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#1
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Switching instructors?
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 |
#2
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I think trying different instructors is a good idea. During my primary I had
a couple different instructors before I settled on someone who did a great job & finished the private. He started me on the instrument, but due to time constraints I ended up finishing the IR with another instructor. I could see some similarities in styles & approaches (pun intended), but quite a few differences, too. Made for learning different ways of looking at things. Bottom line: Try someone new. If it isn't working out, dump 'em & go back to your current instructor. This current instructor shouldn't have a problem with you wanting to see different viewpoints on things. "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 |
#3
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"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 It never hurts to have a diversified instructor base, but the real truth of it is that once you have your Private and Instrument, going for the advanced ratings should pose you no particular problems if you keep the instructor you get along with. The Commercial is nothing more than a glorified Private. You learn some new maneuvers and learn to fly them to closer tolerances. It's not an instructional cornucopia of knowledge really :-) To be quite frank with you, I'd stay where you are comfortable at your stage. You should pretty well be past the point where the instructor is key in your learning process. At your stage, the instructor shows you a few new things and you do it...it's that simple. I have always likened the point where you are in your training to that of a fairly good figure skater who already can skate like a ballerina. The skater's coach is sort of like your instructor will be going for the Commercial. He'll demonstrate....and you'll do it. You will already know basically what to do from your present level of experience. The CFI will just coach....observe....and fine tune you....just like the case of the skater. Hell, most of those fat old skating coaches couldn't even get off the ice with one of those quad Lutz's they get paid to teach people how to perform!!! Commercial's about the same for the CFI. I would stay with the guy you like, do what you have to do to get the Commercial, then after you get it.....begin the self teaching process that is an absolute MUST to be a GOOD Commercial Pilot!! :-)) Dudley Henriques International Fighter Pilots Fellowship for email; take out the trash |
#4
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"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 You get a different view point from a different mindset and set of skills |
#5
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Dave, you wouldn't happen to be flying around Boston, would you? You just
described my CFII When I took my instrument checkride, I passed without any big issues, but afterwards the examiner suggested a few changes to my technique. For instance, I was taught to fly the ILS at about 72-75 knots (in a 172) and to reset the second NAV to track the localizer when I crossed the FAF unless I needed it for a fix. The examiner suggested I fly the approach at higher airspeed and not bother backing up the localizer as "you're just giving yourself more work to do." He also suggested that I not tell my CFII that he told me so, and I know they know each other well. Haven't changed my technique so far but have thought about it. I think the biggest risk of sticking with one guy, particularly like these kinds of guys, is that you acquire some of the same bees they have in their bonnet. My guy can't stand "plastic airplanes" and swears he'd take round gauges over a glass cockpit any day. On the other hand, this is a guy who's flown thousands of hours in real IMC in small planes with 2 VORs and an ADF and can fly partial-panel so smoothly I think he's part bird. So my approach is when I don't understand why he tells me to do something, I ask him to explain it and then make my own decision. Fortunately I end up agreeing with him far more often than not, as I suspect you would with your guy if you've stuck with him this far. -cwk. |
#6
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"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. [...] Just soliciting opinions... What do you guys think? Nothing wrong with sticking with what works, if you want to do that. However, I will say that I've learned something new from every single instructor I've flown with, and in many cases, it's something I never would have learned from my previous instructor. As others point out, exposure to diversity of knowledge and opinions is a great way to broaden your own abilities and "bag of tricks". So, if you're ready to "leave the nest" so to speak, explain to your current instructor that, while you have nothing but great things to say about him, that you'd really appreciate it if he'd recommend another instructor for you to work with so that you can be exposed to some variety in your training. If he's as great a guy as you believe him to be, he'll be in favor of the idea and will provide a good recommendation for someone who may not think or fly exactly the way he does, but who still fits your learning style and personality. Pete |
#8
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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 ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups ---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =--- |
#9
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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. |
#10
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I think trying different instructors is a good idea. The instructor who soloed me was my fourth (flight school closed down; airlines; etc) and has since become a friend and counselor. I'm sure I could manage if he retired, but I would miss him. I certainly wouldn't want to swap him for any of the three who preceded him! On the other hand, I've done two "courses" elsewhere, aerbatics/stalls and bush flying, and they were great experiences. So yes, it is useful to fly with somebody new. all the best -- Dan Ford email: (put Cubdriver in subject line) Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com the blog www.danford.net |
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