CFI or No. I am a bad teacher
 

I am finishing up my commercial within the next two weeks and will begin my multi engine training right after that. I have decided to forgo the CFI/II because I am an awful teacher. But a lot of people in this forum seem to think that if I do not get my CFI I will not be ready for the regional.
Would those of you that are captains say that there is a significant difference between the FOs that come in with and without their CFI?
I ask because my first concern is being a safe and competent pilot.

I thought the same thing when I started in on my CFI. Just practice, and learn the material inside and out. I've asked as many instructors as I can how they became good teachers and they all pretty much say it takes time, and practice. Nobody is going to be an all-star teacher right off the bat.

Here's what the CFI means to me.

Means you are willing to learn, by getting the CFI you are putting yourself at a higher level of flying skill. You will learn a ton by trying to teach!

Being a good teacher, and/or trying your hardest and putting forth good honest effort to teach are very noble things. People that do it just to do their paces, and are lack-luster at best with their motivation **** me off(Because it gives the rest of us a bad name).

I'll just state that I feel it's a great experience for all pilots that are wanting to move up in the ladder. Is it necessary, nope, but it does give you insight and skill you wouldn't have otherwise.

The best 99% of all aviation jobs involve crew operations...someday you will be a CA, eventually flying with a junior, inexperienced FO/Co-pilot. You will need some innate instructor ability to do that job. As others have said, it's not too hard to learn to be an instructor and it will pay dividends in this business.

If you really are a total anti-social lone-wolf type, you probably don't belong in a crew environment anyway. There are a few single-pilot jobs out there where you can make a living, but not much more than that,

No, I am not anti social. I am just skeptical of my teaching ability. I tried helping a friend in college learn differentials and in the end we were both frustrated. And that is far easier than teaching someone to fly!

"I tried helping a friend in college learn differentials"
"And that is far easier than teaching someone to fly!"

I've been a CFI since 1980 and the worst grade I got at Riddle was a C+ in Calculus for Aviators. I had two years of algebra based physics and did well in HS math, but calculus never made a bit of sense to me. I'm sure I couldn't teach someone differentials, either, but I could teach them how to fly. I guess it depends on your perspective, but I find flying much easier than calculus.

Math
 

I took a long list of math courses in college and got mostly Bs with a couple of As and a couple of Cs. One of the Cs was unfair, but nevermind. I loved math about as much as anything because there is always a definite numerical answer and you are either right or wrong, no in between. Math cuts to the truth; not much else in life does and that is the beauty of things described with numbers.

Math requires self-discipline and organization as a student... something which I happen to have had in my early thirties. I think most young people find math hard because they are quite not ready to do the kind of regular, daily study it requires. They are not incapable... they just do not have the ability to focus with all the other stuff they are worried about. Math courses can be brutal in the sense that although math is not all that hard it does require daily study, and young people are not that consistent usually. They think math is hard when it really has more to do with getting focused and taking it in.

A word from the Great Albert Einsten-

"Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater."

What a humble thing to say, just take heart and keep going.

Math was exciting to me as a student but I admit I had no true, deeper understanding of it other than memorize lengthy procedures to process equations and to use tricks given to me by the professors. In my defense I think that skill in mathematics is mostly the ability to drill and practice a lot... but my best work was in gaining an admiration for geniuses responsible for the building blocks of modern math. Sir Isaac Newton, L' Hospital, Euler, Cauchy, Fibonacci, and Laplace... these are the names.

My point is, if you are no good at math don't think you are no good. You may in fact be quite good at other things and one day be able to go back to math. Or not, whatever it is try to do it well and be happy you have a place in the world.

-Cub

When you were trying to teach math you were probably just winging it from your current knowledge. No plan of action or anything. The good part about the CFI is you learn how to organize a flight plan and you have everything prepared before you start the lesson. Take a look at the FAA Fundamentals of Instructing book and see if that helps you at all.

Also, even if you never log one hour of dual given, obtaining the CFI certificate will help you tremendously. You live in the FAR/AIM and Flying Handbook throughout training and really increase your knowledge in all areas. Actually teaching just adds to that knowlegde.

Its alright man. I am a garbage teacher. The day I passed my CFI checkride, was the first day that I remember hating flight instructing. But like these other guys said, it does help you learn SO much more. Just small things that you may never have paid any attention to or thought was important. I recomend doing getting the CFI. Especially the CFII as thats the stuff your gonna use most when you start working at an airline.

Being a CFI is almost like being the captain. :)

CFIs are gods
 

When I first started flying, I saw a poster that described pilots in various stages, my memory is fuzzy but it went something like this:

Student Pilot - can jump up if given two tries, not sure if the load bang is gunfire or gas, uses back of hand to wipe snot from his/her nose and has not heard about the gods.

Private Pilot - can jump over a wheel chock, can tell the difference between a pistol and a rifle, uses shirt sleeve to wipe snot from his/her nose and knows the gods exist.

Instrument rated, Multi-engine, Commercial Pilot - can leap a wheel pant, has shot a rifle, uses a rag to wipe snot from his/her nose and asks for the gods help when in trouble.

Airline Transport Pilot - can leap tall buildings, catch a speeding bullet between her/his teeth, always uses a tissue for the nose and regularly consults with the gods.

Certificated Flight Instructor - Is a god!

I have something like that somewhere. One of our professors gave it out. It always makes me laugh when I see it.

WHAT!!!!!:eek:

A "C+" in Calc.

I got a "B".:D

L3, don't worry about your ability to teach. Take the course and see what comes of it. I taught 6th, 7th & 8th grade Mathematics and Science. I thoroughly enjoyed making an impact in those kids lives.


atp

All my private instructor did was read word for word straight out of the brown jepp book. I could've have done that at home! What a total waste of money. Don't become an instructor if you are not 100% into it. There are other ways to build time and gain valuable experience prior to applying to the regionals. (just might take a little longer)

Being a good instructor takes time and effort. Don't slack off, try your best and know the material. I say that it takes about 3-4 months of teaching full time to get really good at instructing. You'll know that you can teach well when you get students that other instructors have trouble with.

I remember taking over and teaching a student who had flown the same lesson 12 times with another flight instructor. Needless to say, he had some issues, but none that couldn't be resolved in an hour of flight training by trying different things. This instructor had 50 hours as a CFI at that time and I had a 1000. People learn in different ways, what may work for one student may not work with another. As a flight instructor, you need to know how to convey the same message to a student in multiple ways.

I vote for getting your CFIs. :cool:

My personal belief is that you should get your CFI and start teaching if you feel strongly that you will be able to give your students their moneys worth. What I mean by that is will you be getting your CFI only to better yourself or will you have your student's goals in mind as well when they are footing the bill for your flying. As a fairly recent student, nothing was as apparent when I dealt with a CFI that was only trying to build time and was putting out the minimum effort. I have no doubt that if your attitude is right, your teaching skills will improve.

I have been instructing since september 2007. Its a great way to build experience, make some money and learn a ton. I have come to realize that it is an essential part of my learning. The opportunities that instructing offers will serve you well during the rest of your flying career. If you are not too excited about instructing try to think about it as a mandatory part of your learning...because in my opinion it was. And remember, you dont have to do it forever. Get as much as you can out of it, keep a positive attitude, then move on when you are ready.