, I've been reading you posts since you started here. Sometimes I read your stuff and just shake my head...

Now I see you're a teacher but yet you wonder if you'd be a good CFI? Holy friggen cow. You'd be twice the CFI I ever was. If you can get through the certificate that's good enough for the FAA. I'd put you up next to a Flight Safety God and say you are equal with your educational background.

Get the ticket and get out there and do it. I promise, you give it your best effort and you'll be a kick butt CFI.
 
as much as i hear about everyone saying how awesome their cfi experiences have been (learning wise, not pay :) ) you should def do eet.



do eet
 
I completely agree. In my lengthy 2 weeks of CFI-ing so far :sarcasm: , all I can say is I love it. Like jrh said, the "vastness" of aviation is mind-boggling. Luckily, students aren't taught everything at once, so even though you are supposed to be the "expert" of all things aviation, as long as you really focus on whatever subject you are teaching that day you'll do fine. Also, CFI-ing is such a people business, if you generally like people and can communicate your passion of aviation to them, and have it catch like a contagious desease, it'll be all that much easier.
 
BrianNC said:
I know that probably the best way to build time and gain experience is instructing, but to be honest with you, I am not really sure just how good I would be at it. It makes me nervous just thinking about it. :)

Did any of you have the same problem when starting to pursue your career or did you really look forward to instructing with no problem?
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I felt that way but then again who isn't nervous about a new job? If you're not, I don't think you are really human and you probably always will! Given your love of aviation and your background in teaching I think you will be way ahead of the game. It is impossible to expect a CFI to know everything you need to to start the job. Any reasonable employer knows this and will help you by selecting students that will give you the opportunity to get your feet wet. We all learned on the job to some extent. Other instructors you work with will also be a valuable resource and know what you are going through. In my situation I became what I believe was a pretty good CFI through dilegence and customer service...understanding the student, treating them with respect and most importantly honesty, and doing everything in my power to help them achieve their goals. I think many CFI's forget that they too are in a sales/customer service industry. If your students are happy then you will be rewarded with what you are going after...experience and hours. But they should come first obviously.
 
BrianNC said:
I guess it is more the responsibility part and knowing how to get them from point a to point z in their training in the most effective manner for them. I guess you just learn as you go along as you said.
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The thing is there is no way you will be able to get everything from a to z done. The trick is teaching good descision making skills and ENOUGH of the stuff between a and z that they can fill in the gaps when they come across a situation they have never seen before. There is specific even training that you can do (PTS stuff) and there is knowledge you can impart/teach, but the best thing you can do over all is give them good (and I'm stealing a term here from Tony Kearns) flight disipline.

Is all that going to be hard to do at first? You bet. Your first student WILL be hard. Probably harder on the student then you as you already know what you are trying to teach them. But, once you get through your first couple things will start to smooth out.
 
BrianNC said:
Did you just graduate from one of the flight schools or just go the local FBO route?
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I graduated from a university program, but I did CFI training at a local FBO.
 
I just finished week one and I already have 10 students...Its nuts. Im getting my butt worked off. The good part is, its 15 min from my home, pays well, and they have a twin. Out of my 10 students, 4 are multi.

Im scared for the day that I don't know something. I feel pretty confident in my teaching, however I know it will happen. I guess the fear is kind of an ego thing.

On another note, I now realize what everyone on here was talking about as far as not trying to "shortcut." Graduating from ATP's ACPP I had about 625tt/150, and I knew I could go right in to the regionals. I had even planned on taking the RJ course to get in ASAP. However when I heard there was an opening at the flight school I had been renting from for over 5yrs, I jumped at it. Instructors average 80+ hrs a month, so I'm now waiting for 1000+ total time so I can have more options (Skywest, Air Wisky, Island Air, Chaniqua). After just one week, I think it was the best decision I made.

Sorry for kinda changing the "flow" of the thread ;)
 
FlyingNole said:
However when I heard there was an opening at the flight school I had been renting from for over 5yrs, I jumped at it.
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I noticed you are based at FLL. Is that where you are instructing out of?
 
I'm just so worried that no one will hire me because of my strong accent and because i'm only 5"4 tall.
 
NW004 said:
I'm just so worried that no one will hire me because of my strong accent and because i'm only 5"4 tall.
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Meh, don't worry about that, if you're qualified, you're qualified. What sort of accent though, just out of curiousity.
 
"On another note, I now realize what everyone on here was talking about as far as not trying to "shortcut."

Aren't you that guy from NY we talked out of going to Gulfstream? Now look at you. Way to go, bro...

There are a lot of reasons why this "seniority is everything" attitude is BS (even ATP has it at their website). Especially if you are young. Six months to a year isn't gonna mean that much, overall, and there are situations where waiting will put you ahead of the pack.
 
BrianNC said:
I know that probably the best way to build time and gain experience is instructing, but to be honest with you, I am not really sure just how good I would be at it. It makes me nervous just thinking about it. :)

Did any of you have the same problem when starting to pursue your career or did you really look forward to instructing with no problem?
Click to expand...
I was the worst instructor on planet earth (IMO), and I have a 94% pass rate. It's fun!!! :)
 
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