I connect very well to your videos and have inspired me to continue my flight training. Your videos are easy to understand, and am learning alot. I got discouraged recently when I was yelled during my first flying lessons. Thanks for sharing these great videos! I'm glad to support!
I looked up local FSDOs and the closer one (by a lot) is in the neighboring state. Would they be of any help choosing a school / instructor in my state? Thanks.
Hey Johny! I signed in flight school in January 2022. Due to my financial reasons I pay for flight out of packed time I fly. I can't fly often only once at two weeks. I made only 1.4 hours of flying time. Two months ago flight instructor told me that airplane is broke down. He did not inform me did Aircraft is fixed or not,I waited that long definitely I changed him today,cause I assuming that something not right. Tomorrow I'll stop by in flight school to find out, who's going to be my new flight instructor. Any coments/advices on it? Thanks for answer in advance! Have a good day!
Lots of bad CFI's.. This guy is a good exception.. Due that law to have 1,500 hours and the expensive ATP, most USA CFI's are not into teaching all that is needed, but the easier maneuvers. Most cannot teach the important engine fails on the 5 legs of the traffic pattern, or the 4 important kinds on take off, or accelerated full stalls, or go arounds right in the flare. They like to be only "A Mild Maneuvering CFI".. A Mild Maneuvering CFI will create future accidents. Why?? due most accidents happen due pilot was not trained well on the above maneuvers mentioned and crashed due doing pilot errors on them due they didnt get training at all on those maneuvers....
Choosing a CFI??? Are you serious? How many flight schools out there have enough instructors that you can choose? My experience was who ever is available and can meet your schedule. Many of my CFIs were old, crazy burnouts or the arrogant, chain smoking, antisocial personality types. Private pilot was very painful to get. Finally found a competent, cool dude for IFR... None of these guys actually "cared" about their students. Guess I don't blame them. 80% of students never finish and there is always plenty of no-show students. Factor in weather/mechanical cancellations and you will make more money flipping burgers than being a CFI! And no, they were not building hours for the regionals. They were all too old. What am I missing? This entire video was just so far from my reality???
Plenty of CFIs to choose from down here, its mostly dependent on where you are living and how far you are willing to drive to the right airport. Glad to hear you found someone you like for your instrument training!
There should be a penalty, yet there really is not. Simply a "reward" so to speak if you sign off more than 10 guys in 2 years and have an 80% or better pass rate.
Not really a factor honestly. You can have young and humble CFIs, and old and arrogant ones, and vice versa. Really depends on the person specifically. The only "age" consideration I would account for is a CFI that has been instructing for less than 3 months or 100 hours of dual given.
I usually enjoy your videos, but I am going to call BS on many points you make in this video The only one I am going to address here is: To discount someone JUST because they are a new CFI is ridiculous. Some newly minted CFI’s are so excited and enthused about flying, and everything is so fresh in the minds, that they make excellent instructors. Not saying that is true across the board, but to discount them just based on being new is ridiculous. Throughout my training, I have had new and seasoned instructors, and let me tell you, some of my best instructors were new to instructing. I am a fairly new CFI (2 years), and am on my way to getting my gold seal hopefully. I have passed 7 out of 8 of my first students. (6 of them private students) If they had watched this video and taken your advice, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now. What about asking WHY they are instructing? That tells me more than a lot of things. If they are looking to build hours, are they really invested in the student? Do they really care about their pass rate, or getting that Gold Seal, or about improving with each student? Some yes, some no. But it would lead me to ask more questions. I won’t say ALL of your suggestions were bad, but many of them yes. I wish I had the time to go over each point, and give you my opinions.
3:06 Or, if the instructor's an asshole, and you've decided not to suffer assholes, don't pick him. Craig Hutchings, San Jose, California, I'm referring to you. You owe me for all that time of mine you wasted.
What I have realised is the student is the Instructors employer. Be very selective and make it clear the Instructor is being evaluated by the student also. I had an Instructor who as it transpired was having relationship problems. He did not disclose this and he became inconsistent and unreliable not turning up for lessons and re-scheduling and re-scheduling again. As a new student I regarded the whole industry as an establishment and I did not want to upset the establishment albeit a subsequently misguided perception do not put up with substandard behaviour from Instructors as a manager would not tolerate substandard employees.
I hate to say something totally stupid, but here goes. The best CFI is someone who is not a pilot. Ha! What do I mean? Almost everyone who flies near tower airports picks up the terrible habit of mumbling at warp 9.95 like ATC controllers. Sadly, ATC controllers are horrible, horrible, horrible! They don't enunciate ... *at all.* They babble so fast your head spins. Their volume drifts off near the end of most phrases or [what passes for] sentences. They are the most difficult people on planet earth to understand ... except for auctioneers. Maybe. This is a terrible problem. Because all the processes involved in flying and airplanes and airports and communications are not yet very clear to student pilots, it takes a while for their brains to input every idea, every phrase, every sentence... and recognize the significance and consequences of what was said. Yet virtually all CFIs ... because they already flew a lot to become a pilot, then flew more to get higher ratings ... are already destroyed by the ATC hyper-speed mumble phenomenon. And they don't even realize, because that's what they're habituated to, and that's part of their core nature now. I'm not sure what the solution is. Very rare is the human who can take control of themselves and purposely change strongly habituated characteristics like ... how they speak. Maybe you can find a CFI who can do that. Absent that ... not sure how to beat this problem, except maybe find a rural private pilot who will teach you how to fly. You'll get no flying credit, but if you already know how to fly by the time you go find a CFI and start taking lessons, you'll be a lot more relaxed, a lot more comfortable, and maybe able to absorb the hyper-speed mumble-fest of the CFI and far worse, ATC controllers. So, go find a pilot who will "teach you how to fly on the side". You pay for the fuel he needs to fly his airplane, so your new pilot friend gets something out of the proposition too, besides someone to talk to of course. Get him to fly in the most rural areas you can find, so you're actually learning to *FLY* ... not just take instructions from an ATC puppet-master. You're not nearly as much "on the clock" with a "pilot friend" as you are with a CFI, so you (and he) can relax and fly. Actually, what also works great as preparation is to NOT fly the airplane ... but have the pilot explain *everything he is doing* ... and *why.* You can learn a great deal from just watching and listening to a pilot explain everything he is doing and why. Probably CFIs will hate this message. I don't care. As far as I'm concerned the entire system is totally rigged/slanted against students and pilots who aren't part of the "flying establishment" ... which means people airlines, cargo airlines and commercial endeavors. Which means you need to find ways to cope with the complete lack of concern for student pilots and other "fringe pilots" like bush pilots, mountain pilots, backcountry pilots, STOL pilots, and so forth. If ATC wanted to help ... and increase safety too ... they'd have programs that make them enunciate, speak much slower and speak more clearly. But they've never done that, because they consider themselves "in charge" ... and you are a peon. After all, they are "controllers" and everyone knows what the term "control" means. They are in control. Which is why people like me stay away from A, B, C, D airspace and ATC and tower airports. At least for the time being, we can enjoy flying in E and G airspace. Though 10 or 20 years from now, probably not. The predators-that-be will control everything by then. The predators-that-be eliminate more G airspace every year. It has gotten to the point already that flying in G airspace means dodging towers and wires if you're anywhere but serious boonies (and sometimes not even there). Fortunately modern "glass cockpits" (even in tiny airplanes) make flying down low in G airspace much safer than with old instruments and paper charts, though not entirely safe.
I connect very well to your videos and have inspired me to continue my flight training. Your videos are easy to understand, and am learning alot. I got discouraged recently when I was yelled during my first flying lessons. Thanks for sharing these great videos! I'm glad to support!
Thank You!!! Fly Safe!
Great video, you should make one but for CFIs " How to choose the right school to work as a CFI"
Good advice! I am about to begin the process of choosing an instructor and this is very helpful.
Glad it helps! Good luck in training!
I wish I would have seen this video years ago
I looked up local FSDOs and the closer one (by a lot) is in the neighboring state. Would they be of any help choosing a school / instructor in my state? Thanks.
Hey Johny!
I signed in flight school in January 2022.
Due to my financial reasons I pay for flight out of packed time I fly.
I can't fly often only once at two weeks.
I made only 1.4 hours of flying time.
Two months ago flight instructor told me that airplane is broke down.
He did not inform me did Aircraft is fixed or not,I waited that long definitely I changed him today,cause I assuming that something not right.
Tomorrow I'll stop by in flight school to find out, who's going to be my new flight instructor.
Any coments/advices on it?
Thanks for answer in advance!
Have a good day!
You sound like a CFI that cares. Where are you located?
Lots of bad CFI's.. This guy is a good exception.. Due that law to have 1,500 hours and the expensive ATP, most USA CFI's are not into teaching all that is needed, but the easier maneuvers. Most cannot teach the important engine fails on the 5 legs of the traffic pattern, or the 4 important kinds on take off, or accelerated full stalls, or go arounds right in the flare. They like to be only "A Mild Maneuvering CFI".. A Mild Maneuvering CFI will create future accidents. Why?? due most accidents happen due pilot was not trained well on the above maneuvers mentioned and crashed due doing pilot errors on them due they didnt get training at all on those maneuvers....
Choosing a CFI??? Are you serious? How many flight schools out there have enough instructors that you can choose? My experience was who ever is available and can meet your schedule. Many of my CFIs were old, crazy burnouts or the arrogant, chain smoking, antisocial personality types.
Private pilot was very painful to get. Finally found a competent, cool dude for IFR...
None of these guys actually "cared" about their students. Guess I don't blame them. 80% of students never finish and there is always plenty of no-show students. Factor in weather/mechanical cancellations and you will make more money flipping burgers than being a CFI! And no, they were not building hours for the regionals. They were all too old.
What am I missing? This entire video was just so far from my reality???
Plenty of CFIs to choose from down here, its mostly dependent on where you are living and how far you are willing to drive to the right airport. Glad to hear you found someone you like for your instrument training!
I'm seriously considering to become a CFI and was curious if low pass rate penalize the instructor under certain percentage ? 50% sounds very low.
There should be a penalty, yet there really is not. Simply a "reward" so to speak if you sign off more than 10 guys in 2 years and have an 80% or better pass rate.
What about age difference?
Not really a factor honestly. You can have young and humble CFIs, and old and arrogant ones, and vice versa. Really depends on the person specifically. The only "age" consideration I would account for is a CFI that has been instructing for less than 3 months or 100 hours of dual given.
I usually enjoy your videos, but I am going to call BS on many points you make in this video
The only one I am going to address here is:
To discount someone JUST because they are a new CFI is ridiculous. Some newly minted CFI’s are so excited and enthused about flying, and everything is so fresh in the minds, that they make excellent instructors. Not saying that is true across the board, but to discount them just based on being new is ridiculous. Throughout my training, I have had new and seasoned instructors, and let me tell you, some of my best instructors were new to instructing.
I am a fairly new CFI (2 years), and am on my way to getting my gold seal hopefully. I have passed 7 out of 8 of my first students. (6 of them private students) If they had watched this video and taken your advice, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now.
What about asking WHY they are instructing? That tells me more than a lot of things. If they are looking to build hours, are they really invested in the student? Do they really care about their pass rate, or getting that Gold Seal, or about improving with each student? Some yes, some no. But it would lead me to ask more questions.
I won’t say ALL of your suggestions were bad, but many of them yes. I wish I had the time to go over each point, and give you my opinions.
Can you be my CFI???? HAHAHAHHA.
Haha, be happy to if you were local.
3:06 Or, if the instructor's an asshole, and you've decided not to suffer assholes, don't pick him.
Craig Hutchings, San Jose, California, I'm referring to you. You owe me for all that time of mine you wasted.
What I have realised is the student is the Instructors employer. Be very selective and make it clear the Instructor is being evaluated by the student also. I had an Instructor who as it transpired was having relationship problems. He did not disclose this and he became inconsistent and unreliable not turning up for lessons and re-scheduling and re-scheduling again. As a new student I regarded the whole industry as an establishment and I did not want to upset the establishment albeit a subsequently misguided perception do not put up with substandard behaviour from Instructors as a manager would not tolerate substandard employees.
I hate to say something totally stupid, but here goes. The best CFI is someone who is not a pilot. Ha! What do I mean? Almost everyone who flies near tower airports picks up the terrible habit of mumbling at warp 9.95 like ATC controllers. Sadly, ATC controllers are horrible, horrible, horrible! They don't enunciate ... *at all.* They babble so fast your head spins. Their volume drifts off near the end of most phrases or [what passes for] sentences. They are the most difficult people on planet earth to understand ... except for auctioneers. Maybe.
This is a terrible problem. Because all the processes involved in flying and airplanes and airports and communications are not yet very clear to student pilots, it takes a while for their brains to input every idea, every phrase, every sentence... and recognize the significance and consequences of what was said. Yet virtually all CFIs ... because they already flew a lot to become a pilot, then flew more to get higher ratings ... are already destroyed by the ATC hyper-speed mumble phenomenon. And they don't even realize, because that's what they're habituated to, and that's part of their core nature now.
I'm not sure what the solution is. Very rare is the human who can take control of themselves and purposely change strongly habituated characteristics like ... how they speak. Maybe you can find a CFI who can do that. Absent that ... not sure how to beat this problem, except maybe find a rural private pilot who will teach you how to fly. You'll get no flying credit, but if you already know how to fly by the time you go find a CFI and start taking lessons, you'll be a lot more relaxed, a lot more comfortable, and maybe able to absorb the hyper-speed mumble-fest of the CFI and far worse, ATC controllers.
So, go find a pilot who will "teach you how to fly on the side". You pay for the fuel he needs to fly his airplane, so your new pilot friend gets something out of the proposition too, besides someone to talk to of course. Get him to fly in the most rural areas you can find, so you're actually learning to *FLY* ... not just take instructions from an ATC puppet-master. You're not nearly as much "on the clock" with a "pilot friend" as you are with a CFI, so you (and he) can relax and fly. Actually, what also works great as preparation is to NOT fly the airplane ... but have the pilot explain *everything he is doing* ... and *why.* You can learn a great deal from just watching and listening to a pilot explain everything he is doing and why.
Probably CFIs will hate this message. I don't care. As far as I'm concerned the entire system is totally rigged/slanted against students and pilots who aren't part of the "flying establishment" ... which means people airlines, cargo airlines and commercial endeavors. Which means you need to find ways to cope with the complete lack of concern for student pilots and other "fringe pilots" like bush pilots, mountain pilots, backcountry pilots, STOL pilots, and so forth.
If ATC wanted to help ... and increase safety too ... they'd have programs that make them enunciate, speak much slower and speak more clearly. But they've never done that, because they consider themselves "in charge" ... and you are a peon. After all, they are "controllers" and everyone knows what the term "control" means. They are in control. Which is why people like me stay away from A, B, C, D airspace and ATC and tower airports. At least for the time being, we can enjoy flying in E and G airspace. Though 10 or 20 years from now, probably not. The predators-that-be will control everything by then. The predators-that-be eliminate more G airspace every year. It has gotten to the point already that flying in G airspace means dodging towers and wires if you're anywhere but serious boonies (and sometimes not even there). Fortunately modern "glass cockpits" (even in tiny airplanes) make flying down low in G airspace much safer than with old instruments and paper charts, though not entirely safe.
You probably just need more practice in congested airspace dude.
Aren't there any women students or CFI's? Or is everyone called a "guy"?
No there are no women CFI’s. There are no women students or pilots either. At all.