Each instructor has personal tips and techniques and this makes it worth flying with different instructors. For this post I asked several of them to share their best tip with you. Five accepted and I admit that I’ve been surprised by the variety of the answers…
1 – Max Trescott on autopilots:
When teaching in glass cockpits, I often see autopilot “surprises,” where the autopilot is not in the mode pilots think they selected. In some cases, the pilot is slow to even note that the airplane is not doing what they thought it was. I recommend that every time a pilot pushes a button on the autopilot, that he or she looks at the status indicators to verify that the autopilot is actually in the intended mode. Some keys have toggle functions, and select, for example both ROL mode and heading mode. If you don’t look at the status indicators after you push a key, you won’t know which mode was selected.
Max Trescott – 2008 National CFI of the Year
2 – Jason Schappert on schedule and money:
My best tip I have for students is:
Consistency, be sure to fly at least twice a week, this will not only save you time but money as well.
3 – Rod Machado on hand to hand instruction:
Try this technique the next time your student is having trouble maintaining level flight. Place your hand on their wrist and level the airplane for them. They’ll quickly develop a sense for the pressures involved. This technique becomes immensely useful in preventing students from over controlling during landing. I’ve guided students through the approach, roundout and flare with my left hand controlling the aileron and elevator through their wrist. You can even apply palm pressure to a student’s knee to initiate rudder movement. During flight, students should have their heels on the floor and apply rudder pressure with the balls of their feet. Therefore, a slight push down and forward on the knee moves the ball of the foot forward. Fortunately, it’s right rudder that’s most often needed and that’s the leg that’s easiest to get to. One word of caution. Always make sure you obtain the student’s permission before pushing on any part of their body. Let the student know what you’re going to do and demonstrate how you’ll do it. Do this and you’ll only push a wrist and never push your luck.
4 -Eric Gideon on chart management:
Fold your chart on the ground, before a cross country flight (or even during local flights) so that you can see the whole route or area without having to unfold it. Try to fold it so that you can simply flip it over when you reach the edge. If you use a binder clip to keep it shut, you can also attach it to a sun visor when you need extra coverage.
5 – Paul Tocknell on staying up-to-date:
When we first start learning to fly, we pour over books. Our desks and study areas are crammed with textbooks, manuals and charts. We want to know everything about anything related to flying. Over time, this passion gradually subsides. Once we get our initial pilot’s license, we realize we don’t need to know everything about aviation to take an airplane around the pattern. Eventually, this lethargy creeps into most flying habits; checklists, preflight, studying. etc. So my best advice to pilots is to continually study, become a lifetime student of aviation! Don’t let complacency creep into your flying skills. Just like a physician has to stay up on the latest medical journals, techniques and practices, so must a good pilot continuously review airplane flight manuals, aviation regulations and trade publications (and blogs!) to keep current and sharp in this continuously changing environment of aviation.
Thank you guys for taking the time to answer my request, and for sharin your tips. If you, reader, have tips that you want to share, leave a comment or contact me.
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These are all great tips!
I particularly like Rod’s tip and will use it when needed (with permission, of course!)