First lesson - Tips?

On Wednesday, July 17, 2013 1:36:21 PM UTC-4, Soartech wrote:
Tips: You will find that aerotowing is easier than it is in Condor. US tow ropes are longer and the rudder is very effective in towing turns. Also, get in the habit of looking to the direction you are going to turn BEFORE you turn to be sure the area is clear. In Condor, the (imaginary) back seat instructor does not whack you on the head. In real life, he might! As someone said, take charge of your instruction. Keep a log of your training and skills. Share this with your instructor before each days flying so you spend your (costly) training time to best advantage. Take a look at several training syllabuses available on the web. Pick one you like and try to get your instructor(s) to follow it (unless they have one). Many do not.

I'm curious- are you a CFI?
The pilot log book and associated check off lists are a record of the required training. Assuming a student is not flying with a new instructor all the time, there should not be much of a need for the student to brief the instructor on what he has accomplished.
UH

On Wednesday, July 17, 2013 1:36:21 PM UTC-4, Soartech wrote:
Take a look at several training syllabuses available on the web. Pick one you like and try to get your instructor(s) to follow it (unless they have one). Many do not.

Based solely on my experience as a student pilot with several different instructors, I concur with Soartech suggestion to push for a legible printed checklist style syllabus. CFI-Gs always wrote something in my log book, but they rarely if ever reviewed the entries and I doubt that they could read the handwriting.

I'm curious- are you a CFI?
Nope.
The pilot log book and associated check off lists are a record of the required training.
UH

This is my experience as part of a small club with several instructors. If there was an "associated check off list" our club did not use them and I don't see any in the SSA logbook.

I do agree that having fun is highly important. Start thermalling as soon as your instructor will allow you to. Maximize your solo time when you are cleared.

Nicholas,

Unlike many activities, flying is a new, 3 dimensional experience, in a new environment. What you Don't know can hurt you. Knowledge is extremely important.

Here is an interesting article: http://www.eglider.org/NewsArticles/standardization.htm

Enjoy

Tom

The pilot log book and associated check off lists are a record of the required training. Assuming a student is not flying with a new instructor all the time, there should not be much of a need for the student to brief the instructor on what he has accomplished.

Skyline Soaring Club in Virginia has a training syllabus that is free for any other club to use.
http://skylinesoaring.org/TRAINING/Syllabus/

In our club, you are pretty much guaranteed that you'll fly with (at least) 5 different instructors from first flight to solo. For us, having everything documented for 61.87 requirements in a centrally-located place is absolutely essential to make sure everything is covered.

If you are receiving flight training from an organization that doesn't have something like this, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the instructor who is signing you off go through it with you.