One of the best parts of being a flight instructor is when you help someone return to the cockpit—it can be intimidating, however, when that someone is an airline pilot who wants to fly general aviation aircraft again. CFIs and airline pilots who wish to return the fold can get some tips for making this happen at a free online #MasteryNotMinimums presentation designed to give instructors and airline pilots the tools they need to make the transition.
The presenters are Gary Reeves, 2019 Instructor of the Year, and retired American Airlines pilot and FLYING Magazine contributor Les Abend.
According to Abend, there can be an intimidation factor on both ends of the education spectrum. The CFI may feel intimidated because the person sitting next to them in the cockpit has thousands of hours more than they do, and the airline pilot may be intimidated as they don’t know what they may have forgotten. For starters, the sight picture from the cockpit is different: please don’t try to flare 20+ feet over the runway in a single-engine trainer.
According to Reeves, this program is an open forum for all to discuss how instructors can do five specific things to help the airline pilots come back faster, be more confident, share their experience, and earn their “GA Type Rating.”
The event will be held Wednesday, October 11, 5-6:30 p.m. PDT. Pre-registration is encouraged.
The event will be recorded. For more information visit https://pilotsafety.org/ga-.
