"Platoon" instructing versus dedicated...

On Thu, 31 May 2012 17:50:39 -0700, noel.wade wrote:

Let me try to put a different spin on this topic:

For those of you doing the "platoon" system, two big questions:

1) How do you get around the fact that when a student flies with an
instructor they haven't seen in a couple of months the instructor

As I already said, I think this is helped a lot in my club by the fact
that all UK instructors teach the same syllabus and will write notes in
the student's log book about what was taught and, less commonly, about
things that he things need more work.

2) Relying on students to be "self-motivated" or "design their own
lesson plans" only works if the students know what the hell they're
supposed to be doing next, or concentrating on.

This simply doesn't happen for the reasons given above. As my club
teaches on the winch, and its quite usual to be solo well before getting
an aero tow sign-off (I got mine a year after going solo). A result is
that a student will do 2-3 launches on the trot and there will normally
be an extensive debrief at the end of that set.

3) For those who moved to scheduled training: Do you do anything social
in your club to support the social-scene other than having a
launch-line? Do you think events like BBQs or Seminars or Mentoring
sessions would help?

Some things get rolled into the booking. A pre-solo booking is always for
a half day and assigns two students to an instructor and glider. We never
roster for less than two instructors + gliders plus a launch marshal,
assistant launch marshal, winch driver and tuggie. Trial flights don't
normally interfe they use a third glider and instructor, who may be
available for training if only a few trial flights have been booked.

If you take a morning booking you're expected to be there for the hangar
unpack, DI, and setting up the airfield. Similarly, afternoon bookings
expect the student to help with clearing the field, washing the gliders
and hangar packing.

The upshot of all this is that there should be enough people to help with
driving the cable truck, moving gliders and there's a bit of time for the
group of students socialise among themselves and with other club members
who are on duty or just hanging out.

We also run flying evenings twice a week during the season - all off the
winch for noise reasons - which are part training and part social,
especially as there is usually food involved and these sessions often end
with a pint in a local pub.

4) For those who talk about scheduled training causing them to come out
less-often: What about supplementing your in-air experiences with
flight simulators or ground-instruction (in-person, on the phone,
online, etc)?

Some members use Condor over winter, but the club doesn't have a
simulator despite it getting discussed from time to time.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |