There has been a lot of talk this year about student retention and what flight schools can do to inspire their customers to keep flying. I think one of the most important aspects of this issue is the student-instructor relationship. Learning to fly is a very intimate experience requiring many hours in close quarters. In some airplanes, the instructor and student are almost attached at the shoulder. Without a positive bond between the instructor and student, success is going to be difficult to achieve.
Developing that bond doesn’t have to be difficult. The instructor and student already have something in common: a passion for flying. And while it is definitely worthwhile spending a few minutes checking in on each other’s private lives, there is always something to talk about when it comes to flying.
