FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR GUIDE Aeroplane - South African Civil ...

Introduction
1. What is a trainer?
PART I
LEARNING AND LEARNING FACTORS
2. The Concise Oxford Dictionary definition of the word train is: "Bring to desired state or
standard of efficiency by instruction or practice" .
3. Flight instructors are trainers. If you are a flight instructor, your aim is to give students
good instruction and sufficient practice so that they can fly aircraft proficiently and safely.
4. Part one of this guide is designed to describe some basic instructional techniques that
apply to:
(a) ground school training;
(b) preparatory ground instruction;
(c) pre-flight briefing;
(d) in-flight instruction; and,
(e) post-flight briefing (debriefing).
5. By using these techniques you will make learning easier for your students as you help
them meet the required flight test standards.
Learning
6. No one ever learns except through their own activity and there is, strictly speaking, no
such art as teaching, only the art of helping people to learn.
The instructional techniques described in this guide suggest actions that can be performed
to stimulate student activity. These activities may be mental or physical and it is through this
process of directed activity that students learn the skills and knowledge required to become
good, safe pilots.
Learning Factors
7. Listed below are seven learning factors. Read them carefully and determine whether they
apply to you as you learn new skills and knowledge. If they apply to you, they will also apply to
your students. Attempt to associate a single word that is used to represent the entire learning
factor. These words will be used throughout the guide and in test questions on instructional
technique.
Learning is made easier when the following factors are used:
(a) READINESS — Ensure students are mentally, physically and emotionally ready to learn.
(b) PRIMACY — Present new knowledge or skills correctly the first time. (Teach it right the
first time.)
(c) RELATIONSHIP — Present lessons in the logical sequence of known to unknown, simple
to complex, easy to difficult.