HELP! ยป By Jill W. Tallman ILLUSTRATION BY JOE MCDERMOTT MY INSTRUCTOR IS LEAVING! Has it happened to you? If not, will it happen to you? Most likely, the answer is yes. We're talking about the probability that the flight instructor who first showed you how to check a tire during a preflight, taught you just where to look during IT COULD HAPPEN TO the flare, and rejoiced with you when YOU-AND HERE'S WHAT you soloed will not be the same one TO DO IF IT DOES who signs you off for the checkride. It's a fact of life in aviation: Many flight instructors don't intend to make a career of bouncing around the pattern. Even if they enjoy teaching and excel at creating new pilots, the ultimate goal is to accumulate logbook hours so that they can qualify for a higher-paying job. When a certain number is reached or a new opportunity presents itself, they move on. Where does that leave you? PLUS How many flight instructors have you had? Take the poll. JUNE 2014 FLIGHT TRAINING / 39