Your instructor needs to go, find another one buddy. Do not fret, you'll get through it.

The thing that always got me through my training, and what i would always tell my students when i was a CFI was to think about the end, and the means will be come much more clear.

Becoming a professional aviator is not an easy task. Always keep your chin up because there WILL be times where you feel as if this isn't for you. But if you want it to be, then it can be.

At 10 hours, you should be more concentrated on basic aircraft control, radio calls, and procedures for recovery from stalls. Do not worry about your solo, it'll happen when it happens. I solo'd 3 months after i started training, which was behind EVERYONE in my class who started in Sep. I finished before all but 3 of them, and was the 1st hired to a regional airline. It is NOT a race, although some of your peers will make you feel that way.

Blue skies and light wind my friend..and don't forget to get rid of that instructor, you'll be AMAZED at how much of a difference a comfortable cockpit environment can make on your learnings

 

The only time I ever yelled at a student was when they did something that put my life in danger and/or were blatently disregarding safety.

In two years of instructing, I had to do this three times. In all three cases they were working on advanced ratings (already had at least a pvt) and I had just picked them up from another instructor.

LAFF will lead you to believe that we just want to milk time out of you. Guess what? Pattern work doesn't do much for us after a while. Having you progress to cross countries, night flying and getting your private to move on to instrument training is much better for our career as well.

Personalities don't always mesh. Working through my ratings I had two instructors that I didn't work well with and changed them as soon as possible. The difference was night and day. You're spending a ton of money, you deserve what fits your learning style and will get you through most efficiently because the flight school will make more money in the long run if you're happy, progressing and continuing to advance your abilities.

 

I don't agree with ever yelling at a student unless they intentionally do something dangerous..or as said, have a blatant disregard for safety..if you only have 10 hours..you really can't make these calls yet..and the mistakes you make need to be learned from...that will never occur with an instructor yelling at you..it creates an extremely hostile cockpit, and an emotional shutdown by the student.

 

There is no yelling allowed in my case. Not just in CFI, but AT ALL. Boss, teacher, random person.. If they begin rasing their voice, and getting all heated up - I got to go, without even thinking twice.

About solo - I always thought (in my case) that I am not going to chase the time and numbers, but rather enjoy flying, and solo WHEN I THINK I'M READY.

My instructor told me to land the plane, because he wants to solo me. I said "No, i enjoy flying, but i'm not ready to solo yet. Give me at least one more lesson, and don't even think touching controls, unless you KNOW that i will crash". Next lesson did 4 landings, with 3knts xwing, and told my instructor that he can go, because i'm ready to solo. He got out, I did couple of landings, and wasn't even nervous. Why? Because I was enjoying it, and knew that I was in control.

Oh, and yea, it was on 26th hour I believe.

If I didn't feel comfortable - I wouldn't have soloed even 50th hour, and not feel bad. Yea, it takes money, and time. But I'm enjoying it, so willing to pay our of my wallet. No need to push it "Ok, i am on 15th hour, i HAVE to solo on my next flight". That will just ruin your day, you'll get frustrated, will kick yourself, and instead of joy it becomes a race that you'll never win..


Relax, and enjoy the experiense!

 

I will preface this by saying I have never instructed. I have, however, had a lot of experience with many different instructors (civilian and military) and have seen many different methods for instruction and have read a bit on instructing.

I have yet to see anyone respond well to constant yelling. Feelings of anger, frustration, resentment, and questioning yourself as to why you are paying to feel that way get in the way of learning. I have been there. It isn't necessarily even the yelling. Making students feel like an idiot or using tones of voice which are negative typically detract from the learning process. Sometimes, though, being firm or letting students know they screwed up is necessary, but that should be a learning point and point of discussion in table talk. There are other ways to get points across. Oh, and if students do something that endanger lives of themselves and instructors, my opinion is all bets are off and yelling is fine so long as it is discussed later, resolved, and lessons were learned.

As for the OP questioning continuing training, I would recommend getting another CFI who isn't a yeller and by all means get through at least your solo before you give up flying. Once I didn't have someone constantly yapping at me to make corrections, I seemed to enjoy it a lot more and pay more attention to things. I felt a great deal more responsibility and suddenly all the things he was teaching came together. It is a big step and if you don't experience that, you might shortchange yourself before making a more informed decision. And, as you fly/learn more, all the things you may be struggling with now will become second nature and you can enjoy it a lot more.

Just my inexperienced $.02.

 

It sounds like your instructor doesn't have a good personality for teaching. Instead of yelling at you, they should instead be constructive in their criticism in a way that allows you to improve and not be intimidated by someone's attitude.

Tell them this for their own benefit and if they take it well, then maybe you can keep flying with them. If not get a new instructor. I think however, an instructor needs to know where they need to improve just as the student does. Teaching is a skill as is flying.

 

Some of this got me thinking, for I had a case where I literally yelled at a student. Mind you he was in a professional flight program, had 150-ish hours, had been operating out of this airport for a year. This kid was lazy, and just wasn't putting forth the effort I thought, and honestly I think it was because this training was just being handed to him.

Basically this kid needed a fire lit under his ass, and I was the one that did it. Sometimes it's warrented, and this case I know it was effective because he handled himself in a much more professional manner and actually had a drive to improve himself.

 

Flight training centers aren't really better if you are looking for relaxed and laid back. Most of the instructors there have more students than they feel like they can handle, and often have issues with getting planes, etc. In addition, they are in the middle ground between the school's management and the students who are paying for training. It's often easiest to vent at students since they are LESS apt to leave or switch in this environment. By the way, this is from personal experience as both a student and now as an instructor. Stand up for yourself and find someone you can work with.

 

short what you're going through is completely normal and i'm glad you posted it up here. There is nothing wrong with you feeling nervous up there. When you start flying being up in the air in something smaller than a Honda Civic at 3,500 scares anybody. Your nerves will greatly improve especially after you solo the thing in the pattern a few times.

When I was flying at the University I soloed in about 10 hours. Then when I went back home to the FBO I had a CFI who also started yelling at me from taxi to runup, throughout the whole flight, with no constructive feedback just yelling. I canned the loser CFI went back to my old flight program at the University and immediatley started my solo cross countries.

Short ask around and find out how many people have actually soloed and or completed their private pilot under this guy? My original CFI was hard on me but he had me soloed in 10 hours. The guy is a shady character too he has like 2000 tt 200 multi and keeps getting denied to Mesa, Colgan, Comair, XJT. etc. He must have something on his record is all I can fathom.

Back to my good CFI (and trust me they are out there you just have to look) At one point I was having nerves too about leaving the pattern and getting lost. Something that seems silly now but was a big concern back then. I talked to him about it and he really helped me out. Try and stay away from people who teach people to fly and find a CFI who teaches people to become Pilots. Next time your at the FBO shopping around look around at the students and the CFI's. If you see a CFI with many students doing cross country planning and stuff you may want to take a ride with them. You can do stalls and touch'n'goes till you are blue in the head. Being an airman is way beyond that its like a way of thinking on your own and problem solving. Thats what you need to learn.. Not be yelled at because you didn't hit the carb heat in time or turned downwind too soon.

 

Good post...