Quote:
Originally Posted by grecoaj
The original problem - not being able to make decisions seemed to subside somewhat when I told him that all the responsibility was on him. Other than missing the weather, he did well with the decisions. He asked less questions. The ones he did ask, I never answered, or I would respond in a way that lead him nowhere. I really needed him to decide what to do and I think he walked away with more confidence.
2 more ground lessons and another flight and I think I'll send him out again.
For the next flight, it's time for a rudder coordination exercise. You can tell him on the ground and in the air that you are "putting on your instructor's hat," conduct the clearing turns, then have him line up on a handy landmark, and start working the rudders. Make sure he is sitting upright in his seat, remind him to feel the aircraft weight down his spine and to his tush. Step on a rudder pedal hard. Ask him which cheek has the weight on it. Re-center. Ask again. Step on the other pedal, hard. Ask again. Now direct the focus outside. What is the nose doing as you step, center, step?
Have him try it.
Clearing turns.
Now, lined up on a good landmark, go from cruise to slow flight, clean. Keeping the nose lined up. Then change configurations, each time, "don't let that nose move! It's moving! Stop that nose!" Back to cruise, start a descent, 500 fpm down. "I saw that nose moving!" Recover, climb, recover, down again, rinse & repeat until the nose is wired to where it belongs.
Then add configuration changes to the climbs and descents. Then, airspeed, configuration, and climbs and descents.
Think he's getting good, then have him roll in and out of turns. The first time, you'll have to look carefully yourself, but if he's turning left, you'll probably see the nose walk off to the right. "What's causing that?" The answer is not "not enough rudder," the answer is "adverse yaw" and the action is "more of the proper rudder."
If the nose does not initially walk off in the opposite direction, you may need to demonstrate, even exaggerate with the other rudder to get the nose to walk.
Practice that skill for awhile.
Now, if you've been an especially devious instructor, you're now out of the practice area into a somewhat unfamiliar area away from nasty airspace. At the appropriate time, "Great job. I'm taking off my instructor's hat now. Let's go home." And fold your arms, lean back, close your eyes, and shut up. A yawn is optional. After counting to sixty, you can open your eyes and pretend to be a passenger, albeit not a too distracting one.
Let us know how it goes.