I haven’t been able to find this, but when going to ATP, what does your typical class schedule look like for Monday-Friday?
Joseph,
You haven’t been able to find it, because there is not a typical schedule. Each phase of the program is different, some are more instructional based while others are more flying based. Some days will start with ground instruction, while on other days you will go straight to the aircraft. Of course weather is the always changing dynamic that rules much of this.
Chris
Thank you Chris. That makes sense, I’m just wondering more about start and end of instruction times, I have a place to stay about 30 minutes away from the ATP I’m looking at and am wondering if that will be feasible, or if I should get the extra 8000 on my loan for the housing. I understand that you will have to stay late for night flying and the like, just wondering if it’s feasible with a 30 minute drive.
Joseph,
You won’t know until you actually start. Your schedule will vary. Only your instructor will be able to give you an idea. A 30 minute commute is totally feasible. I had a similar commute when I was a student.
Tory
Thank you Tory, that makes me feel better. Now as for the being an instructor, how hard is it once you understand it yourself for you to teach someone else how to fly?
Great question. I wish I could give you a more sophisticated answer, but honestly, teaching is really hard! Haha
Some things are easy to teach, and some things are very difficult. And then, when you think you have a good method or style of teaching, you will be challenged again when you get a new student that doesn’t understand your method. Then, you are forced to go back to the drawing board to figure out a new method that works for that particular student.
To be a good instructor you have to be sharp. There is no way to get around this. Your knowledge and skills need to be top notch, but that doesn’t happen over night. You will make mistakes. Hopefully not big ones. But that’s okay. Learn from them. You will get better.
In addition to that, I’d say a good instructor is one that is always learning, not afraid to admit when they are wrong or simply don’t know, and can effectively transfer their knowledge to their students. The transference of knowledge is the tricky part.
I quickly learned that you can’t spoon feed knowledge to people. Knowledge is best learned (and RETAINED) when the student knows where to look to find the answer. Hint: the instructor is not the source! So many students fall for this trap, especially in a fast-paced environment. We are so used to coming up with an answer as fast as possible without actually taking the time to ponder the answer’s validity. So, as an instructor, question your student’s knowledge. Don’t assume they know because they regurgitated what you said. Ask them “How do you know that?” At that point, they should be cracking open a book to find where they had read it. If they haven’t read it yet, then that’s a perfect opportunity for them to read it in front of you. Odds are that they will remember it because you just gave them a reason to want to learn. They may not enjoy it, but they will thank you later for it after they crushed the oral portion of their check ride.
Now, I know that flying is not all about knowledge. It involves actually flying an airplane too, but learning to fly the plane is easier than the knowledge portion. So, that’s why I’m focusing more on that part of instructing.
Tory
Joseph,
I believe teaching (like many things) comes very naturally to some and is very challenging to others. Not only was I a flight instructor but I’ve also been an instructor at both my airlines. I’ve personally had some great instructors and some who were lacking. The good ones all seem to genuinely care about the students are genuinely want to help the students be successful. The airlines traditionally had very “militaristic” methods of teaching which involved challenging, provoking and pushing students to the brink of failure. It was even thought you needed to humiliate or “break” the student down. Fortunately this was proven to be ineffective and the airlines have progressed. Instructors should be champions for their students and are there to help. I believe if you try to not forget what it was like to be a student and not look at your students as just hours in your logbook you’ll do well.
Adam
Thank you both. I can already tell it’s going to be a challenge for me, I usually teach myself and have trouble tutoring others in the same subjects. But with the advise that you have given me, and probably a few pointers from the other instructors, I should do ok.
Allen,
No. Some is in a class room setting while other instruction is small groups or pairs of students.
Chris
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Joseph,
Start and end times will also vary as some flights need to be completed at night.
I think a 30 minute drive will be fine.
Chris
Joseph,
I always remind instructors that they are not there to build flight time for the Airlines. They are there to provide the best quality instruction possible to their students. If they do that, the flight time will easily follow.
Chris