I.F.

Techniques of Flight Instruction

References: FAA-H-8083-9
Objectives

The student should develop knowledge of the elements related to the different techniques of
flight instruction as described in the CFI PTS.

Elements

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Obstacles in Learning During Flight Instruction

Demonstration-Performance Training Delivery
Positive Exchange of Controls
Sterile Cockpit
Use of Distractions
Integrated Flight Instruction
Assessment of Piloting Ability
Aeronautical Decision Making

Schedule

1.
2.
3.
4.

Discuss Objectives
Review material
Development
Conclusion

Equipment

1. White board and markers

2. References

IPs Actions

1.
2.
3.
4.

SPs Actions

1. Participate in discussion
2. Take notes
3. Ask and respond to questions

Completion
Standards

The student can competently explain and teach the range of topics discussed in this lesson.

Discuss lesson objectives

Present Lecture
Ask and Answer Questions
Assign homework

I.F. Techniques of Flight Instruction

Instructors Notes:
Introduction:
Attention
Every flight instructor can agree that everyone wants to be safe, but what does safety really mean? How
can a flight instructor ensure the safety of flight training activities, and also train clients to operate their
aircraft safely after they leave the relatively protected flight training environment?
Overview
Review Objectives and Elements/Key ideas
What
Practical strategies flight instructors can use to enhance their instruction, the demonstration-performance
training delivery method of flight instruction, integrated flight instruction, positive exchange of flight
controls, use of distractions, obstacles to learning encountered during flight training, and how to evaluate
students, followed by a look at ADM.
Why
Flight instructors are a critical part of the aviation system and must competently pass along standards and
practices that encourage safe flying to encourage safer skies for all pilots.

How:
1. Obstacles in Learning During Flight Instruction
A. Feeling of unfair treatment
i. Students who believe their instruction is inadequate, or that their efforts are not conscientiously
considered and evaluated, do not learn well
ii. Assignment of challenging goals makes the student more motivated
a. Promotes learning
B. Impatience to proceed to more interesting operations
i. Impatient student doesnt understand the need for training and only desires final goal
a. Basics must be mastered to competently perform the whole task
ii. Disinterest grows rapidly when unnecessary repetition and drill are requested on operations that
have already been adequately learned
C. Worry or lack of interest
i. Worried or emotionally upset students are not ready to learn
ii. Outside influences may have an effect on stresses brought into the classroom
D. Physical discomfort, illness, fatigue, and dehydration
i. Obviously is going to make learning difficult
ii. Acute vs Chronic fatigue
E. Apathy due to inadequate instruction
i. Be prepared, students are spending large amounts of money on training
ii. It is frustrating when the instructor is not prepared/doesnt care
F. Anxiety
i. Student must be comfortable/confident in instructor and airplane
ii. A healthy atmosphere is very beneficial to learning
2. Demonstration-Performance Training Delivery
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I.F. Techniques of Flight Instruction

A. Explanation Phase
i. Instructor must discuss lesson objectives, completion standards, & a thorough preight brieng
ii. Students need to know not only what they will learn, but also how they will learn it
a. How the lesson will proceed and how they will be evaluated

iii. Encourage student questions

B. Demonstration Phase
i. Show the actions necessary to perform a skill
C. Student Performance and Instructor Supervision Phase
i. Student performs the skill
a. Learns from repetition

ii. Instructor supervisors

a. Observes as student performs and offers advice

D. Evaluation Phase
i. Evaluate student performance and advise the students of progress
3. Positive Exchange of Controls
A. Incident statistics show a need for emphasis on a change of control
B. There must be a clear understanding of who has control of the aircraft
C. Use 3 way exchange when giving (or taking) the controls:
i. You have the flight controls
ii. I have the flight controls
iii. You have the flight controls
4. Sterile Cockpit
A. The idea is to avoid non essential activities during critical phases of flight
i. Critical phases are taxi, takeoff, landing and all other operations below 10,000 other than cruise
B. Came from the airlines but beneficial to all
5. Use of Distractions
A. Most spin/stall accidents occur when the student is distracted from flying the plane
i. Sterile cockpit is important
B. The FAA encourages instructors to simulate scenarios that could cause the student to be distracted
i. This teaches the student to divide attention
C. A student must be able to take charge and tell passengers, DPE, etc when something is too distracting
6. Integrated Flight Instruction
A. The student is taught to perform maneuvers by both visual and instrument reference
B. Development of Habit Patterns
i. Students who monitor instruments and outside references from the beginning will develop this
habit
a. This leads to better landings, superior cross-country navigation, better coordination, and
generally, a better overall pilot competency level
C. Operating Efficiency
i. As students get better at mastering their flight technique, aircraft performance will also increase
a. More precise climb performance, headings, altitudes result in better efficiency
ii. Integrated flight instruction does not mean the student can handle mvfr or ifr conditions
D. Procedures
i. Explain the controls used and the associated visual and instrument references associated
E. See and Avoid
i. Students responsibility to see and avoid
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I.F. Techniques of Flight Instruction

a. Dont let them depend on you

ii. Clearing turns before a maneuvers
iii. Right of way rules
7. Assessment of Piloting Ability
A. Important to keep a student up to date with their progress
i. Provide them direction and guidance to raise performance
B. Demonstrated Ability
i. Must be based on standards of performance
a. PTS, syllabus, etc
C. Postflight Evaluations
i. Keep the student up to date with progress
ii. Written is good
iii. Self assessment and instructor assessment are beneficial
D. Correction of Student Errors
i. Dont immediately take controls during a mistake
a. Let student work it out
b. Unless dangerous
E. Pilot Supervision
F. Dealing with Normal Change
i. Learn as you fly
G. Visualization
i. Have student visualize flight in normal conditions
a. Add unforeseen events to see how they would handle them
H. Practice Landings
i. Full stop landings
a. Learn aircraft control and checklist usage
I. Practical Test Endorsements
i. AC 61-65
ii. Your job to make sure the student is prepared
8. Aeronautical Decision Making
A. A systematic approach to the mental process used by aircraft pilots to consistently determine the best
course of action in response to a given set of circumstances
i. It is estimated that approximately 80 percent of all aviation accidents are human factors related
a. Good ADM is important
B. Teaching pilots to make sound decisions is the key to preventing accidents
C. The Decision Making Process
i. Defining the Problem
a. Recognize that a change has occurred and the expected result did not occur
b. Incorrectly defining the problem can create a worse problem
ii. Choosing a Course of Action
a. Evaluate the need to react and determine what available actions can solve the problem in the
time available
iii. Implementing the Decision and Evaluating the Outcome
a. Continue to evaluate how the decision will affect the flight
D. Factors Affecting Decision Making
i. Recognizing Hazardous Attitudes

I.F. Techniques of Flight Instruction

a. Must be able to spot hazardous attitudes in a student and remove them

I.F. Techniques of Flight Instruction

ii. Stress Management

a. A certain amount of stress is normal/good
b. Too much can be very bad
c. 3 types of stress that affect performance
Physical
Physiological
Psychological
E. Use of Resources
i. Internal Resources
a. Found in the flight deck during flight
Equipment, systems, charts, books, etc
Also ingenuity, knowledge and skill
Other passengers
ii. External Resources
a. ATC and flight service specialists
Traffic advisories, vectors, weather info, emergency assistance
iii. Workload Management
a. Plan, prioritize, and sequence to prevent overload
b. Prompt students to prepare for high workload situations
Dont wait until youre in the situation
i.e. prepare for the approach before it begins
iv. Be able to recognize high workloads
a. Working faster
b. Divided attention
Conclusion:
Brief review of the main points