Switching instructors?

Try another instructor, you will definitely benefit from it. The fact that
you have had more than an average number of flakes is just luck. I've had 7
instructors so far and I definitely know what a good instructor is and what
a bad instructor is. I should add this, I only have two ratings. I had one
instructor completely quit his aviation career because he couldn't handle
the idea that some students are more advanced,( like me), and need to be let
go a little earlier than textbook training. I've learned so many stories and
stupid mistakes not to make by having so many instructors. It's wonderful,
it's like being molded into the golden aviator if you can soak experienced
words they give out. You wont regret going after another instructor.
"Dave Jacobowitz" wrote in message
om...
Here's a question for the group: I've got a flight instructor that I
work well with. I finished my private with him and did my entire
instrument rating with him. I want to start on my commercial (SE, and
then CFI, CFII, and later ME) and was wondering if there is any good
reason to look for someone new to train with.

To give some background, when working on my private I had some bad
luck. The first guy I worked with was a timebuilder. I don't even want
to say how many hours I had before I soloed, suffice it so say that I
was probably taken advantage of. Later, he got an job with a commuter
in Florida, and was gone. My second instructor, who soloed me probably
on my second or third lesson (hmm...) was a good guy, but he had to
relocate when his job at UAL went away. (he wasn't a pilot, but an
A&P).

Anyway, my current instructor is good. He's definitely of the
old-school mold: great stick, kind of irritable, smart, ATP gazillion
hours, nitpicky, occasionally absent-minded, has some strange ideas
about how the world does/ought to work He's one of those guys who
is happy to fly GPS approaches, but can't quite mask his derision for
pilots who "need to see the little airplane on the moving map." Of
course, we all know he has a point, but he's not the most politic
person in the world.

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?

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)

Also, I just like to pursue ratings, because I enjoy the challenge and
the learning.

Just soliciting opinions... What do you guys think?


thanks!

jacobowitz73 --at-- yahoo --dot-- com




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Dave Jacobowitz wrote:

Here's a question for the group: I've got a flight instructor that I
work well with. I finished my private with him and did my entire
instrument rating with him. I want to start on my commercial (SE, and
then CFI, CFII, and later ME) and was wondering if there is any good
reason to look for someone new to train with.

I'd say no. This guy has proven that he can teach you and you've proven that you
learn well from him. If you want a different experience, wait 'til you need a BFR and
go up with someone else.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

(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

Hey, thanks to everyone who responded to my message! I got a lot of
interesting perspectives and idea. I think one thing I know for sure
is that I probably should start flying with more pilots in general,
not just/necessarily a new instructor.

Anybody in the Bay Area looking for a new flying pal?

-- dave