With experience I became increasingly demanding towards my flight instructors, so listing all what I expect from them results in a long answer, but here we go:
The most important thing is good human and pedagogical qualities. A good student – instructor relation is a key element to good learning, and even if both sides have to adapt, I expect most of this adaptation on the instructor side. A good instructor must understand me, how I work, how I learn, and be able to rapidly build a good teaching strategy. He must also help me to feel good in the cockpit. There is already enough tension while learning, so the instructor should not add more. A bit of pressure is fine – and needed – but this shall be properly managed.
I also expect instructors to be from the “know-it-all” kind of person. Certainly no one can have the answer to all questions – we all sometimes have to use some reference material – but nothing is worse than knowing more about a plane or procedure than the person supposed to teach you. Modern cockpits can be complex, but I do think that an instructor shall the role and purpose of each and every button, knob, switch, lever, whatsoever.
Finally, I expect instructors to have a professional approach of what they do. This starts with showing up for lessons on time and prepared. I had a couple of simulator lessons with a guy who always asked me “what should we do today ?”… In a professional flight school, each student records shall include such information and it’s part of the instructor’s job to be informed about that. I also don’t appreciate “jump-in / jump-out” instructors who don’t take time to give a briefing / debriefing.
Oh, and a bit of fun in appropriate circumstances is fine, but not a must.
To view an instructors perspective visit PlasticPilot.net
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