An Old & New CFI

Peter Boody

Tuesday, October 01, 2002 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

As an older, newly certified flight instructor, the author finds the job intensely demanding and often frustrating due to student errors, fatigue, and the constant need to explain and demonstrate.
A core challenge of flight instructing is the profound solitude and weighty responsibility of making critical decisions concerning student safety and progress, often under pressure and without immediate guidance.
Despite the difficulties, the author's own flying skills and confidence have significantly improved through regular instruction, forcing him to master techniques and consistently assess risks.
Ultimately, the author loves the opportunity to fly and teach, finding reward in student progress and embracing the continuous personal challenge of judgment and decision-making.

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Here I sit in the right seat of a fine old 172, inside the marker on an ILS approach, my first ever instrument student refusing to correct for the wind. I watch the localizer needle drift off and feel myself twisting my entire upper body to force it back to center. Should I tell him to turn left 10 degrees and start bracketing, just as we discussed on the ground? Or do I let him wander off course and see when he deals with it, if ever?

A couple of hours later, I’m in the same 172, cranking around the pattern with my first ever primary student. I’m a little tired. I’m counting how many hours remain before I can go home and sit down to dinner with my wife. I’m amazed. Never before in my half century of life have I wanted my all-too-occasional days of flying to end. My voice is getting scratchy from all the talking I’ve been doing, explaining, asking questions, making suggestions, telling outright. Too much talking? I don’t know. I’m not sure how to tell when it’s all just noise to my students.