Aviation Instructor Responsibilities

• Learning should be Enjoyable and Interesting
• Standards, and measurement against standards are key to helping learners
• Learners need to see growth; people are proud of the successful achievement of difficult goals

An instructors first job is Helping Learners Learn!

Providing Adequate Instruction

• Carefully and correctly analyze each learner’s personality, thinking, and ability

• Fast learners may assume correcting errors is unimportant since they make few mistakes

  • ​This overconfidence may result in faulty performance

  • For such learners, constantly raise the standard of performance

• Learners experiencing slow progress due to discouragement/lack of confidence should be assigned sub-goals which are easier to attain than the normal learning goals

• Individuals learn when they are aware of their errors

Standards of Performance

• Instructors fail to provide competent instruction when they permit their learners to get by with substandard performance, or without thoroughly learning necessary knowledge
  • The instructor is responsible for instructing to the established standards in the ACS/PTS
• Accepting lower standards to please a learner does not result in improvement in the learner-instructor relationship
  • An earnest learner does not resent reasonable standards that are fairly/consistently applied

Emphasizing the Positive

• Success depends on the ability to present instruction that develops a positive image of aviation
• Every reasonable effort should be made so instruction is given under the most favorable conditions
• Positive instruction results in positive learning.

Minimizing Learner Frustration (Encourage, rather than discourage)

• Motivate Learners
• Keep Learners Informed
• Approach Learners as Individuals
• Give Credit When Due
• Criticize Constructively
• Be Consistent
• Admit Errors
• Be Well Prepared (Over prepare)

Physiological Obstacles for Flight Learners

• Do not ignore negative factors
  • Fear of small aircraft
  • Strange noises & smells
  • G-forces/Motion sickness

• Negative sensations can often be overcome by understanding.

• Sick learners will not be able to learn

• Flight instructors have the responsibility to provide guidance and restraint with respect to solo ops

  • This is by far the most important responsibility since the instructor is the only person in a position to make the determination that a learner is ready for solo ops

• Before endorsing solo flight, the learner should display consistent ability to perform the maneuvers

• Provide adequate flight and ground instruction for each item in the applicable ACS/PTS, including “special emphasis areas”

• Be current on the latest procedures regarding training, certification, and safety

• Maintain a current library of information

Flight Instructor Professionalism

The instructor is the central figure in aviation training and bear responsibility for all phases of training. The instructor needs to be professional

• Sincerity
• Acceptance of the Learner
• Personal Appearance and Habits
• Demeanor
• Proper Language

Instructor Do's

Instructor Don'ts

Evaluation of Learner Ability

• The evaluation considers the learner’s mastery of the elements involved in the maneuver or procedure, rather than merely the overall performance
• Evaluation of ability during flight must be based on established standards of performance

  • These standards should be modified to apply to the learner’s experience

Demonstrated Ability

Keeping the Learner Informed

• Keep the learner up to date with progress
  • Progress should be written (a record should be kept)
• Kindly point out deficiencies and how to correct them
  • When explaining errors, point out elements where deficiencies are believed to have originated
  • Suggest appropriate corrective measures

• It is often better to let learners make a mistake and get out of it on their own (safety permitting)
• If the procedure is performed correctly but not fully understood:
  • ​require it to be varied
  • Or, combine it with other operations, or apply the same elements to another maneuver

Correction of Learner Errors

Aviation Instructors and Exams

Knowledge Tests

• Learners will need to be endorsed for some knowledge tests

• AC 61-65 for endorsements

• Instructor is held accountable for deficient instruction

  • Must give additional instruction and sign test for re-endorsement for written retake

Practical Test

• Signing a recommendation imposes a serious responsibility on the instructor
  • Learners should show a thorough demonstration of the knowledge and skill level necessary
    • This demonstration should be in NO INSTANCE less than the complete procedure in the PTS/ACS
• If a learner is unprepared, the instructor is logically held accountable for deficient performance
• Examiners rely on recommendations as evidence of qualification for certification
• Be very protective of your record – Never sign someone off who is not ready
  • This is not good for the learner or the instructor’s record

Flight Instructor Endorsements

(AC 61-65)

• Examples of proper endorsements can be found in AC-61-65 and those examples should be followed when endorsing students.
• Failure to ensure that a student pilot meets the requirements for a given endorsement is a serious failure, and the instructor is held accountable.
  • This also is a breach of faith with the student.

Additional Training Endorsements (AC 61-98)