Without a good instructor, able to understand me and to find a good teaching technique, I would probably not have a pilot license today. My first choice as student pilot was luckily oriented by some friends who gave me brilliant advice and suggested a specific instructor. I later learned to know some of his colleagues, and I’m sure that some others would not have matched my character. I’m not that easy…

During the following years, I flew with 15 different instructors and examiners. Some left me good memories, some other, well… were slightly worse. I will never ever fly with two of them again. Three of them in fact, but sadly because the tird one is dead. Hopefully, I’ll soon have to find a new one here in Frankfurt, which brings me to the question: how to find a high quality flight instructor ?

Is experience a factor ?
Knowing about the experience of an instructor is easy. All pilots log their flight time. A short chat will inform you about the candidate instructor background. Does he comes from airlines, business operations, military, or is was he always instructor ? None of these is preferable, the goal is simply to find a good match.

I did fly with various breeds of instructors (click here to read my guide to instructor’s breeds), and as far as I’m concerned, experience does not seem to be a relevant factor. I flew with some extremely experienced, and very fresh instructors as well, and both have their qualities.

What about price ?
In almost all training organizations, the price price you pay for instruction is the same for all instructors. They’re certified to the same standards, and do the same job, so it seems quite logical that they get the same amount of money. The price can vary for different types of instruction (IFR, VFR, in-flight, theory, simulator), but not from one instructor to another one. So forget about money, paying more does not means that you get a better instructor.

Time ?
The old adage “time is money” reveals true. Instructors usually get paid on a flight-time basis. The flaw with this payment model is that it reduces the interest that instructors can have to do good briefings and debriefings. Some schools do pay instructors on a day, or half-day basis, which helps to to reduce the “jump-in / jump-out” tendency. I personally beware of instructors that come directly to the plane, and get out of it as soon as the engine is stopped (or even before) to rush to their next lesson.

Learning to fly is by far not a 100% airborne activity, particularly for basic training, and important steps like IFR. A differences training, or complex endorsement can be less formal, and more flight-oriented, but most of our training also requires time on the ground, together with an instructor, even if he does not get paid during this part of the job.

Test your instructor
It’s not always an easy thing to do, particularly for student pilots at the very begin of their training, but it’s important to test your instructor. You should feel comfortable with him / her, and feel in confidence. It makes no sense at all to spend hours with someone you don’t like, or don’t appreciate in the right-hand seat. Being an instructor sometimes means to say some unpleasant things, but your relationship with your instructor shall be beneficial, smooth, and positive.

I personally believe that any instructor can not teach any student. There must be a match, which depends on both individuals characters, styles, and view of life. It’s almost philosophical. Some have greater adaptation capabilities, but by the end of the day, the tandem should work. If it’s not the case, don’t hesitate to change for another instructor. A bad instructor / student pair is certainly bad for both, but I can hardly imagine an instructor asking to change student, so it’s our job to find an instructor matching our personality.

You’re in control
Under JAA regulations, the instructor is Pilot In Command, at least as long as the student does not hold the required ratings. This however does not mean that you can’t decide who seats beside you, so don’t hesitate to change, but don’t forget to do that smoothly, in a gentleman way. Don’t simply go to the chief pilot, but try first to discuss the problem with your instructor. As professional teachers, they are incredibly flexible, but as humans they also have bad days…

Read more about instructors:

Open letter to flight instructors

When flight instructor crashes

Flight instructor’s breeds guide