CFIs are human, too

It’s important to remember that CFIs are human, too. And while they are generally comfortable with complete novices in the left seat, and exceedingly confident of their abilities to salvage (almost) any situation before it becomes unsafe, there are just some things that student pilots do that can make instructors question their life choices. Here are their greatest hits, in random order. Are you guilty of any of them?

1. Showing up late or unprepared for lessons and/or not listening to instructions

Not only are you wasting your instructor’s time, but you’re also wasting a ton of money. Be respectful of your CFI’s valiant efforts to get you in the air legally and safely, and your own wallet.

2. Doing checklists while moving on the ground

There is a time and a place for everything. Taxiing is not the right time or place to go through your checklists. Successfully multi-tasking in an airplane moving on the ground—one of the three critical phases of flight—is almost impossible, and outcomes are often unsatisfactory (or worse).

3. Flying “bomber” patterns

When flying a traffic pattern, stay within gliding distance of the airport environment just in case your engine quits on you. Your pattern does not need to be gigantic; you are not preparing for D-Day.

4. Using the push-to-talk button as a push-to-think button

Think first, talk afterwards. Keep it short. ’Nuf said.

5. Riding the brakes while taxiing

This is never a good idea. Not only is it a terrible habit, but it will also significantly reduce the life of your aircraft’s brake pads. Heels on the floor, folks.

6. Overconfidence without skill

Your mother always told you that you could do anything in life, and that’s wonderful. But in an airplane, it’s critically important to know your skills and stick to what you know unless your flight instructor tells you otherwise.

7. Not managing personal minimums

Write these down, revisit them often, and remain unshakable in heeding them. Things change with time, and so will your comfort level in the air (see number 6).

8. Not flying to the tiedowns

Student pilots sometimes tend to fly the aircraft to the flare and then give up on the last five feet before touching down, as if to say, “Done, yay!” No. Fly the aircraft until it stops moving.

9. “Cleaning up” the airplane when still on the runway

Don’t reach for the lever to retract the flaps until you’re off the runway and on the safe side of the hold-short line. Just don’t. Because the first time you fly an aircraft with retractable landing gear, you could be at high risk of engaging the wrong control and finding out the hard (and expensive!) way why that might not be your best idea ever. And if you do this on a checkride, your DPE will likely chuckle as he signs your disapproval notice.

10. Ignoring checklist discipline

I don’t care what your IQ is. I guarantee you’ll forget to do something at some point. That “something” could be innocuous, or it could be life- and mission-critical. So always, always, always use a checklist. (But not while taxiing! See number 2.)

Do you feel seen? Good. Keep these in mind ahead of your next flight lesson. Your instructor may not comment on the improvements, but she’ll definitely notice.

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