Is doing the training at night an option? You can still make out the lights but, he won't be pointing out landmarks and it could test his situational awareness. This worked really well in Florida where you could shoot any type of approach from over the water.

 

who gives a crap about the fact his father is an airline pilot. If the stud cant fly an ILS dont sign him off. And in reality and some point if it goes well beyond the normal learning curve perhaps the talk needs to be had that just maybe he is not cut out for instrument flying. I say put your foot down or show him the door.

 

Thanks for all the helpful responses. I truly appreciate it. First off, I am going to fly with him at night and see how things go. The guy is extremely lazy. I am most definitely spoon feeding him and it drives me off the wall. So far I have been a lucky CFI with a bunch of great students. Luckily the couple of bad apples I had either stopped flying or have switched instructors. My plan is to have a talk with him in the nicest way possible. He is more than half way into his training and I still need to talk him through procedures etc. If the bad habits continue and if he keeps messing up, then I will have him fly with another CFI to evaluate him. If all else fails, I will not sign him off period. The guy is obviously looking for an easy way out. "I just need to get my instrument rating" is what he says. If I were to sign him off then, I have no choice but to talk to my DPE and give him a heads up. It is a difficult situation. I may also try to trick him into putting a hood to see his true colors. I could say the DPE may bring a hood along or something like that...Again thanks.

 

I do not think that cracking down on this guy for cheating is really going to solve his problem, which is a serious fear of failure in light of his more successful father. He needs to learn that he "can" do it, can do it honestly, and that being honest is the better option.

He probably has a successful father who set the bar kind of high and who scares him as to how he will measure up as a pilot himself. I know that scenario myself, having had a father with two PhDs. It can be pretty intimidating. This guy needs to build self- reliance, you are going to have to teach it to him.

To remove the cheating aspect, try putting him in a simulator with no way to cheat for a while, and tell him you know he is cheating in the real airplane and this is for his own good so he does not kill himself when the crap hits the fan in real IMC. Teach him the standard IFR tricks, like imagining a line drawn from the course pointer to the top of the HSI to help manage turns to final on time.

You could turn a light on if you worked with him, make a solid pilot out of him. Above all, don't get mad, just accept his psychological weakness and go from there. People cheat when they feel they have no other option, unfortunately.

 

That was normal on our checkrides. I think there has been a lot of pressure let down on new candidates.

 

Lot said already about the cheating but hope you're billing him for this. If you showed up late for your accountant, dentist, doctor, psychologist, golf pro, personal trainer, Lawyer, etc. you'd get a bill.

I bill "contact time" (no distinction between ground/flight). But I don't stand around and drink coffee while you pre-flight either; I'm there every time asking questions, and getting paid for it. I understand emergencies, etc and I account for that but when it's a problem I start the clock. That usually solves the late problem.

Had to do this with a lawyer - when he squawked I turned it back on him, "would you bill hourly if YOUR client was 20 minutes late? Does that affect your professional income? Mine too." Problem went away.

See how dad feels when the $$$ is wasted. Would dad expect to get paid for his time?

 

Man up!

If the guy is looking up, then he has no right to kill 50 folks in a RJ. This assumes that he even makes it to the line. I'd drop the guy and let him find another CFII. If daddy calls, tell him the truth. You may just save his life.

 

I used the old gray hood, it really does limit your view compared to those crappy foggles. Just my opinion on those.

I agree, you need to be bling him for lost time if he is always late.

 

Thank you again gents. It would make my job so much easier if I was a psychologist too. We do put on so many hats as instructors. Teacher, parent, friend, cheerleader, shrink, to name just a few. The kid in my opinion is defaulting for his dad's role if that makes any sense. I feel like the dad is more interested in seeing his son become a pilot. He walks in half asleep somedays that I feel like perhaps he does not have the same amount of motivation the older man does.
In this situation like Cub said I have to help him realize his potential. On the bright side he is a good stick has a natural way about him, but has a fear of failing or perhaps even a fear of disappointing me...

 

he is NOT a good stick or he could fly a freaking ILS.... I disagree with Cub driver... crack down or show him the door. EVERYONE IS not cut out for this business.