CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 4 - 14

T RI C KS O F TH E TRAD E

COLLECTED WISDOM

EDITOR'S NOTE:
The following is a compilation of flight instructors' favorite techniques
for teaching a procedure, enhancing a student's aviation experience, and
promoting learning. Email cfinewsletter@aopa.org to share your favorite
instructional tip.
RUSTY CFI?
Study hard and go back over all maneuvers and lesson plans until you
understand them as well as when you first became a flight instructor.
Remember that rules and regulations may have changed, as well as CFI
and student requirements, so make sure to search out what these changes
are during a flight instructor refresher program.
-Anonymous
You may also brush up by attending a You Can Fly Rusty Pilot seminar
and taking the Rusty Pilots online course (aopa.org/training-andsafety/lapsed-pilots/rusty-pilots) in addition to the ASI In-Person
FIRC (airsafetyinstitute.org/firc).
-Editor
THE STRING METHOD
A low wing aircraft allows this great demonstration. Tape four to five
inch lengths of string or yarn to the wings, the full length and several rows
down to the trailing edge. This shows how the air begins to break away/
burbles when the wing stall occurs.
-Todd Richards

SIMPLE SOLUTION
I had a student who'd always turn the aircraft left in the flare close to the
ground. I realized this happened because she would have one hand on the
yoke and turn it to the left as she began the flare. To fix this, I had her place
both hands on the yoke and the problem was solved.
-Anonymous
'LEAN' ON ME
In an instrument unusual recovery lesson, have your student wear
foggles and bend down his head so he can't view the instrument panel
or outside the cockpit. Snap the aircraft into a 30 to 45 degree bank and
then slowly (less than 1.5 degrees per second) roll the airplane level
and have the student recover to straight and level flight. Invariably
the student is convinced he is in a 30 to 45 degree bank in whatever
direction you initially rolled the plane. Only the attitude indicator or
artificial horizon instrument will reveal the airplane's true attitude.
This demonstrates the leans illusion (leading to spatial disorientation)
and what happens when flying between two cloud layers that are not
parallel to the horizon.
-Dale Smith CFII, MEI
PAYING ATTENTION
Before your student arrives for her flight lesson, cover the static vent (even
with something slightly colorful). Then pay attention to your student
and see if she is really vigilant during the preflight. This is not only a good
reminder for students during primary training but also for private pilots
who come to you for a flight review!
-Anonymous

How about you? Do you have a tip you'd like to share with other CFIs?
Email cfinewsletter@aopa.org to add your wisdom to the list.

http://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/lapsed-pilots/rusty-pilots http://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/lapsed-pilots/rusty-pilots http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/firc

CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 4

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 10 Issue 4