Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM Help Your Instructor The more an instructor knows about you, your background, motivation, finances, and goals the better he will be able to advise you on how to proceed. You must reveal any concerns you have about yourself in regard to flying. Are there health, emotional, or conceptual problems that you can foresee? Even if you are not aware of any, it is more that likely that something will arise at some point in your training. Spending more money does not guarantee better instruction. Flying should be fun. It is a challenge but those students who continue find the challenge enjoyable. Stress, apprehension and even fear are part of the challenge. If your instruction does not replace them with fun then something is wrong. Flying has many forms of stress. Some are self-imposed, some are by the instructor, and still others are external and beyond any control. Don't try to do something about things you have no control over, like the weather. Bend with the impossible, adjust to the unpleasant, and speak up against the correctable. Instructors can adjust to your needs. Recently had a student who objected to my gum chewing...I stopped. Student input is needed to make instruction better. As a student, you know how to learn best. Any reluctance to help the instructor do better is just prolonging the problem. It is just as important for the student to understand the instructor as it is for the instructor to understand the student. If it isn't working for you...change instructors. I try to teach efficiency in flying; not shortcuts. The way you preflight, taxi, runup, takeoff and fly are indicative of personality traits. We often feel that expertise in one chosen field carries over into flying. Parts may but flying is a unique blend of training and skills. I will modify what I can, blend in that which is acceptable, and erase what I must. If you have flown previously some of this will be more difficult than if I was working with a clean slate. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM