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Old December 16th 04, 12:10 AM
Nyal Williams
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At 00:00 16 December 2004, Michel Talon wrote:
wrote:
Ah, you really don't need to be X-C pilot to teach
the fundamentals of
flight. In fact, so long as an instructor is dedicated
to his art, that
is, teaching, he can take most students quite far
without any X-C
experience of his own.

Is he a better instructor for having done it himself?
Of course, and so
I would encourage him to expand his own horizons.
But I wouldn't be too
hasty to disqualify him because he has little or no
X-C experience...


I suppose you are an instructor for saying such crap.
One of the reasons
why soaring is not going too well is the existence
of instructors of
this sort. In my opinion an instructor who is not proficient
in XC is
totally disqualified to teach soaring, because he doesn't
know squat in
what is the essence of soaring. I had the chance of
getting some
lessons with an instructor who was both young and dedicated
to XC, this
changed everything in my perception of the sport and
i understood i had
completely lost my time with the other guys.

Michel TALON


But your own experience does not qualify you to make
such a broad generalization. Perhaps you did not get
to the new instructor early enough.

Beginning piano students do not need a teacher from
Juilliard or the French Conservatory. If the teacher
is good and enthusiastic the student will learn the
fundamentals and enjoy the experience. A good teacher
will release a student to learn what the teacher cannot
teach and will suggest further training elsewhere.

The beginner in school does not need a calculus professor
to teach basic arithmetic.

I do agree that the initial instructor must have enthusiasm
for the work and must teach a wider vision than just
the maneuvers being taught.

Your experience may well have been unfortunate but
it does not represent everyone's experience.

We would do well in the USA to have a two-tier instructor
level, but all of aviation is organized differently
here. SSA is attempting to increase the number of
'Master Instructors' who can teach XC flying and it
is very much needed.

Lets not insult all the instructors who are teaching
basic flying techniques. The earliest teaching is
the most significant for attitude and for safe flying.