Discovery Flight today...unexpected results

On 2008-02-11, DGS wrote:
First I plan on calling another FBO at the same airport and talking to
one of their instructors first.

Here's something that should be stressed: You're about to hire this guy to
teach you how to fly. Interview him. Find out why he's instructing, what his
approach to flying is, how he'd have handled the nervousness you had. Make
sure you're comfortable with the guy before you ever climb in the cockpit
with him.
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
http://www.hercules-390.org (Yes, that's me!)
Buy Hercules stuff at http://www.cafepress.com/hercules-390

kontiki wrote:
The student does have a level of responsibility
to communicate with the instructor and the instructor has the
responsibility to respond to and accept the student. From
this relationship the learning process takes place.

I'm not sure I'm comfortable with your advice. This was a discovery
flight; they didn't really *have* a true instructor/student relationship
yet.

Yes, one could have formed from this, but one of the outcomes of the
discovery flight is to decide whether the particular instructor is
suitable.

Your advice sounds kind of like telling people who don't click on a first
date that they should go see a marriage counselor.

.... Alan
--
Alan Gerber
PP-ASEL
gerber AT panix DOT com

"Alan Gerber" wrote in message
...
kontiki wrote:
The student does have a level of responsibility
to communicate with the instructor and the instructor has the
responsibility to respond to and accept the student. From
this relationship the learning process takes place.

I'm not sure I'm comfortable with your advice. This was a discovery
flight; they didn't really *have* a true instructor/student relationship
yet.

I think Kontiki's advice is good for students who are underway with an
instructor, but I agree with you in this case.

In this experience, the Discovery Flight was also the instructor's job
interview for this potential client, and he failed. There is not yet a
realistic student-instructor relationship.

This is a good discussion, everybody.

-c

gatt wrote:
"Alan Gerber" wrote in message
...
kontiki wrote:
The student does have a level of responsibility
to communicate with the instructor and the instructor has the
responsibility to respond to and accept the student. From
this relationship the learning process takes place.
I'm not sure I'm comfortable with your advice. This was a discovery
flight; they didn't really *have* a true instructor/student relationship
yet.

I think Kontiki's advice is good for students who are underway with an
instructor, but I agree with you in this case.

In this experience, the Discovery Flight was also the instructor's job
interview for this potential client, and he failed. There is not yet a
realistic student-instructor relationship.

This is a good discussion, everybody.


I do totally concur regarding the difference in instructing an
actual student pilot and flying someone on a "discovery flight".
My opining about the importance of the communication aspects of
CFI's and students was in the broader sense for which the seeds
should be planted (by the CFI) on that first introductory flight.

Hang in there. With the reasoning you've described, you'll get through
it. Notice I didn't say you'll get -over- it, to wit:

I've been a "new" pilot three times over the years: the first time as a
student pilot in 1963, the 2nd time returning to flying in 1978 after an
8 year hiatus, and again in 2000 after an 18 year break.

I can clearly remember each time having experiences like you describe:
serious nervousness, lots of sweat, a "death grip" on the yoke, even
shaking knees as I applied rudder inputs during turning maneuvers.
These symptoms gradually abated as I gained familiarity with the
environment and confidence in my abilities to manage it.

Such experiences have occurred at other times: the the first solo flight
(and a few more), during the practical (flight) exam for the license,
checkin out in a new airplane, even when taking the biennial flight
review. Although I don't -welcome- those feelings, I credit them with
helping me to be a good pilot by reminding me that it is my skill and
knowledge that makes for safe flying. And when I'm back on the ground,
the accomplishments of the flight, even dealing with the nervousness,
contribute to the enjoyment and satisfaction gained from the experience.

Keep flying; your dreams will be realized.

george

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:19:11 -0500, ONLINE
wrote:

I can clearly remember each time having experiences like you describe:
serious nervousness, lots of sweat, a "death grip" on the yoke, even
shaking knees as I applied rudder inputs during turning maneuvers.
These symptoms gradually abated as I gained familiarity with the
environment and confidence in my abilities to manage it.

My saving grace that kept me from just chucking the whole idea then
and there was that I at least wasn't shaking. Even my instructor
found it odd that I was so nervous that I was sweating and was even
breathing somewhat heavily...but never shook at all.

On Feb 10, 2:09*am, DGS wrote:

Any feedback or experiences anyone can share? *At this point I'm
really torn about trying again, while on the other hand still not
necessarily ready to back down from the challenge. *Does this get
better? *Or worse?

This is an interesting post and I am glad you brought it up. It has
been years since I have made my living with primary students, but if
memory serves, this came up all the time. The trick is to replace the
unhealthy nerves with healthy concern. It IS normal to be at least a
little nervous (My most difficult students were a couple of guys who
were totally fearless). I have meet too many people who quit for years
because of a bad experience early on and then regreted it years later
after they finished up. Dont be one of those. Discuss your concerns
with the instructor and maybe try someone else if you two cannot make
things work. Good luck,
Frank

"DGS" wrote in message
...
...

Any feedback or experiences anyone can share? At this point I'm
really torn about trying again, while on the other hand still not
necessarily ready to back down from the challenge. Does this get
better? Or worse?

I assume you were real nervous the first time you rode a bicycle without the
training wheels - but you have since fogotten. I'm sure you are glad you
learned to ride a bike, right?

Give it a while and you will probably forget how nervous you were on this
flight.

BTW - there is no problem shopping around for instructors - some will be
better for you than others.

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:
BTW - there is no problem shopping around for instructors - some will be
better for you than others.

There were four schools on my home field when I decided to start
training. I took flights with three of them. On the third flight, the
CFI mildly botched the landing, dropping it in pretty hard. On the taxi
in, he said, "Let me explain what happened and what I did wrong on that
landing." And then proceeded to dissect it and make it very clear. That
sold me on him as a teacher, and I did my primary with him. That sort of
analytical approach might bug the heck out of some people, but it was
perfect for my learning style.

On Feb 10, 10:09*pm, DGS wrote:


Any feedback or experiences anyone can share? *At this point I'm
really torn about trying again, while on the other hand still not
necessarily ready to back down from the challenge. *Does this get
better? *Or worse?

My experience matches yours exactly. I was horribly nervous and my
first solo was not enjoyable I was so nervous. Trust me the training
will gradually take over and the nerves subside as you get comfortable
with flying the 'plane. Avoid an instructor who always grabs the
controls or has his feet on the rudder all the time -it will slow you
down. I'd say, don't get an instructor younger than you are. While
most can fly well they just don't understand how your behavior and
learning processes change as you get older. You need a positive
learning environment -nothing is a problem if you have a desire to
learn and the right learning environment. The only time I'm nervous
now is in bad xwinds with shear.

Cheers