“Are you taking on any students?”
That’s how the conversation usually begins when the partially trained client is looking for a new instructor.
Inheriting an In-Progress Student Pilot: How to Win Trust and Keep Momentum
Here’s what to do when a flight instructor leaves and you are handed someone else’s client.
![CFI and student pilot [Credit: iStock]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/certified-flight-instructor-.jpg)
Key Takeaways:
- Taking on a partially trained flight student requires caution, as clients often compare new instructors to previous ones, and reasons for change vary from availability to personality clashes or instructor turnover.
- New flight instructors should begin by assessing the client's existing knowledge and skill level, ideally in a classroom setting, using FAA-approved syllabi and Airman Certification Standards (ACS) as guidance.
- Inheriting students can reveal unknown gaps or bad habits from previous instruction that need to be addressed and unlearned.
- For students close to a checkride, a full mock checkride based on ACS is recommended to determine readiness and necessary adjustments, emphasizing patience and adapting teaching style to the student's needs.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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