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The Importance of Mentors

It takes a village to raise a pilot.

Mentorship can take different forms. [File Photo: Adobe Stock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article differentiates between effective and ineffective flight instruction, emphasizing that good Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) actively teach and inspire rather than merely presenting information.
  • It underscores the profound impact of mentors on a flight instructor's development, sharing personal anecdotes of three key mentors who shaped the author's teaching philosophy, communication skills, and professional approach.
  • Key lessons from these mentors include the importance of engaging teaching methods, empathetic communication (e.g., "Talk to me, Goose"), and instilling responsibility in students.
  • Ultimately, the piece advocates for building a "village" of mentors and peers, highlighting the continuous value of shared wisdom and diverse experiences for growth in aviation instruction.
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Last weekend I attended the Northwest Aviation Conference (NWAC) in Puyallup, Washington. In addition to hunting for stories for FLYING, I had the privilege of presenting a Rusty Pilots Seminar (RPS) for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. 

The RPS, which runs about 3.5 hours, is a PowerPoint-driven interactive lecture that uses scenarios to refresh a pilot’s knowledge and decision-making skills. AOPA provides a scenario guide and reference materials for the participants. The seminars are often sponsored by aviation organizations or flight schools. The latter often have CFIs in attendance because the RPS can fulfill the ground requirement for a flight review—leaving the CFIs to handle the flying portion.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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