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I can say that throughout my training I never had any real lesson plan prepared for me. I'm not saying that my training was bad or below-average by any means, but it certainly went through my mind more than a couple of times. I guess I should have done the obvious thing, which was to ask for one to be prepared for me. When I first started training a little over three years ago, my instructor (part 61 school) basically lifted a ERAU syllabus and took notes and checked off articles as I was flying.Originally Posted by WEACLRS
..The flight instructor initial should be tough. It should take a lot of work and preparation. I used to hire a lot of CFI's. We knew who the "CFI mill schools" were. When I'd see one on a resume I would ask to see their prepared lesson plans. When I got the "blank stare" from the candidate the interview would only last a few more minutes. Take the time to do it right. It doesn't cost you any money to spend a month of evenings writing and preparing your lesson plans and driving your knowledge to the deep level required. It'll make you confident for the checkride, impress your examiner, show in your work as a CFI, and make you a much better instructor/pilot. It's a large step from Commercial to Flight Instructor. Don't take shortcuts..
For me, it would seem like the lesson plans would be fun to put together. The school I attend now has a program with a college on the eastern side of town, and the instructors come and teach night school there. It feels very unfulfilling when I attend a class and the instructor does nothing but go through pages of < insert pilot manual here > or the PHAK. I feel like man, if I was teaching this class I would make it a lot more fun and interactive, after I get through my fear of public speaking of course.
I agree with what you say about the big step from COMM to CFI; I've seen many hotshot pilots make lousy instructors.
Chris