What to ask, when to ask it
Sincerely,
K.R.
Greetings K.R.:
Good question about questions. In addition to the questions you might ordinarily ask, here are nine additional questions that might reveal essential knowledge to help you choose a certificated flight instructor (CFI) for flight training. Keep in mind that a good CFI is worth his or her weight in gold. In my opinion, searching for one is the single most important act for success in flight training. Once you find one, however, treat him or her well. Pay him what he's worth, and sing her praises to everyone. Good CFIs seldom get the credit they deserve.
1. Why did you become a flight instructor? The reason you want to know this is because the fellow might only talk about flying professionally, and he is instructing only to build time. There's nothing wrong with this, of course, but if he doesn't talk about, mention, or even hint that he loves to fly and share flying with others, then I might be a bit concerned that he won't have my interests at heart.
2. What are the chances of your being hired by another an airline or aviation company in the next six months? If he says that he's got a good chance of being hired by a commuter airline in the next six months, then you know that there's a very good chance he won't be around long enough to see you through private training. If he says that it's very unlikely that he'll be hired in the next six months, then he might be around long enough to take you to the private pilot level.
3. How many private pilots have you trained and how many have passed their checkride on the first attempt? If the person hasn't trained any private pilot students, then he's either a new CFI or he doesn't prefer primary training. A new CFI is often very enthusiastic and for this reason alone he or she could do a great job for you. Sure, he or she is new, but the possibility exists that he can teach you to fly at least as well as he can, right? That's a good thing. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with looking for someone with experience if it pleases you. I'd be worried if this person trains private pilots and has had more than three out of 10 fail on their first attempt. In this instance it might be wise to look for someone with an "A" or "B+" or even a "B" average instead of a below "C" average.
4. How many hours will it take for me to solo if I fly three times a week and learn in the simplest airplane available? The answer to this question, even in a tower-controlled environment, varies but it should be around 14-18 hours. If you are told that it will take typically 25 hours, then this should raise an eyebrow. It shouldn't take 25 hours or more to solo when flying frequently in a simple airplane (assuming that you don't have any learning difficulties or personal struggles to cope with).
5. What is the average length of time and how many hours does it take your typical student to obtain his or her private pilot certificate? The national average for the private license is around 70.1 hours, but there are instructors who can put people through in under 50 hours within a five- to six-month period. Sure, weather, availability, training schedules, and so on can all affect this time, but if 70.1 hours is the average, then half the students complete their training in less than this time. There's no reason you shouldn't be in this half. If the CFI says that his students take 70-plus hours, then I'd check around for someone with more favorable numbers. If this person says that it takes about a year to obtain a private pilot certificate, then this isn't the person for you. Most people plan to spend no more than six months to complete private pilot training.
6. If you assume that I'm your average typical student, and if we assume that I might have the problems of an average typical student, what areas of difficulty might I expect to encounter during flight training? The response to this question will tell you a lot about this person's teaching personality. If he says that "most" students are lazy and don't work hard enough, then he or she is likely not a good manager or motivator. The fact is that most people who pay money to learn aren't lazy and do indeed want to work hard. If you're told that "most" folks are afraid of stalls and emergency procedures, then this person may have difficulty assuaging the anxieties of his students. The fact is that most people aren't frightened of stalls and emergency procedures if their CFI is sensitive enough to explain them properly and introduce them correctly.
And if the CFI says that it takes a long time to learn how to land, then you want to be suspicious here, too. It doesn't take a long time to learn how to land. In fact, given accommodating weather, a capable student can learn how to land in about four to five hours of pattern work. So use a bit of common sense here. If the CFI is emphatic about specific areas where his students struggle and have difficulties, then compare this with what other CFIs have told you. It's quite possible that this person has problems teaching in these areas. If the CFI says that most students have general challenges but these are nothing that can't be overcome, that is the type of attitude you're looking for.
7. Tell me about your best and your worst students and why they became the best and worst. This will tell you a lot about the CFI himself. It's a variation on question six, but it can also provide you with insights into what this CFI likes or dislikes in his students. If the instructor says that he likes students who are understanding if he loses patience or is late, it's possible that he's a hothead and is late a lot. If this CFI says that he likes students who are serious about learning to fly, then he is probably serious about teaching, too. So listen carefully to his responses, and let your gut tell you whether or not this person is right for you.
8. On average, how much ground instruction do you do on every lesson? If the CFI says that he does very little ground instruction and suggests that the student's homework should cover this, then this isn't the person you want to fly with. The fact is that good CFIs do both a preflight briefing and a postflight debriefing. That's ground instruction. It's not unreasonable to have at least one hour's worth of ground instruction (which you'll rightly pay for, of course) for every 1.0 to 2.0 hours of flight time.
9. Could I talk with three of your previous private pilot students? If he says no or makes it seem that such a thing wouldn't be possible, then consider flying with someone else. If he says yes, then interview these students or former students. Ask them about the quality of training they received. This will provide an excellent window into the training style of this individual. If the previous students suggest that this CFI has a problem with patience and tends to yell, then find another CFI.
Keep in mind that you're looking for specific trends in the answers given above. Stop, look, and listen carefully, and let your gut guide you. Finally, ask yourself if you'd like to spend 40-plus hours in the cockpit and under the supervision of this person while learning how to fly. If not, then find someone else. If you feel that this person is right for you, then agree to fly with him or her for no more than three lessons up front, after which time you'll commit to the rest of the training if the relationship is working out. At least this gives you a chance to escape if you feel he or she isn't right for you.
Don't go in snow
Dear Rod:
I've often fantasized about the following made-up scenario. My aunt (who lives in Nebraska, while I'm in St. Louis) is starting a road trip to visit us, and it's almost a blizzard. Her car happens to break down in front of an airport, and she calls me saying that she is not going to get to St. Louis for Christmas. Little does she know that her own nephew has his own pilot certificate and Cessna 172. I fly up to the rescue. Scenario is over. My question is, If I needed to be able to fly in any weather condition in a Cessna 172, could I stop at the private certificate, or is the instrument rating needed for this?
Sincerely,
Sam
Greetings Sam:
If you want to fly in "any" weather condition, you can save a lot of time and money and stop right now.
You can do a lot with just a private rating and no instrument rating. Unfortunately, this doesn't include rescuing your aunt in "almost a blizzard" conditions. Leave this activity to the superhero airlines. On the other hand, as long as you have the time to wait out bad weather, there's very little you can't do as a private pilot, and that's a fact.
The most important point to be made here is that an instrument rating doesn't allow you to fly in any kind of weather in a small airplane, even if it has a roll bar and the headsets you wear are like helmets. In most small airplanes, your instrument rating allows you to fly in some weather, but certainly not all. That said, it's better to have an instrument rating than to not have one.
Rod Machado is a flight instructor, author, educator, and speaker. A pilot since 1970 and a CFI since 1973, he has flown more than 8,000 hours and owns a Beech A36 Bonanza. Visit his Web site.
