Training the Trainers Remains Critical

Learn how to teach flying by learning how to learn.

Monday, January 06, 2025 at 08:58 AM ET

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It can be very frustrating when the instructor’s teaching style doesn’t mesh with the learner’s learning style. [Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

New flight instructors develop their teaching style through practice, guidance from experienced CFIs, and by studying resources like the FAA's *Aviation Instructor’s Handbook* (FOI).
Effective instruction relies on a structured approach using a syllabus and detailed lesson plans, which help learners track progress, ensure comprehensive training, and move beyond informal "folklore" teaching methods.
Lesson plans should be self-created, include essential elements like objectives, equipment, actions, completion standards, and references, and serve as an outline for ground briefings rather than in-flight scripts.
Aspiring instructors should actively seek opportunities to observe experienced teachers and engage in "student teaching" to gain practical experience and improve both ground and in-air instructional techniques.

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By the time you get to high school, most people have a pretty good idea of how they learn best. Maybe it is watching a video or a hands-on demonstration. For others, it is reading a detailed description of a process. Some learners do best “gronking” (Seattle-tech speak for figuring something out without instructions) their way through a process without help, while others prefer step-by-step verbal instructions and immediate feedback.

It can be very frustrating when the instructor’s teaching style doesn’t mesh with the learner’s learning style. And here’s the kicker. When you are beginning your instructor career, you won’t know your teaching style until you practice teaching under the guidance of a more experienced CFI.

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.