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Thread ID: 88212 2008-03-19 05:08:00 JJJJJ - flight school Nomad (952) PC World Chat
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650756 2008-03-19 05:08:00 Hi JJJJJ, after 2yrs I am getting back into my flying lessons to do my PPL .

The school is low in CFI, the last 2 times I did quite poorly compared to 2yrs ago . We were doing some lessons up there between each "try", the instructor would climb or decend the plane steeply that I could feel g-force on my face and then it pops out when we level out, he would also do steep climbs and I looked at the instruments and we were nearly banking at a 75 or 80 degree turn . When he did the descending turn, I couldn't see the sky or the horizon all I saw was this aircraft turning I was just looking at the underneath ocean . He quite a young fella .

One time I mucked up since he asked me to do the aircraft inspection while he was inside, I wasn't given a proper debrief, never a post debrief for the next lesson . He just teaches lesson after lesson and each time he needs to determine what to teach he would just look at my log book .

I don't feel that I am actually learning the stuff he teaches, I cannot really relate to his teaching style .

I cancelled all my lessons except my next lesson is with the chief instructor so I will see how that goes .

Are you able to provide me some insight :)
I did read their website and then chatting to the chief instructor I found that the website was out of date most of those instructors listed there has left .
Nomad (952)
650757 2008-03-19 08:30:00 Nomad, I have spent the last thirty odd years as a CFI of two of NZ's bigger Flight training organisations as well as many smaller ones in the NI.

Firstly ditch your Flying instructor as quickly as you can. That type of person is not an instructor and is only in the aircraft for his enjoyment. If any of my Instructors did what you say he/she would be dismissed immediately.
The instructor is in the aircraft for you and should only handle the controls to demonstrate a manouvre or to take control when you experience is insufficient for the stage of flight you are at.
If you dont get on with CFI, change also even if it means trying another establishment. I hear too many horror stories like yours and there are too many pilots who never finish their lessons because of this type of attitude.
I find this a great shame as I love flying and I love teaching and want to see others enjoy it as much as I have.
A good instructor will always brief you fully on what the next lesson entails and will ensure you understand this.
Beware though of the long winded whiteboard briefings that are in vogue these days. They do nothing but confuse the issue and are of no help, usually having little relevance to the lesson given. So many students give up
because of this.
If you are learning to fly wanting a career in the airlines some of the Flight schools specialise in this type of training and are good but if you just want to fly for fun it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a place to experience this.
Good luck and let me know how you are getting on.
tut (12033)
650758 2008-03-19 10:40:00 tut, thanks.

Tomorrow I have a lesson with the chief instructor, I know he has been there since 2004. So I will see how that goes.

I cancelled that guy's lessons. Actually I am supposed to do stalls tomorrow which is my 3rd lesson this yr, 2yr ago I did a trial flight and 3 flights. There is no way I am doing stalls with that guy. I have downloaded the instructors book from the CAA's website and been studying that.

I'm now freaked out. I bought a multi hour package.
The shame is the other school is like 50km away.

For now its more for fun, but who knows down the road, a CPL is a lot of work and money and for someone who is not in their teens or early 20s. I had a childhood interest in airports and aircrafts but not flying one but I guess that came on as a by-product.
Nomad (952)
650759 2008-03-20 03:08:00 Went out with the chief instructor much better. He's going to spend 1 or 2 lessons revisiting the basics. What a big difference. None of that amusement park entertainment. Still rusty on the rudder at takeoff but I pulled it up .. but learnt how much to pull back.

The lesson were good cos we were not looking at the instruments or chasing the needle - like that jackass he would say 1500 ft - no more no less when I could barely "walk".

Learnt with wind there is nothing you can do and just have to ride it out.

I did see the jackass there just sitting at the lounge, didn't speak to me or look at me

I also learnt how to taxi correctly. I don't know, I cannot brake with toes and my heel for the rudder. Maybe my seat is too forward. I pulled the seat back and able to control the brakes with the base of my foot (top) but not the toes.

For the rudder on the ground do you you use the base of the foot (at the back) or do you use the heel?

I booked in 4 more lessons with the new instructor.
Nomad (952)
650760 2008-03-20 03:09:00 Good to hear - other guy sounds like a w*nker. :angry wratterus (105)
650761 2008-03-20 06:36:00 Went out with the chief instructor much better . He's going to spend 1 or 2 lessons revisiting the basics . What a big difference . None of that amusement park entertainment . Still rusty on the rudder at takeoff but I pulled it up . . but learnt how much to pull back .

The lesson were good cos we were not looking at the instruments or chasing the needle - like that jackass he would say 1500 ft - no more no less when I could barely "walk" .

Learnt with wind there is nothing you can do and just have to ride it out .

I did see the jackass there just sitting at the lounge, didn't speak to me or look at me

I also learnt how to taxi correctly . I don't know, I cannot brake with toes and my heel for the rudder . Maybe my seat is too forward . I pulled the seat back and able to control the brakes with the base of my foot (top) but not the toes .

For the rudder on the ground do you you use the base of the foot (at the back) or do you use the heel?

I booked in 4 more lessons with the new instructor .

Yes the biggest challenge for me when I learnt to fly many years ago was holding the plane strait with the right rudder after take off . Finally got it right though .
:)
Trev (427)
650762 2008-03-20 06:58:00 What you must always remember is that nearly all "C cat." instructors are not career instructors. They are in the job to build up their hours while waiting and hoping an airline will employ them.
I was lucky and did my first twenty or so hours with a very good instructor.
Once you have done your first solo you will find things change.
You will soon get over your braking problems. It will become purely automatic. When you want to use brakes just slide your feet up the pedals and push with your toes. Don't worry about pushing the rudder pedals, it won't do any harm.
And don't be overly concerned about the pre flight inspection. You aren't going to find anything. My pre flights consisted of checking oil level. (before EVERY flight) and a quick glance to make sure it had three wheels. Just watch a commercial pilot and see how many do more than that!
I haven't flown for thirty years so I am not up to date with current practices, but in my day I never heard of any instructor doing a formal debriefing. This was usualy just an informal talk while taxiing in.
If you are doing something wrong the instructor should tell you and make you do it again, and again until you get it right. Don't let him go on to something else till you have the first thing right.
The best advice I ever had was "Don't ever be a sloppy pilot" Always be precise. If you are doing a turn always finish at exaxtly the same altitude you started at. If you are turning on to a compass heading, turn on to the exact heading. There;s no such word in aviation as "about"
Good luck with future lessons. Remember you can always pick your instructor. When you book a flight just tell them who you want to fly with.

If I can help just yell,

Jack
JJJJJ (528)
650763 2008-03-20 08:24:00 The lesson were good cos we were not looking at the instruments or chasing the needle - like that jackass he would say 1500 ft - no more no less when I could barely "walk".

My memory of my basic lessons was that I got the horizon thoroughly drummed into me in my first few lessons - so I could fly dead level using the horizon as a cue and having brief glances at the altimeter before I moved on from straight and level. Then I got used to flying to the horizon in turns also. It became second nature very quickly - though sadly I did not get past 5.5 hours with my lessons before my money (I was 17) dried up.
Deane F (8204)
650764 2008-03-22 03:52:00 Glad to hear things are better with the CFI.
He/She is on the right track with your training.
Some good advice there from Deane F. There is a tendency to spend too much time using the instruments instead of looking out side.( Too much influence from MS Flight Sim maybe)
The only flight instrument you really need is the altimeter and that only to prevent getting done for low flying (LOL)
Note also JJJJJ's comment about accuracy. Very important, the CAA's recommendations for accuracy are well off the mark as an aim. I have always suggested that for straight and level and for turns that an accuracy of one needle width be the ultimate aim and the same for airspeed control. With the right technique it is easily achievable.

What sort of aircraft are you training in?

Regards and hope to hear you reach your goal.

Tut
tut (12033)
650765 2008-03-22 04:29:00 If money was no object, I would do some more flight training. Although I would need to get past the CAA medical to go further. dolby digital (5073)
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