Best and worst experiences with flight instructors

[HooverPilot]

Worst experience I had as an instructor? I had to fail a kid on his NATOPS check. Twice. In one week.

I should never have been scheduled for the second check, but I was the only NATOPS check pilot for that Lot aircraft. I thought long & hard after that second flight to make sure I gave him a fair shot, I wanted him to pass. I didn't do it to him, the unsafe maneuvers did it to him.

 

[jarhead]

This is expectation bias. Its effects are insidious and extremely hard to combat.

GWOE dork...

 

[squorch2]

I make no bones about my dorkdom. Just saying that confirmation bias is known about, talked about, and still extremely hard to control for.

 

[AirPirate]

So there's a name for it now? Ok, I'm really not as old as some of these characters. Well, time to go to diversity training now, catch ya'll later.

 

[DanMa1156]

Other pitfalls I've seen are the instructor who has the NATOPS/FTI memorized, and consciously or subconsciously uses this as a tool to intimidate students in the brief.

THIS is so true. I would also add, a couple friends and I were talking today too - not huge fans of the open ended questions that have no or a poor lead in, like you're doing a brief and ORM comes up - IP: "So what else might we have to think about today?"
SNA: "Well, I'm not sure sir, uh, I said birds, traffic, the weather up north isn't so hot, ah, there were no new NOTAMs out today."
IP: "Really think now. This all ties into your headwork. Something specific to today."
...Several seconds pass by...
SNA: "Sir, I really am not sure what you're getting at."
IP: "Poor headwork man. It's hot outside. Come on. I need you to be really thinking about this stuff, it's important."
SNA thinks to himself "Oh yeah, you're right. It wasn't hot yesterday, or the day before that, or the past 6 weeks where I step into a 130 degree cockpit. And didn't I just IMSAFE? No joke sherlock, I'll take a sip of water if I get thirsty or hot."

Just an example. I'm sure you all know what I mean.

And with all that said so far, I've gotta say I've been almost awestruck by like 85% of my instructors, especially my onwing - and their/his ability to handle the aircraft and teach as well as they do.

 

[jt71582]

I'll second on the open-ended questions. I also had an IP early-on in the HTs that LOVED to come on the controls during full autos in the TH-57B. I felt like my onwing did a great job preparing me, and by that time, my autos were pretty safe. I felt cheated out of some good training.

I also had an IP on a ccx rush through checklists to make it to our final destination. I understand that, yes, we've been flying this same aircraft all day long, it's hot, and the pedals don't need to be adjusted every time; but I can't focus on the flight unless I've gone through the checklists the same way I always have. There's a reason we develop a routine.

 

[phrogpilot73]

It's been awhile, does the TH-57 checklist have daggered items??

 

[jt71582]

It's been awhile, does the TH-57 checklist have daggered items??

They have daggers.

I'm not really referring to the 'easy' items though. This IP in particular would run the checklist himself, flipping switches fast enough for me to get behind with what he was doing. I felt like it got out of hand when he flipped the starter on when I was still 4-5 steps behind. I'd rather be a functioning part of the flight crew.

 

[phrogpilot73]

He's just getting you ready for the fleet. There will come a time that you may be having a bad day, and you've got a hard launch time (to make an L-Hour, overhead time, what have you) and the other pilot is on his game. Usually that's the best time to say "you have the start, I have the sticks"

 

[KBayDog]

I also had an IP on a ccx rush through checklists to make it to our final destination. I understand that, yes, we've been flying this same aircraft all day long, it's hot, and the pedals don't need to be adjusted every time; but I can't focus on the flight unless I've gone through the checklists the same way I always have. There's a reason we develop a routine.

Did you bring this up in the debrief?

That said, what Phrog said is valid. You never...NEVER...memorize checklists, but that doesn't mean they need to take forever. As an FCP, I did all of the checklists multiple times a day, so I'd typically have the copilot man the controls while I ran through the start. Like you said, you develop a routine, and depending on where you are in your career, your routine will adapt to the situation. Also, when you've been flying with the same guys for days/weeks/months at a time, you get to know each other's rhythms.

However, let me repeat myself: You never memorize checklists. The NATOPS program has provided you with a pilot-proof way to get the chopper chopperin'; make sure you use it.

Also, you can look at it this way: You've got a carrot in the TH-57 that you don't have in many other helicopters. I'll give you a hint: It happens right after you verify that the loadmeter is below 50%

 

[squeeze]

You never...NEVER...memorize checklists, but that doesn't mean they need to take forever.

However, let me repeat myself: You never memorize checklists. The NATOPS program has provided you with a pilot-proof way to get the chopper chopperin'; make sure you use it.

This doesn't apply to jets*. Memorize your checklists, or you're going to take WAY too long in the chocks. Current-refreshing and initial looks aside, I haven't used a physical preflight/start/taxi/takeoff/landing checklist since I was a T-34 ninja.

*FCFs not necessarily included

 

[scoolbubba]

This doesn't apply to jets*. Memorize your checklists, or you're going to take WAY too long in the chocks. Current-refreshing and initial looks aside, I haven't used a physical preflight/start/taxi/takeoff/landing checklist since I was a T-34 ninja.

*FCFs not necessarily included

Is this common to all pointy noses, or just single seat guys?

 

[MasterBates]

Memorized checklists in the T-45. Just read through real fast when done with the "Sweep".

In the E-2, if I am the left seat pilot, I get in, do every prestart check, and tell the copilot to "hit it" then he reads through everything and I reply as fast as I can. (this is beyond the "make sure switches are in right spot for start".

All the post start checks are done from memory, and the checklist is reviewed while we have out hands up for the hell hole checks.

All the "normal" E-2 checks are on one 8.5x11 laminated sheet.

The PCL only comes out for emergencies.

Totally NOT how we did shit in 60s, which boggled the minds of the E-2 RAG IPs because they think EVERYONE does it their way.

 

[phrogpilot73]

This doesn't apply to jets*. Memorize your checklists, or you're going to take WAY too long in the chocks. Current-refreshing and initial looks aside, I haven't used a physical preflight/start/taxi/takeoff/landing checklist since I was a T-34 ninja.

*FCFs not necessarily included

Yup. WAY too long in the chocks. The time savings of not using a checklist worth having to do a high speed abort for having your wings folded (F/A-18) because you're too "busy" to do the checklist? I'm sure there's something else in the Harrier checklist that can bite you in the ass if you "memorize" the checklist.

Riddle me this batman - if memorizing the checklist was the mark of a mishap-free pilot, why do airline guys read the checklist and have a lower mishap rate than us? Maybe it's because you're destined to have to write an approach article at best.

WAY too long in the chocks? I'd challenge that the Phrog takes longer to start than a Harrier, and yet I can pull pitch in six minutes while actually doing CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE with the checklist. You're full of shit.

 

[MasterBates]

And yeah.. I did it "Challenge-Reply-Reply" on FAM-1S. And got shat upon.

Of course, they never told us what they expected. Only when it was NOT what they wanted. Typical of VT-120.

For the record, VT-120 ooops, VAW-120 was the WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY CAREER. Due to how they treat students.

I'd rather repeat SERE than go back there as a CAT-I/CAT-II (I'll eat it for a COD tour, but for E-2s, I'll get out before I go back there)