Do you think flight training is about choosing a flight instructor and then sitting back while knowledge is stuffed into your head? If so, let’s clear out that head of yours right now.
In my book Flight Training: Taking the Short Approach, I suggest how to go about choosing a flight school, certified flight instructor (CFI), books, tools, etc. I won’t regurgitate here what I wrote there, because I always get myself into trouble when wrestling technologies as complex as copy & paste.
But there is one thing I will copy from the book, because I think it’s so important:
No one will teach you to be a safe pilot. No one will teach you to be a good pilot. The pilot you become will reflect the personal commitments you make.
So, given this, I must not think flight schools or their CFIs play much of a role in a student pilot’s success—good or bad, they’re all the same. Right? Let me put it this way: flight schools and CFIs come a dime a baker’s dozen, and far too many of these “baked goods” offer little more than empty calories.
Not to pick on schools and CFIs specifically, though, I actually feel this same way about books and other educational resources too. In fact, a CFI is nothing more than a single “book” in the arsenal of resources that will feed your aviation knowledge. Choose a good book and you’ll get a great read; choose a bad one, and you’ll waste time. Either way, if you decide to read only that one book, you’re seriously limiting your knowledge.
“Hi, I’m your surgeon. I’m going to do a great job today, because I once read about this surgery stuff!”
For serious subjects like staying aloft and staying alive, one must consult many resources before making that first “incision.”
But, how do you know what you don’t know, when you don’t yet know it?
Your CFI becomes your guide, but that’s really all. And, like any primer you might use to learn something new, you want to make sure it’s well written, in a language you understand, and it’s enjoyable to read. After all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time together.
In subsequent articles, I’ll discuss a number of the things that are probably on your mind with regard to your flight training, including:
- What sort of flight school should I attend?
- What should I consider when choosing my CFI?
- Which books should I buy?
- Which tools will I really need?
Don’t waste time and money on the things that don’t matter. Trust me, the things that do matter will cost you enough of both.
I would love to hear your comments. Write to me in the box below.
About David
David Diamond is a writer and 3D illustrator focused on aviation, who lives in Northern California. Visit his blog and portfolio at www.AirDiamond.com.
