"Platoon" instructing versus dedicated...
On Wed, 30 May 2012 06:40:02 -0700, JC wrote:
Interesting thread..
Getting [newly qualified pilots] to stay is what we see as the
biggest problem. My opinion is that for many people the sport just takes
too much commitment.
A view from across the pond. I've heard it said that the smaller, weekend-
only UK clubs have a similar problem, but that's just hearsay because I
haven't experienced that.
I was lucky: I joined my club because I wanted to learn in glass and it
was the only nearby club with an ASK-21 and a G.103. My first gliding
experience was in an ASK-13 - I think they're OK, but they didn't grab me
and still don't. I was lucky because, when I knew enough to understand
gliding I realized that, unlike a number of the smaller clubs, my club
has a very strong XC orientation and the culture is very much that once
you're solo, OF COURSE you'll get your bronze badge, followed by the XC
qualification and then go for Silver, get into XC and start working on
your Gold and maybe try racing and/or become an instructor. IOW, there is
a defined way ahead: we don't leave a newly soloed pilot to bimble around
the airfield in two seaters or the SZD Juniors until they get bored and
leave. Of course, it also helps that the club has three good Standard
gliders (currently a Pegase, Discus, and ASW-24) which are expected to go
XC.
When I'd nearly got my Bronze and so was close to XC standard, it was
time of year for the local Regionals to be run on our field. The custom
was for the club's G.103 to be entered with an experienced XC pilot as P1
and a group of us, all at the same stage, got to crew for it. Each of us
got a day as P2. If your club runs a Regionals or equivalent on its field
consider doing the same: I can't think of a better way to show a new
pilot the joys of XC flying.
Oh yeah, we also use the 'platoon' instruction method but probably
without some of the faffing, since all instructors will have done BGA
courses and all will be teaching the syllabus in the BGA Instructors
Manual. So, if I hadn't flown with a particular instructor for a while, a
glance at my log book and a short chat told him where I was at and what I
needed to do next.
--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |
|