ORIGINAL: PilotFighter
ORIGINAL: Steve Steinbring
regardless of how far ahead of the airplane you are your student is most likely not, and he/she is flying the airplane.
Just as a pilot is ''ahead'' of his airplane, an instructor should be ''ahead'' of their student. After teaching dozens of students I have noticed that they all tend to loose control at the same point in certain lessons. As they step out of thier car I already know when they are going to loose control that day.
Come On PF (since I have known you for a long time, I will not use your real name, just PF today
) where do you instruct? I joined JXXXXX in 1985 when I officially moved back to the Republic, and I have NEVER seen you Instruct nor have I seen you on the instructor list, although I have asked you to do so.
While a lot of instructors have come and gone in Jxxxxx, there have been two extremely well qualified instructors since I started there. They are JXX SterXXX and myself.
JS because he had 'Umpteen" hours as a Private/Commercial Pilot instructor and my status as a Flight Instructor in T-33 and T-38 USAF Pilot Training. Of course there were the times that some "instruction" came into play during the early '90s when the fast pilot growth at UAL required some instruction from left seat to the right seat!
Had my times there. All in experience.
Now if you wish to take on a student that after 7-8 months absent from flying, is about ready to start again, I would have considerable respect for your opinions if you would take on this student and solo this person after you are certain that said person is not a safety detriment to all on the flight line. I can't recall how many times that I am about to sign off this person when the hard drive falters and it's back to the most basic basics again.
Has this student crashed while under my control? Yes, the only one that ever has, in my being an RC instructor since 10 years before buddy-boxes. Student has made two nice approaches, two good landings and then on third landing approach, about 6 ft. off ground, student makes a sudden snap roll to inverted and nose-in. My fault because I was giving student the benefit of any doubt?
You would say "Yes" I say too much too soon. Another scenerio: Making a landing, student has trouble at the roundout and I am talking it through, "Hold that attitude, Throttle back full and ease in more UP, but student reverts back to old days and UP is forward, so immediate FULL DOWN stick to top of transmitter. Nose wheel grabs grass and model tumbles then catches wing tip. Minor damage but not good for solo status. Lots more, I just can't list them all.
//SNIP//create self confindence in themselves and trust in you.
Instruction is not standing beside the student in silence and claiming that you will leap into action should something go wrong.
I would like to arrange for you to instruct this person. I'm sure you know who.