Ted
The pilot formerly known as Twin Engine Ted
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2007
- Messages
- 30,006
- Display Name
Display name:
iFlyNothing
It's been a bit over a month since I passed my CFI check ride down at the FSDO. I haven't been actively recruiting students, mainly due to the lack of time that I have. There's one student in particular who it was important for me to see finish, though. This particular student has been working on his private for 5 years, with lots of stops and starts along the way. It didn't help that he lives in Michigan and keeps on coming out here to Pennsylvania for a few weeks at a time, without readily available instructors to fly with. He was rather discouraged about ever getting it done, and I really wanted to see him finish. It's not as if this is someone who was unqualified by any stretch of the imagination, he's exactly the sort of person we want to have flying planes.
When I got my CFI, we talked and agreed that we'd finish up his private. We had a good opportunity when he came out here for a two-week stretch. So last week and this week we were going at it pretty hard, flying as much as we could to polish up his maneuvers, make sure he fulfilled all requirements (they were all filled, I just needed to see what I needed to see to satisfy FAA regs and my personal comfort level before signing him off), and then fill out the paperwork. We had several nights of maneuver practice and general learning (with me asking him good oral questions the whole time), and on Tuesday we did a cross country down to Lancaster and back for dinner, and to get him some XC time and also some night flight time. Yesterday was the checkride day.
Amazingly, when I scheduled his checkride part of the day had to do with the availability of the plane we were using. Well, the weather gods smiled upon him that day, because yesterday was the best day of the week weather wise to do a check ride. Calm winds, high ceilings, high visibility. Perfect. I got to the airport at 9 with him to make sure one last time he had everything and see him off. I went over to the hangar, watched him take off, and then went on my way for my errands, waiting for him to call me to say he was finished. He was very nervous about the whole thing, but I had no doubts he would pass. This is the kind of student you always want - someone who appreciates constructive criticism, loves a challenge, and wants to do his best. That, plus the fact that the guy can really fly the plane quite well, I wasn't concerned.
The plan was for us to get lunch after to debrief and see how it all went. He called me several hours later and said "So where do pilots go to eat lunch?" The check ride went well, was much easier than he was expecting (which is what I told him it would be - he prepared himself well past the requirements of a private student), and he came away with that important piece of paper. Additionally, I have my first student who I've signed off.
This is my first private student who I've taught. Even though he came to me with a number of hours already and basically being ready for the check ride, it felt good to be able to give him some extra knowledge and skills during the course of my time training him that he didn't have previously. He had all the basics down just fine, but I was still able to coach him on some of his errors on maneuvers, and also some of the finer points of flying and things to think about in various conditions. If I've done my job, he's come away with having a better idea of the thought processes he'll need to be a safe pilot, and also come away with a renewed interest in aviation. From our conversation post-checkride yesterday, it seems I may have succeeded.
When I got my CFI, we talked and agreed that we'd finish up his private. We had a good opportunity when he came out here for a two-week stretch. So last week and this week we were going at it pretty hard, flying as much as we could to polish up his maneuvers, make sure he fulfilled all requirements (they were all filled, I just needed to see what I needed to see to satisfy FAA regs and my personal comfort level before signing him off), and then fill out the paperwork. We had several nights of maneuver practice and general learning (with me asking him good oral questions the whole time), and on Tuesday we did a cross country down to Lancaster and back for dinner, and to get him some XC time and also some night flight time. Yesterday was the checkride day.
Amazingly, when I scheduled his checkride part of the day had to do with the availability of the plane we were using. Well, the weather gods smiled upon him that day, because yesterday was the best day of the week weather wise to do a check ride. Calm winds, high ceilings, high visibility. Perfect. I got to the airport at 9 with him to make sure one last time he had everything and see him off. I went over to the hangar, watched him take off, and then went on my way for my errands, waiting for him to call me to say he was finished. He was very nervous about the whole thing, but I had no doubts he would pass. This is the kind of student you always want - someone who appreciates constructive criticism, loves a challenge, and wants to do his best. That, plus the fact that the guy can really fly the plane quite well, I wasn't concerned.
The plan was for us to get lunch after to debrief and see how it all went. He called me several hours later and said "So where do pilots go to eat lunch?" The check ride went well, was much easier than he was expecting (which is what I told him it would be - he prepared himself well past the requirements of a private student), and he came away with that important piece of paper. Additionally, I have my first student who I've signed off.
This is my first private student who I've taught. Even though he came to me with a number of hours already and basically being ready for the check ride, it felt good to be able to give him some extra knowledge and skills during the course of my time training him that he didn't have previously. He had all the basics down just fine, but I was still able to coach him on some of his errors on maneuvers, and also some of the finer points of flying and things to think about in various conditions. If I've done my job, he's come away with having a better idea of the thought processes he'll need to be a safe pilot, and also come away with a renewed interest in aviation. From our conversation post-checkride yesterday, it seems I may have succeeded.
