Consistent Student Syllabus?

Hi Mark,

I'm a CFI here in the states. I use the Transport Canada program,
modified a bit to reflect the needs of the US FAA, with most of my
'independent' students. Most CFIs in the US have a fairly wide latitude
to tailor their instruction to the individual needs of the students.
The 'objective' standards required to earn the US Private Pilot are
outlined in the FAA's 'Practical Test Standards' (PTS), which describes
the competency level, tolerences, and manevuers the candidate will be
tested on. The FAA knowledge test is very well known, and almost all
CFIs know what level of knowledge is required to pass the test, so we
try to teach that at a very minimum; it really isn't enough, butb many
of us see that as a minimum starting point.

Many flight schools have 'standardized' curricula, and there are
several published ones available from different sources. Generally,
regardless of the specific curricula used (including 'home-rolled' ones
created by independent CFIs), the progress and transition scheme is the
same: Basic straight/level flight, then turns/climbs, then stalls, then
manevuers, etc....

But CFIs are highly trained professionals. We have to use our
professional knowledge to modify and adopt *any* syllabus or program to
the individual student; it's virtually impossible to say "During lesson
4, every student will exhibit a knowledge of Power-On stalls...."

Student performance varies widely. I have had students who picked up
normal landings in a single lesson. I have had others who took 5 or 6
lessons to get to the same point. Was the former the 'better' pilot?
Actually no. He just got to a certain point faster. But I would have
served *neither* student well, if I blindly adhered to a schedule that
made the first student spend 3 hours on something he had mstered in 1,
and allowed the second student only 3 hours for something he needed six
for.

Most CFIs have a plan for the progress of their students. We know what
skills they need, and how to tach them those skills. But we also know
that flexibility is one of the most vital attributes of both pilots and
instructors. So, I guess the answer to your question is 'sort-of'.

Cheers,

Cap