CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3 - 26

CFI'S POINT OF VIEW
missed class assignments. This is not to suggest that aviation should not be
a fun, adventurous, and rewarding experience. Professionalism, however,
should seep into the soul of a pilot. Each and every time your student does
a walk-around, it should be done in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. If
we can create a deep-seated habit to act and be professional in our student,
many pilot error issues would decrease. As proven by many an NTSB
report, needless chatter while taxiing or flying below 10,000 feet has caused
numerous accidents or near accidents. As a CFI, the best way to teach
professionalism is by our own actions
and being professional ourselves.
AS A CFI, THE BEST WAY TO TEACH
Habits can be quickly picked up by
PROFESSIONALISM IS BY OUR OWN
watching others, so let us make the
ACTIONS AND BEING PROFESSIONAL
habits that students learn from us be
OURSELVES. HABITS CAN BE QUICKLY good professional habits.

PICKED UP BY WATCHING OTHERS,
SO LET US MAKE THE HABITS THAT
STUDENTS LEARN FROM US BE GOOD
PROFESSIONAL HABITS.

In this small world of aviation, letters of
recommendation are quite important
for job applications and interviews.
Do you think that I will write a letter
of recommendation for a student who
has been demanding, rude, and quite frankly writes an email to me with
run-on sentences, no punctuation, or no salutation? I might, but the letter
would not be as strong or glowing as the letter I write for a student that I
see being professional, doing the work, and always putting their best foot
forward. It does not take a lot of energy or time to be polite and professional
when dealing with others. Looking back at my aviation career, I never regret
choosing to be professional in any situation.
For example, several years ago when I worked as a CFI and dreamed of
working for a particular regional airline with an entire fleet of Embraer jets,

I ran into a private pilot at the FBO where I worked. This pilot flew into our
airport in a Cessna 152, parked, and came inside. He clearly was not local,
and he was looking for assistance. The office personnel were nowhere to
be found and many of the other CFIs were in the back of the office having a
quick break and joke in between lessons. I was headed out the door to meet
my next student for a lesson but decided to stop to see if the Cessna pilot had
a quick question that I could answer. He needed fuel and some local hotel
and car rental information. After getting him what he needed, I offered use
of one of the ground school briefing rooms for privacy and headed out to
the plane. Upon return an hour and a half later, the pilot was still sitting in
the briefing room. I asked him if everything was alright and he told me that
he was still waiting for the rental car to arrive. Because it had been my last
flight and I was getting ready to go home, I offered to drive him to the nearby
car rental location since it seemed to be taking a long time. He declined but
thanked me for my help and the professional way that I acted toward him.
He then handed me his business card and told me if I was ever looking to
move on to a regional airline to contact him. I looked down and saw that he
was in the training department of the regional airline of my dreams. I am not
making this up-this happened to me!
Aviation is a small world. It is a wonderful world of which to be a part. Let's
teach our students and remind each other that professionalism goes a long
way. It can save a pilot from having a runway incursion or worse. It can also
lead to well earned respect from your peers or even a job opportunity.
Deirdre Wilson is an ATP, CFI, and former commercial airline pilot. She
currently works as the Chief Ground Instructor and teaches aviation at the
Community College of Beaver County outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Email: flydeirdre@yahoo.com
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3
