Switching instructors?

(Dave Jacobowitz) wrote
So, I get along with this guy, and I've done two ratings with him, so
the question is if there really is anything to be gained by finding
somebody else to fly with someone new, just for a different
perspective? Different style of piloting? I suspect that the answer is
yes, but is it worth it? What are the odds that the next guy I fly
with is going to be a flake?

Getting a differfent perspective on flying styles (and teaching
styles, since your goals include teaching) is definitely very valuable
- potentially. I say potentially because not all perspectives are
valuable. It's unfortunate but true that most instructors really have
little or nothing valuable to teach other than the passing of
checkrides. Not their fault - they simply lack experience.

I'm not sure what your odds are of getting a flake (and I'm not sure
what you mean by a flake) but your chances of getting an instructor
who knows very little about real flying (as opposed to passing
checkrides - not at all the same thing) are very high unless you are
very careful. I recommend you discuss your concerns with your
instructor (trust me, he will recognize them as legitimate) and ask
him to recommend someone.

It probably helps to share my long-term goals. I do *not* want to be
an airline pilot. I have another career, which, though not the stuff
of dreams, pays nicely. What I do want to do is get my CFI and have a
student or two at a time, flying weekends, etc, maybe have a part-time
income for when I'm "retired." Sometimes I think that maybe I could do
some corporate flying one day if I one the lottery first. (or my
company went IPO, which has seems to have similar odds)

I know exactly where you are coming from - I was there, and I'm now
where you want to be. I'm very glad that I flew with a variety of
instructors rather than just one. Even very experienced pilots can
disagree on quite a few matters of technique, and it helps to see as
many sides of the issue as possible. On the other hand, I've also
flown with my share of low time pilots trying to be instructors.
Can't say I learned anything particularly valuable from most of them.

So basically, my advice is you should fly with other instructors - but
only if you can find ones who are worthwhile.

Michael