Since You Asked

Rod:
Help! I am having a difficult time with aviation English and especially with listening to air traffic controllers. Are there any programs, classes, devices, tools, or liquids that can help me master the aviation lingo quickly? I’m from Mexico, I speak OK English, and I desperately want to fly.
Jessie

Greetings Jessie:
First, there are no liquids to help you learn English. In fact, most liquids that come in a can will only help distort your English. Avoid these, except during football season.

Over the years, I’ve recommended many different programs to help pilots with similar issues. I have another “newer” recommendation to add to the mix. You might consider using PilotEdge. This is software for your computer that integrates with Microsoft Flight Simulator. (Obtain a copy of Flight Simulator and a joystick if you don’t already have these.)

PilotEdge allows you to connect to its server and work with live individuals who talk and act like authentic air traffic controllers. The cost is about $20 a month, but it might only take you a month or so to polish your aviation communication skills. It’s well worth the money!

Rod:
I’m hoping you can provide some advice. My CFI has been with me for the last nine of his 30 years as a full-time, independent instructor. He’s a good man, keeping me safe as well as proficient. Unfortunately, the flight school where I rent airplanes has discontinued any association with independent instructors, opting instead to use the school’s resident instructors. I do understand the economic benefits to the school, but I’d rather rent their airplanes (I’m a private pilot and am current to act as PIC), giving them the benefit of the rental while I provide my own instructor. All requests to allow me to use my own instructor have gone unanswered. Any idea about how best to handle this situation?
No Name Given

Greetings No Name:
The best solution here is to obtain the blessing of your school to bring in your own instructor. It should be an easy sell, since you’re already rated and current.

But no one at the school is talking to you, right? Therefore, the next best solution is to bring your CFI along as a passenger, and don’t be like the kamikaze pilot—the kind of fellow who has to do all his bragging ahead of time. Keep it to yourself. It’s no one’s business whom you carry in the airplane as long as you are the one acting as the legal PIC on that flight and are not abrogating any of the flight school’s rules.

Your personal flight instructor doesn’t need to act as PIC to give you flight instruction. Therefore, you should still be covered by the school’s renter insurance, unless there is a specific exemption on that insurance policy that states otherwise (which I doubt there is). Nevertheless, you should ask to read the policy, which is your right to do.

Rod:
I have 23 hours over 16 lessons and have been working on landings with my instructor for the past five lessons. To date, he has not let me land the airplane all by myself, not even once. At least it seems that way to me. His hands are always on the controls to some degree or another. Is this normal?
Stephanie

Greetings Stephanie:
No, it’s not normal. How can you be expected to land if the instructor won’t let you land? You can’t. The problem is that some instructors simply don’t have the confidence to allow their students to land or attempt a landing.

Sure, the instructor will grab and manipulate the controls if the airplane (ahem, “student”) looks like it’s doing something improper. Until then, however, the instructor should let the student fly. So, here’s what I want you to do.

Inform your instructor that you need for him (if it’s a him, in this instance) to keep his hands off the controls during landing practice unless the airplane and/or its occupants are in danger. Make sure he understands that he is being paid to help you learn to land, not to “help” you land. Say this in a respectful way, and he should understand. You may have to remind him more than once to obtain his compliance. Ultimately, if he doesn’t change his behavior, it’s time to find another instructor.

Rod Machado is a flight instructor, author, educator, and speaker. Check out his CFI affiliate program online.