Pamela Griffen
San Diego, California
Attracting and keeping students
In response to Ralph Hood's "Professionally Speaking: Business Basics" (May 2008 AOPA Flight Training), I offer a few of my own ideas.
A flight school and instructor are simply a business. We provide a service, and we support each other in providing that service to our students. The basic concepts of customer satisfaction apply. If you provide a product that the customer wants, priced fairly, and offered in an attractive package, the customer will come in the door. Retaining them takes the commitment of time, energy, and interest in satisfying the student.
It is imperative that the first impression of the school, the instructor, and the aircraft be a positive one. This means setting a positive tone from the first contact. Everything we say or do must imply "we care" about the student's dream. Learning to fly is seldom a spur-of-the-moment decision. Most people have nurtured their dream for years. I don't consider myself "just" a flight instructor; I make people's dreams come true.
I further the student's excitement by allowing my passion to show. I would never dream of being late for my student's lesson. I nurture open and honest communication. If the student feels they are not learning or are uncomfortable with me, they are always encouraged to let me know. They must always feel that I will take their concerns into account before my own.
There is no secret to getting and retaining students. Treat the process of learning to fly as a business, handle the dreams of the student with compassion, know your subject matter, and (as simple as it seems) be on time. If you follow these simple ideas, I guarantee you will find success in your teaching career.
Robert (Bob) Wood
San Carlos, California
The significance of 10,000 feet
I was struck by an odd explanation for the difference in minimum visibility above 10,000 feet msl under basic VFR. In "Basic VFR" (April 2008 AOPA Flight Training), Wally Miller wrote: "But if you're flying above 10,000 feet msl, you need five (not three) statute miles visibility to be able to fly VFR. Why is that? You need two additional miles of visibility above 10,000 feet because airplanes at the same indicated airspeed are actually flying faster above 10,000 feet than they are at lower altitudes...true airspeed increases over indicated airspeed at about 2 percent per 1,000 feet as you climb in standard atmospheric conditions. So you're actually flying about 20 percent faster at 10,000 feet than you are at sea level for the same indicated airspeed. That 20 percent could mean the difference between whether or not you can see an airplane or obstacle in time to avoid it."
This is the first time I've ever encountered the difference between TAS and IAS as the reason for the greater minimum visibility (and by inference, wider margins from clouds). The usual (and more logical) explanation given is that at and above 10,000 feet msl the 250-knot IAS speed limit (FAR 91.117) doesn't apply. Traffic above 10,000 feet msl can (and frequently does) scream along at any speed less than Mach 1. You therefore need greater visibility and cloud clearance under VFR.
Bruce Williams
Seattle, Washington
Errata
"Basic VFR" (April 2008 AOPA Flight Training) contained some incorrect visibility and cloud clearance requirements. In Class G at night, and more than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet msl during the day; Class E less than 10,000 feet msl; Class D; and Class C airspace, cloud clearance requirements are 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 2,000 feet horizontally.
In Class B airspace, minimum VFR visibility is three statute miles.
The FAR 91.113 explanation accompanying "Making Order of Chaos" (April 2008 AOPA Flight Training) should have listed "aircraft towing or refueling another aircraft" before "airship." Towing and refueling aircraft have the right of way over all other engine-driven aircraft.
"Instructor Report: Embracing Sport Pilot" (April 2008 AOPA Flight Training) should have stated that a sport pilot cross-country flight must be more than 25 nautical miles.
AOPA Flight Training regrets the errors.
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