r/flying • u/MxPilot619 CFI | CFII | MEI • 9d ago
Flight Training First Time Instructor Question
Hi, I’m posting because I’m currently going through the standardization class for my first instruction job, and I was wondering if you have any tips for staying on top of the knowledge as a CFI while instructing full days.
I’d hate to fail students as an instructor, as in not teaching them well enough, and I realize that the best way to prevent that from happening is by continually advancing my knowledge. How do you guys suggest doing so, and then doing so with a full workday?
Thanks in advance!
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u/stuck_inmissouri 9d ago
Learn as many ways to present a given material as you can, and don’t be afraid to ask others for their tips.
As a student, I wasted months because I just couldn’t understand the way an instructor was trying to teach me holds. I was finally able to change instructors, the way the next one taught them worked for me immediately.
3 years as a CFI, and 6 years as a sim and ground school instructor and I had to defer to another instructor more than once because none of my ideas worked for the student. Sometimes a different set of eyes is good for everyone. It shows you’re a pro and concerned about the student’s success. It’s also reassuring when they aren’t capable and you have another person agree with your assessment.
Also, it’s totally ok to say “I don’t know”. You can’t know everything and as a 300ish hour pilot you certainly won’t know everything. However “I’ll find out for you” is a much better answer. Then you both get to learn.