Are CFIs personable?

On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:13:10 -0700, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

I was talking to a friend today about how difficult it is to find a
personable golf instructor. I'm a pretty so-so golfer and it really
turns me off that most instructors are very arrogant and stuck up. I
got to thinking that I sure hope students don't see CFIs the same way.
I've never considered myself better than my students so I sure help I
don't come off as arrogant in anyway. As a CFI I know that other CFIs
interact with me differently so I'm not sure I would know if other
CFIs are stuck up (as a CFI I often find that check out rides are
abbreviated, fees are reduced or instruction hours are under billed
for fellow CFIs).

I've never considered the holding of a CFI certificate to mean that
I'm any type of super pilot. In truth, anyone who takes enough
checkrides can get the certificate, its really something that any can
achieve. I hope other CFIs see it the same way.

-Robert, CFII

You sound like the kind of CFI that I would be looking for. My CFI
was very similar and I consider myself to be lucky in that regard. I'm
sure that there are both good and bad CFIs, as there are with all
walks of life, but I have run into some that are similar to your
generic golf instructor description. During several check-out rides I
have encountered CFIs (mostly young) who think that they are God's
gift to aviation and that everyone should be flying to ATP standards.
I can think of nothing that is as important to the prospective student
as finding a CFI who is not an arrogant "super pilot" and who
understands that he/she is not training to ATP or military standards.
By that, I don't mean to downplay the need for proficency, just that
one needs to walk (without being scared away) before he can run.
RNR