Got a bad feeling about Multi Instructing
 

Well I have been on here for while, sign on at least once every two days, but I don't post very often... So this is new for me....

Anywho, I have been instructing for a year now and I just got my MEI cert., last friday(yay me). Now I have my first multi student on Monday, and let me be frank. I'm a bit nervous about getting into some brown stuff my toosh can't cash.

So is there any advice from some experienced instructors out there, that have been around the block a couple of times, or any horror stories that you will be willing to share?

- Joel

Yes. Your student will be more apprehensive than you. They will look to you for confidence. You need to show that.

It is the most fun instructing you will do. Have fun and know you'll be fine.

Put the landing gear down EVERY TIME before you land!

The serious part is that you never let your guard down. You take controls or reverse the compounding situation before it ever gets close to anything bad. Come up with strategies and methods to minimize how overwhelmed students get with the speed, complexity, aerodynamics, and other flight characteristics. Always leave yourself an "out".

You will quickly learn that the good, solid students are the one's you ought to worry about...
The scary students will keep you on your toes...it's really no different than any other form of instructing...

Cheers
George

^^^^^What he said. And KEEP THE BALL CENTERED.

IMO, you earned your MEI, now use it to help others. Being nervous and experiencing anxiety is normal....in any given situation such as this or similar to it.

You'll do just fine. Blue skies.



atp

When you fail an engine block the opposite rudder.

For example, if you fail the left engine put a little pressure on the right pedal, not enough to move it, but enough to prevent it from moving after. So if your student pushes the wrong rudder your foot will be there to stop it.

If you are worried about improper engine out response at low altitude, your apprehension is a sign you are not ready for the worst case of a new student pulling the wrong throttle, stomping the wrong rudder and rolling the plane. The latter can of course quickly devolve into an unrecoverable spin. Even docile trainer twins have been lost this way, I recall an AllATPs Seminole a few years ago rolling over to a loss. The thing to do is get a more advanced MEI to take a short ride with you, you on the right him on the left, and have him deliberately demonstrate improper student engine-out response recovery. If he knows the airplane well he should be able to let it go pretty far to let you see what can happen, how it happens, and what to do to prevent or stop it. When you have that experience, the rest is easy because nothing can be more dangerous.

As everyone said above, never let your guard down. There is 2 types of instructing in multi. High alert and very high alert. I've had great students start to spin us on the power on stalls, students try to feather the wrong engine, feather the prop on the ground, you name it.

Just be alert at all times. Especially for power on stalls, accelerated stalls, and engine failures at low altitude. It also depends on the trainer, because ones like the aztec are one of the most forgiving aircraft with a slow spin entry, which is easy to detect.

Be extra alert on the new PTS for accelerated stalls. I haven't had anything bad happen yet, but this maneuver is probably my worst fear. Be absolutely sure the ball is centered as said before.

And I've had a bad feeling now that I'm starting my ME addon! Who would have thunk that one of aviations scariest moments is learning to fly with a spare engine! :p