Another way for the instructor to advocate safety is to partner with the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam). The FAASTeam is dedicated
to improving the aviation safety record by conveying safety principles and practices through training, outreach, and education. More
information is available at FAASafety.gov.
Flight Instructor Qualifications
A flight instructor needs to be thoroughly familiar with the functions, characteristics, and proper use of all flight instruments,
avionics, and other aircraft systems being used for training. This is especially important due to the wide variety in global positioning
systems (GPS) and glass panel displays.
Each flight instructor should maintain familiarity with current pilot training techniques and certification requirements. Frequent
review of new periodicals and technical publications, personal contacts with FAA inspectors and designated pilot examiners (DPE),
and participation in pilot and flight instructor clinics such as the FAASTeam/SAFE quarterly series of Flight Instructor Open Forums
facilitate awareness of current requirements. Additional information can be obtained from veteran flight instructors. [Figure 8-6] The
continued use of outmoded instructional procedures or the preparation of learners using obsolete certification requirements usually
involves rationalization.
Figure 8-6. Teaching tips from veteran flight instructors.
Professionalism
The aviation instructor is the central figure in aviation training and bears responsibility for all phases of required training.
The instructor, either pilot or aircraft maintenance technician, needs to be a professional. As professionals, aviation instructors
strive to maintain the highest level of knowledge, training, and currency in the field of aviation. To achieve this goal,
instructors need to commit themselves to continuous, lifelong learning and professional development through study, service,
and membership in professional organizations such as the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), the National
Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) and Professional Aviation Mechanics Association (PAMA). Professionals build a library
of resources that keeps them informed of the most current procedures, publications, and educational opportunities. Being a
professional also means behaving in a professional manner. [Figure 8-7] An aviation instructor should strive to practice the
characteristics on the Instructor Do’s list when teaching a learner.
Figure 8-7. Guidelines for an aviation instructor.
Sincerity
An aviation learner normally accepts a competent instructor as a teacher. However, the aviation instructor should be straightforward
and honest at all times. Attempting to hide inadequacy behind a smokescreen of unrelated instruction makes it impossible for the
instructor to command the respect and full attention of a learner. Any facade of instructor pretentiousness, whether it is real or
mistakenly presumed, causes the learner to lose confidence in the instructor and adversely affects learning.
Acceptance of the Learner
The instructor needs to accept learners as they are, including all their faults and problems. The learner is a person who wants to learn,
and the instructor is a person who is available to help in the learning process. The professional relationship between the instructor and
learner should be based on a mutual acknowledgement that the learner and the instructor are important to each other, and that both are
working toward the same objective.
Under no circumstance should the instructor do anything which implies degrading the learner. Acceptance (rather than ridicule) and
support (rather than reproof) encourage learning. Learners need to be treated with respect, regardless of whether they are quick to
learn or require more time to absorb certain concepts. Criticizing a learner who does not learn rapidly is similar to a docto r
reprimanding a patient who does not get well as rapidly as predicted.
Personal Appearance and Habits
Personal appearance has an important effect on the professional image of the instructor. Today’s aviation customer expects an
instructor to be neat, clean, and appropriately dressed. Since the instructor is engaged in a learning situation, the attire worn should be
appropriate to professional status. [Figure 8-8]
Figure 8-8. The aviation instructor should always present a professional appearance.
Personal habits have a significant effect on the professional image. The exercise of common courtesy is perhaps the most important of
these. An instructor who is rude, thoughtless, and inattentive cannot hold the respect of a learner, regardless of the instru ctor’s ability
as a pilot or aviation maintenance technician. Personal cleanliness is important to aviation instruction. Frequently, an instructor and a
learner work in close proximity, and even little annoyances such as body odor or bad breath can cause serious distractions from
learning the tasks at hand.
Demeanor
The attitude and behavior of the instructor can contribute much to a professional image. The instructor should avoid erratic
movements, distracting speech habits, and capricious changes in mood. The professional image requires development of a calm,
thoughtful, and disciplined demeanor.
The successful instructor avoids contradictory directions, reacting differently to similar or identical errors at different times,
demanding unreasonable performance or progress, criticizing a learner unfairly, or presenting an overbearing manner or air of
flippancy. Effective instruction is best conducted in a calm, pleasant, thoughtful manner that puts the learner at ease. The instructor
should constantly demonstrate competence in the subject matter and genuine interest in the learner’s well-being.
Proper Language
In aviation instruction, as in other professional activities, the use of profanity and obscene language leads to distrust or, at best, to a
lack of complete confidence in the instructor. Many people object to such language. The professional instructor speaks normally,
without inhibitions, and speaks positively and descriptively, without profanity.
Evaluation of Learner Ability
Evaluation of a learner’s ability is an important element of instruction. Used in this context, evaluation refers to judging a learner’s
ability to perform a maneuver or procedure.
Demonstrated Ability
Evaluation of demonstrated ability during flight or maintenance instruction is based upon established standards of performance,
suitably modified to apply to the learner’s experience and stage of development as a pilot or mechanic. The evaluation considers the
learner’s mastery of the elements involved in the maneuver or procedure, rather than merely the overall performance. For example,
qualification of learner pilots for solo and solo cross-country privileges depends upon demonstrations of performance.
Keeping the Learner Informed
When evaluating learner demonstrations of ability, the aviation instructor should keep the learner informed of progress. This may be
done as each procedure or maneuver is completed or summarized during a postflight or class critique. These critiques should be in a
written format, such as notes, to aid the instructor in covering all areas that were noticed during the flight or lesson. When explaining
errors in performance, instructors point out the elements in which the deficiencies are believed to have originated and, if possible,
suggest appropriate corrective measures.
Professional Development
Aviation is changing rapidly, and aviation instructors need to continue to develop their knowledge and skills in order to teach
successfully in this environment. The aviation instructor is well respected by other technicians and pilots because instructors have
trained extensively to be certificated. Flight instructors undergo comprehensive evaluations and a practical test to obtain a flight
instructor certificate. 14 CFR part 147 requires all instructors teaching maintenance subjects to hold an FAA certificate as an aircraft
maintenance technician.
Successful, professional aviation instructors do not become complacent or satisfied with their own qualifications and abilities and are
constantly alert for ways to improve their qualifications, effectiveness, and the services they provide to learners. Considered by their
learners to be a source of up- to-date information, instructors have the opportunity and responsibility to introduce new procedures and
techniques both to their learners and to other aviation professionals with whom they come in contact.
Continuing Education
A professional aviation instructor continually updates his or her knowledge and skills. This goal is attained in a variety of ways, such
as reading an article in a technical publication or taking a course at a technical school. There are many different sources o f
information the aviation instructor can use in order to remain current in aviation knowledge and teaching.
Government
One of the first educational sources for the instructor is the FAA and other governmental agencies. The FAA either sponsors o r
collaborates in sponsoring aviation programs, seminars, and workshops for the public. For example, the FAA conducts safety
seminars around the country in conjunction with the aviation industry. These seminars, although directed at pilots, can be a useful
source of knowledge for aviation instructors.
The FAA is a rich source of information that can be used to enhance an instructor’s knowledge. Regulations, advisory circulars,
airworthiness directives, orders, and notices are some of the documents that can be downloaded from the FAA website at
www.faa.gov.
Participation in the Pilot Proficiency Awards Program is a good way for a flight instructor to improve proficiency and to serve as an
example to learners. Another way is to work toward the Gold Seal Flight Instructor Certificate. Accomplishing the requirements of
the certificate is evidence the instructor has performed at a very high level as a flight instructor. See AC 61-65, Certification: Pilots
and Flight and Ground Instructors, for a list of requirements for earning this certificate.
Similarly, the Aviation Maintenance Awards Program affords the aviation maintenance instructor the opportunity for increased
education through attendance at FAA or industry maintenance training seminars. Details for the awarding of bronze through diamond
pins can be found in AC 65-25, Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program.
The FAA approves the providers who conduct Flight Instructor Refresher Courses (FIRCs) in accordance with AC 61-83, Nationally
Scheduled FAA-Approved Industry-Conducted Flight Instructor Refresher Course. These courses are available for flight instructors
to complete the training requirements for renewal of flight instructor certificates.
The FAA cosponsors Inspection Authorization (IA) seminars. These seminars are open to all maintenance technicians and are a g ood
source of additional training and education for maintenance instructors.
Educational/Training Institutions
Professional aviation instructors can further increase their knowledge and skill in aviation specialties by attending classes at local
community colleges, technical schools, or universities. These schools may offer complete degree programs in aviation subjects as
well as single-subject courses of benefit to instructors.
Commercial Organizations
Commercial organizations are another important source of education/training for the aviation instructor. Some may be publishers or
online suppliers of training materials while others may provide complete ground and flight training programs for professional pilots
and instructors. These companies often provide a wide variety of study programs including videos, computer-based training, and
printed publications. Many offer training that can be attended either at the home base of the company, at classes or seminars around
the country, or through internet sites.
There are numerous organizations around the country that offer courses of training for aviation instructors. These are generally
courses that are available to all pilots and technicians but are especially useful for instructors to improve their abilities. Examples of
such courses include workshops for maintenance technicians to enhance their skills in subjects such as composites, sheet meta l
fabrication, and fabric covering. For pilots, there are courses in mountain flying, spin training, upset prevention and recovery, and tail
wheel qualification to name a few. Flight instructors also may increase their aviation knowledge and experience by adding additional
category and class ratings to their certificates.
Industry Organizations
Other significan t sources of ongoing education for aviation instructors ar e aviation organizations. Th ese organizations no t only
provide educational articles in their publications, but also present training programs or cosponsor such programs.
Many industry organizations have local affiliated chapters that make it easy to meet other pilots, technicians, and instructors. These
meetings frequently include presentations by industry experts, as well as formal training sessions. Some aviation industry
organizations conduct their own training sessions on areas such as the flight instructor refresher course and Inspection Authorization
(IA) seminars. Properly organized safety symposiums and training clinics are valuable sources of refresher training. They are also an
excellent opportunity to exchange information with other instructors.
Sources of Material
An aviation instructor should maintain access to current flight publications or maintenance publications. For the flight instructor, this
includes current copies of regulations pertinent to pilot qualification and certification, Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM),
ACS/PTS, and pilot training manuals. The aviation maintenance instructor should have copies of applicable regulations, curren t
knowledge and ACS/PTS, and maintenance training manuals. Aviation instructors should be thoroughly familiar with current
certification and rating requirements in order to provide competent instruction. Many of the advisory circulars should be considered by
the aviation instructor as references. The www.faa.gov website maintains current advisory circulars under the Regulations and
Policies tab.
In addition to government publications, a number of excellent handbooks and other reference materials are available from commercial
publishers through print and online media. Aviation periodicals and technical journals from the aviation industry are other sources of
valuable information for instructors. Many public and institutional libraries have excellent resource material on educational
psychology, teaching methods, testing, and other aviation related subjects.
The aviation instructor has two reasons to maintain a source of current information and publications. First, the instructor needs a
steady supply of fresh material to make instruction interesting and up to date. Second, instructors should keep themselves we ll
informed by maintaining familiarity with what is being written in current aviation publications. Many of these publications are in
printed form, but increasingly, information is available through electronic means. [Figure 8-9]
Printed Material
In aviation, documentation in the form of flight publications or maintenance data needs to be immediately available for referral while
flying or conducting maintenance. While the portability of printed material meets this need for immediate availability, printed
material has two disadvantages. First, it takes up space for storage and second, it can be time consuming to keep printed material
current. Many publishers of printed material now make their information available in electronic format. For example, most FAA
regulations, standards, and guides are available either in electronic form or as hard copy.
Non-FAA publications are available through the GPO and from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). Publications not
printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office are available from the many publishers and suppliers of books. Commercial
publishers usually provide catalogues and toll-free numbers or websites for ordering their products.
Figure 8-9. Aviation instructors can improve their knowledge by becoming familiar with information on the internet.
Electronic Sources
Access to the internet via personal computers, tablets, and smartphones has opened up a vast storehouse of information for th e
aviation instructor at the FAA website, www.faa.gov and many, many other websites and apps.
Professional aviation instructors should continue to expand their knowledge and skills in order to remain competent. The field of
aviation is advancing, and the instructor also needs to advance. Instructors can best do this by taking advantage of the wide variety of
materials available from the FAA, other government agencies, commercial publishers and vendors, and from industry trade groups.
These materials are available at training sessions and seminars, from printed books, papers, magazines, and from the internet and
other electronic sources. Instructors who commit to continuing education are able to provide the highest quality instruction to their
learners.
Chapter Summary
This chapter discussed the responsibilities of aviation instructors to the learner, the public, and the FAA in the training process. The
additional responsibilities of flight instructors who teach new learner pilots as well as rated pilots seeking add-on certification, the
role of aviation instructors as safety advocates, and ways in which aviation instructors can enhance their professional image and
development were explored.