Just my thoughts and observations on the subject.

What I try to do as an instructor and what I look for in instructors for
myself is someone that can clearly teach well and instill a high level of
understanding before ever getting in the airplane. While most instructors
know that an airplane makes a poor classroom, many students do not realize
this. One of an instructors first duties is to explain this fact to new
students. While students are anxious to get in the air and don't want to be
stuck on the ground or in a classroom, they must learn that is where the
real learning happens. I feel that if I teach or learn adequately on the
ground then transferring the knowledge into flying skill comes easy.

Transferring this theory to "interviews" I would spend most of my interview
time on the ground with a new instructor evaluating if he can customize his
teaching method to mesh with my learning style. If he asks plenty of
questions about my personality, background, learning style, flying history,
and goals, he should get a good idea about how I learn best. If I ask him
basically the same questions, I can get a good idea about how his
personality and teaching methods may mesh with me. You may then ask him to
give you a brief ground lesson to evaluate how he applies his teaching
methods to what he's learned about you.

Again, just my thoughts, your mileage may vary, but there are good
instructors out there. Sometimes it just takes a little work uncovering
them.

Jim


"doc" wrote in message
...
are awfully hard to find.

I just "interviewed" a couple at local flight schools by taking little
flights with them, ostensibly just for rust removal.

There's no way I'd hire them for instrument training. It is
tough to find an instructor who really knows his stuff, is a good
teacher and is congenial enough that I'd be willing to spend 10's of
hours in a cockpit with him/her.

Just an observation. I don't expect anyone to have a solution.


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