Instructor Responsibilities and Professionalism Flashcards
Is Task E: Instructor Responsibilities and Professionalism a MANDATORY Task for the practical test?
YES
This subject MUST be covered by the examiner as well as at least one other Task in the Areas of Operation: Fundamentals of Instructing
What are the five primary Responsibilities of an Aviation Instructor?
- Helping Students Learn
- Providing Adequate Instruction
- Requiring Adequate Standards of Performance
- Minimizing Student Frustrations
- Ensuring Aviation Safety
Describe how an Aviation Instructor Helps Students Learn
- Learning should be an enjoyable, interesting experience
- Emphasize the positive
- The use of standards (and measuring according to those standards) helps students learn
- Students are happy/satisfied when meeting those standards/challenges
Describe how an Aviation Instructor Provides Adequate Instruction
- It is the instructor’s duty to have a genuine interest in the well-being of each student and ensuring that adequate instruction is provided
- Instruction should be tailored to the individual as no two students are alike
Describe how an Aviation Instructor requires adequate Standards of Performance from the student
- The instructor is responsible for training an applicant to acceptable standards in every task, maneuver and procedure in all subject areas
- The standards follow/meet the FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS)
- The PTS is a TESTING document not a teaching document, treat it as such
Describe how an Aviation Instructor Minimizes Student Frustrations
An instructor can:
- Motivate students
- Keep students informed
- Approach students as individuals
- Give credit where due
- Criticize constructively
- Be consistent
- Admit errors
- Praise in public, criticize in private
- Emphasize the positive by:
- The instructor’s conduct and attitude influence the student’s perception of aviation
- The instructor must focus on the positive aspects of flying and make the student comfortable
- The student must have a positive self image in aviation to be successful
What are the two primary Certified Flight Instructor’s (CFI) Responsibilities?
- Helping students overcome Physiological Obstacles
- Ensuring Student Ability to succeed
Describe an Certified Flight Instructor’s (CFI) Responsibility to minimize Physiological Obstacles for Students
There are several types of unfamiliar feelings/sensations that student pilots may encounter:
-G-forces
-Vibrations
-Noises
These are real obstacles that can usually be overcome simply by understanding what causes them
-A sick student does not learn well
Describe an Certified Flight Instructor’s (CFI) Responsibility to Ensure Student Ability
- An instructor must constantly evaluate student performance looking for consistent, continual growth
- Evaluation should occur often and in many different ways during a lesson
- Evaluations should be regularly shared with the student to demonstrate progress
- The instructor is ultimately responsible for safety
- Supervision includes dual instruction AND solo flight
- Must be absolutely confident that the student is ready to solo and practices safe solo procedures before doing so
Describe the six ways an Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) demonstrates Professionalism
(S.A.D.P.A.P.?)
- Sincerity
- Acceptance of the student
- Demeanor
- Personal appearance and habits
- Always emphasize safety and instruct safely
- Proper language
Describe Sincerity in Aviation Instructor Professionalism
Sincerity describes being honest and straightforward. Admit mistakes. Find answers to unknown questions. Students must have confidence in the sincerity of their instructor
Describe Acceptance of the Student in Aviation Instructor Professionalism
Accept each student as they are. Both instructor and student are working towards the same goal, encourage and support them
Describe Personal Appearance and Habits in Aviation Instructor Professionalism
Dress appropriately. Use common courtesy with everyone. Be neat, clean and well groomed
Describe Safety in Aviation Instructor Professionalism
Students are always watching and emulating instructors. Always instruct with an emphasis on safety and demonstrate everything safely
Describe Demeanor in Aviation Instructor Professionalism
An instructor must have a positive attitude which encourages students, setting the example by respecting the student, being consistent and kind at all times
Describe Proper Language in Aviation Instructor Professionalism
An instructor should always speak positively and descriptively. The use of profanity, slang, inside jokes and jargon should be avoided.
What are the three ways Student Ability is Evaluated?
- Demonstrated Ability
- Keeping the Student Informed
- Correction of Student Errors
Describe how an Aviation Instructor Evaluates a Student through Demonstrated Ability
- Evaluation off demonstrated performance is based on a student’s experiance and stage of development
- Evaluation considers student;s mastery of the ELEMENTS within the maneuver or procedure as opposed to the overall performance
Describe how an Aviation Instructor Evaluates a Student through Keeping the Student Informed
It is imperative that the instructor keeps the student informed of their progress
- Critique the student honestly and often
- Address deficiencies and suggest corrective actions
- Praise accomplishments, ensure the student KNOWS that certain milestones are a big deal!
Describe how an Aviation Instructor Evaluates a Student through Correction of Errors
- Do not always/immediately take the controls from the student if a mistake is made, it can often be benificial to allow the student to begin a mistake and then have to find a way out of it (within the bounds of safety)
- It is hard for a student to learn a maneuver if the instructor seldom gives them the opportunity to correct an error
What are the two types of Aviation Exams?
Knowledge tests
Practical tests
What is an instructor, who is endorsing a student, responsible for?
- That the instructor has provided the required training to that applicant
- Endorsing a student before they are ready is a “breach of faith”
- The instructor is responsible for the student’s safety
- The instructor is responsible for student deficiencies on a practical test
- The instructor is required to maintain records of all students
How long are instructors required to maintain student records?
3 years - all solo endorsements
5 years - all other endorsements
What is information is required for an instructor’s endorsement records?
Solo endorsement:
- Student name
- Date of endorsement
- Aircraft type
Practical or Knowledge test endorsements:
- Student name
- Type of endorsement
- Date of endorsement
- Results of the test
What are four ways an instructor can continue Professional Development?
Continuing Education - Additional or higher ratings, FAA “WINGS” seminars, ASF courses, etc.
Educational/training Institutions - College programs, single courses
Commercial Organizations - companies like ASA, Jeppeson, etc. have online and printed training material
Industry Organizations - Networking with other pilots and CFIs, refresher training, AOPA, EAA, NAFI, etc.
