Open Discussion; Creating XC pilots

I'm happy to report that the last person I mentored in the Duo was 15 miles out from the airport yesterday in the 1-26. Not technically XC since he remained above glide, but the tutoring and confidence building in finding and working lift and strategies for getting up paid off. He spent 3.8 hours in the 1-26 I think and I've signed him off to step up into the Russia for a bit longer legs.

Really nice to see someone progressing safely and smartly.

Took another person up yesterday for 3+ hours of XC and their longest flight. This was a CFIG that doesn't get to go XC much from his home glider port so it was a good learning experience for him. Even included a near land out in a remote valley. Thankfully avoided adding that to my list of mentoring accomplishments and instead just gave the Low Save experience.

Of note, a great source of good glider pilots might be helicopter pilots. Every helicopter pilot I've flown with has had excellent stick and rudder skills and a very light touch.





On Monday, July 21, 2014 9:27:46 AM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
Instructors can have a lot to do with a new pilot developing a fear of XC in that even if they aren't overtly hostile to XC, they convey their own fears of XC in many subtle ways such as tone of voice, body language, or just the way a training syllabus is presented. Primacy embeds this fear in students in a way that is very difficult to overcome later. The same is true of group dynamics. If the student is surrounded with club members who fear XC, (Perhaps because they were trained by an XC-hostile instructor.) it's likely they will pick up on this and become fearful themselves. Taken together, you have a self-perpetuating fear of XC.



The solution is to insist on instructors who are enthusiastic about XC and to elevate the status and influence of successful XC pilots so they tend to dominate group dynamics.



FAI badges can facilitate this. I'd like to see a club environment where badges are worn proudly - especially by instructors.