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It is true that in order to succeed as a student pilot you must have good chemistry with your instructor. In the world of flight training and aviation, it is the responsibility of the flight instructor to impart their knowledge, time and patience to their student pilot and it is the student pilot’s responsibility to study and practice.

Finding a flight school was the easy part, but getting a rude and harsh flight instructor could be a nightmare.

But what if you have a flight instructor who doesn’t have the patience nor the flexibility to cope with every student pilot’s specific needs? This is a real recipe for disaster and waste a lot of your money and time.

Bad Flight Instructors

Strict Flight Instructors – They only have one method of teaching and that is to be stern, condescending, and unforgiving which, in most cases, doesn’t foster a learning environment and help a student pilot learn. Just like a teacher to their students in the classroom; if the latter is strict and cruel, the students will not be open to the training and learning will be difficult.

Granted, some student pilots may have a positive experience with a strict flight instructor, but most student pilots will not.

Regardless, it is important that both the student pilot and the flight instructor should have a good rapport from the beginning because like all relationships, once it has gone bad, and the student pilot stops liking the flight lessons and the flight instructor, then it is very hard to fix.

Unapproachable and Rude Flight Instructors – Flight instructors, if nothing else, should be approachable. Their job is to be educator and mentor. A flight instructor can’t be either of these if they are unapproachable. Flight instructors need to be open to their students in order to benefit them the most.

Close-Minded and Authoritative Flight Instructors – These flight instructors have only one way of doing things…their way! These flight instructors will likely lose student pilots in the process because one way of doing things doesn’t fit all students. Flight instructors need to be flexible and be able to evaluate the student and adjust to their training needs.

Combative Flight Instructors – Why do some flight instructors feel that they have to argue about everything or impose their will? These flight instructors are probably the worst. Communication is quite difficult between a combative flight instructor and a student pilot because of the friction it generates.

So Why Are These Flight Instructors Like This?

Many times, but not always, these flight instructors are only set on building their flying hours in order to move onto airline job or charter job. They are a bit frustrated by the fact that they are still flying around in a Cessna 152 teaching pilots how to do steep turns and stalls. It is unlikely that these instructors will train student pilots to a level that will make them a safe and competent pilot since there is no incentive to make sure the student pilot is successful. If an instructor doesn’t have a passion for teaching and passing their knowledge to their students, then you are better off finding another instructor. Your first introduction to cockpit communication, in many instances dictates how you communicate when you make it to the airlines. So it is always good to start early.

A Few Things to Look for In a Flight Instructor

On the other hand, a flight instructor who is open, approachable, and most of all patient, will not only have successful student pilots (and a lot of them), but will also have a harmonious relationship with them.

It is important for student pilots to have a flight instructor who is ready to help and ready to learn with them. It should be a win-win situation and a good rapport will lead to the success of both; furthermore, if the line of communication is open, the path to learning will be easy, enjoyable, and successful.

When you are searching for a flight school, always ask for the feedback of other student pilots about the instructors at that school. Watch how the instructors interact with their students. Notice if they intently listening to the students and explaining the intricacies of flying with gusto, or do they look bored, uninterested, or preoccupied?

Find out their style of teaching and what other students think of the instructor. Many of the more established flight schools, like FlightSafety Academy assign you an instructor. The smaller FBO’s and flying clubs that do flight instructing, though they have fewer instructors, may allow you to choose your flight instructor. If you don’t know the difference between the two, here is a good article on the differences between flight schools and flying clubs.

Take a Discovery Flight with that instructor. Listen to how they talk to you and how they handle the airplane and ask yourself, “Can I learn from this person? Are they the type of person I want to spend hours with learning how to fly?“

Dealing with a flight instructor truly depends on the type of training and approach he gives to his student pilots. Work with one that will work with you…not against you!

And just because you may have been assigned a flight instructor, doesn’t mean you are stuck with THAT flight instructor. It is your right to seek out a new one if you aren’t getting along with the flight instructor or you don’t feel like they are meeting your needs. Talk to the chief pilot and remember, you are the customer and you deserve to get your money’s worth.

If the chief pilot won’t assign you a new flight instructor, find another flight school. Never feel locked into one school. You can always switch and ask for someone who can help you learn better. Don’t be driven away from flying because of a bad experience with a flight instructor. There are lots of really great flight instructors out there that really want you to succeed. Besides, you are the paying customer, it’s your pilot certificate, possibly your career, and it is your right to have the best instructor you can find.

To Your Flying Success…

Jeffrey

P.S. Have you had a bad experience with a flight instructor? Tell us about it!

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• Tips on Finding a Great Flight Instructor