Flight Training - July 2020 - 50

FINALLY!
A CARD
FOR PILOTS.

ADVANCED PILOT INSTRUCTOR REPORT

By keeping an open mind and being
receptive to growth, you'll learn countless
tools and tips from fellow instructors as
you continuously try to find more effective
methods. To improve and build this toolbox, simply add one tool at a time. Then,
you can grab that special tool when you
need it, for that particular student. You
see how that works?
YOUR OWN 'TRUMAN SHOW'

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Do you recall The Truman Show with Jim
Carrey? In the film, he's the unwitting
star in a reality show that revolves around
his entire life. Every single move he
makes is monitored, watched, celebrated,
or mourned.
Would it make you tense up a bit if
I told you students do the same of their
instructor? They watch your every move.
They copy and paste your attitudes, procedures, approach, and knowledge. Even
more important is the safety "blueprint"
that you have as an aviator-yup, they copy
that as well. If you profess to be a purveyor of safety, don't buzz a house, press
on into deteriorating weather, or succumb to any of the hazardous attitudes.
Rather, your students will be known as a
"checklist doer," "safety guru," or "by-thebooker" because that's who you are.
Your students are watching you
closely, Truman, and they'll pick up on
much more of what you do than say.
BE A SPARK PLUG

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We pilots go to great lengths to get
our fuel/air ratio just right. We have
leaning routines, rich or lean of peak
procedures, density altitude leaning,
and more. A student pilot is much
the same-they're primed and ready,
they've got the dream and ambition,
and all they need is a little nudge. That
mixture is useless without a spark.
As an instructor, you will often be that
"spark" for a student. You are a conduit
of what they dream is possible, to making
progress and achieving meaningful steps
toward a new certificate or rating.
Can you do the work for them? Absolutely not. But assuming they already have
their "mixture" right-i.e., they have the
time and money to pursue the dream,
show a good work ethic, and are taking
the necessary steps toward their goal-you
can help them light the fire and keep it lit.
You may light that initial fire during
a discovery flight, when so much is on
50 FLIGHT TRAINING JULY 2020

the line. Knowing little, the student can
see through your eyes that it is possible,
that they are capable, and this is a dream
worth pursuing.
That's only the initial spark, though.
What about the repetitive, continuous,
reciprocating spark that is so critical to
keeping an engine running? To creating
real, sustained power?
Students, even those working on
advanced ratings, are inherently self
defeating. It's an unfortunate reality of
being human. Instructors need to recognize the plateaus, counterproductive
self talk, and nonverbal body language or
behaviors that can be a sign of that fire
fizzling out.
Perhaps the student is pushing too
hard, or needs to look at things from
a different angle, or simply needs to
remember why they love flying. What
does an instructor do? Spark!
Need I mention that the spark is also
timed for the right moment? Miss the
moment, and it's meaningless. Knowing
when to offer a spark is just as important
as the how
There you have it. You're a spark plug.
You take that mixture (the prepared,
motivated student), and you make magic
of it (a spark, and power).
As an aside, not everything is sunshine
and rainbows. Be honest in all aspects.
Debrief with integrity and clarity. Give
praise where appropriate, encouragement
when needed, and surgical criticism to
support continuous growth.
WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT
RESPONSIBILITY

As an instructor you have a tall order
of responsibility on your plate when it
comes to the success of a student. This
success isn't just measured in a certificate
earned, but also in a career of safety. Furthermore, CFIs pass on an unmistakable
commitment to growth that is becoming
of true aviators.
The calling to shape, nurture, and
direct would-be aviators is nothing short
of special. The calling of a CFI is an admirable and remarkable one. Embrace the
journey, enjoy every minute, and you'll
never regret seeing the joy on someone's
face when a dream comes true. FT
CHRIS PALMER is a flight instructor, educator,

and flight school owner. He resides in Homer,
Alaska.

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Flight Training - July 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - July 2020