Pilots are a “different breed of cat” as you well know. As a personality type we are confident, higher than average in intelligence, tend toward dominance and are almost never wrong about anything! (ask my wife…) “Never wrong” is “sort of” a joke but you know our tribe; pretty self-assured and assertive, with perfectionist tendencies. … Continue reading “Reflect and Redirect; “Double Loop” Learning!”
Pursuing excellence and striving to be better is a positive piloting trait and the heart of professionalism. It is unfortunately often confused with “perfectionism” which is a neurotic need to avoid any perceived errors – rooted in fear and insecurity. Perfectionists seek external validation and are often driven by shame. Being perfect “every day in … Continue reading “Fly Adaptively – TLAR Defeats Perfectionism!”
If you are an educator in any field, you know the “excuse-makers”. How often do we hear “it was the wind”, “I didn’t get enough sleep”, or “the plane is acting funny” (et cetera ad nauseam)? But you probably also noticed the people who “own” their errors and admit to struggling, actually learn faster. Excuses … Continue reading “For Your Best Learning: “Own” Your Errors!”
As pilots, we all will eventually have to face the incapacitating effects of fear. This will either come during new flight experiences while training (student lock-up) or when facing a shocking and unexpected emergency while flying (e.g. US Airways Flight 1549 or Neil Williams’ amazing inflight recovery). The startle response has received lots of recent … Continue reading “Managing Student Fear For Effective Learning”
The number one reason aircraft end up in the weeds is still lack of fuel to the engine(s); starvation or exhaustion. The gauges on small planes have always been unreliable and estimates are subject to error and “excessive optimism.” I am sure that you, like every other pilot trained, have been counseled repeatedly “never trust … Continue reading “New Tech: Accurate Fuel, Envelope Protection…”
If you are an approved FAA educator, you carry two very different pieces of FAA plastic on board every flight. Each certificate requires a very different approach and a unique set of skills to be successful. With the pilot certificate, you are driving the plane and seeking precise control and efficiency. The pilot certificate requires … Continue reading “Successful CFI (Different Challenges!)”
Managing risk in a changing environment is a critical skill to teach all pilots-in-training. Read our SAFEblog for techniques.
I am in Florida presenting SAFE CFI-PRO™ to a flight academy here. Please read (and comment on) this very interesting give and take on spin recovery and the general topic of “technedure” – when a personal technique becomes an accepted – and passed on – procedure. (and a bit about aircraft manuals) First read Natalie Bingham … Continue reading ““Technedure” and Spin Recoveries”
This blog examines common IFR knowledge deficiencies that lead to “pink slips” on check rides – insufficient understanding (and invitation for “more training”). Every pilot can benefit from improving their full comprehension of these weak areas so the test is “one and done.” Last week we looked at VFR pink slips, but the knowledge component … Continue reading ““Pink Slip” Problems (IFR)”
Hopefully, every aviation educator has had a student who excelled, passionately taking every lesson further, expanding every thought or skill to a level of excellence. These learners seem like genetic anomalies, where we plant the seeds and watch an almost magical transformation. Other learners need to be dragged along, and never seem to fully flourish. … Continue reading “Inspiring Excellence and Motivating Mastery!”
