How is it that instructors will relentlesly destroy a student pilots confidence for making one honest mistake?

Question

Dont they realize that it might be possible that this student has had such a disturbing upbringing that his confidence may be a defence mechanisim created at a young age to combat the relentlessly horrifying world that has surrounded him for so long? and that it may actually be all he has left and that to destroy it could be one of the nastiest things you could do to a human being? Do they not think deep enough to see that? Dont they understand that they are look upon as a source for confidence and that to constantly be treated like dirt for months just for pulling unusual attitudes without being shown how, might be a little over the top? Is it a crime worth being torn to peices over!!?? Well? is it?

For some of us, we have been delt cards that mean we may only have a thin layer of self generated confidence left that we use to shield us from a dangerous and violent world we know all too well. Those involved need to look at themselves and ask what kind of person they really are.

Answer 1

Dear Whiney Boy,

Your instructor isn't a psychologist - he's a Certifed Flight Instructor. If you want to talk to Dr. Laura, feel free to call the show - but when you sit your butt in that aircraft, you better have your full head in the game - or, as we used to say - "Other Sports Beckon".

There is no place in aviation for self-important sniveling.

htfu

Answer 2

I am a certified flight instructor (CFI- CFI-I, MEI, Gold Seal Level) so I feel like this is something I can answer sith some degree of expertise.

While your psyche is important and keeping a student confident is part of the game, you f'd up.  Let me say that again.  You made a huge mistake and you deserve to be called out on it.  This isn't a game kid.  If you make a mistake, you can DIE.  And if your instructor let you solo, his/her career is pretty much over.  So you have the potential to destroy more lives than your own by making a dumb mistake.

Unusual attitudes are part of the training that is required prior to getting your certificate.  You will get to them when the curriculum you are training under warrants it.  And you will receive excellent instruction on how to do it PROPERLY.  There is a reason it is practiced and a reason it is done the way it is.  Your instructor does not want you reinforcing bad habits, only to have to break you of them later.

Basically, this is a business where the stakes are too high to allow a person's feelings affect how you are evaluated.  If you did something you were not supposed to do, and got caught, you need to deal with the fallout.  If you can't handle it, drop out now because the rest of your life is going to suck.  Every day I am subject to evaluation.  By my passengers, my coworkers, the FAA inspectors that jumpseat along with me, my company check airmen, the news media, and just about everyone else in the world.  If you can't take criticism, you are in the wrong business.  It never ends.  It just doesn't.

If you make a mistake, be prepared to deal with it.  Own your mistakes and learn from them.  Take your lessons forward in life and for god's sake DON'T DO IT AGAIN.  There is a reason for all this criticism you are enduring.  It will make you a better pilot.

So:  Either gain some coping skills or find a new hobby.

And to answer your question...yes it is a crime.  Reckless or careless operation of an aircraft is a prosecutable offense.

Edit to respond to an edit:  Yes, it is talked about.  Quite a bit.  There's even a chapter in the FAA's flight instructor book entitled "The CFI as a Practical Psychologist."  In that chapter one of the main points of emphasis is not to let your personal feelings toward a student cloud your judgment in critiquing a student.  Your instructor has every right to be upset with you.  And you have every right to take offense if that's your reaction.  However, please remember that if you make a mistake, its not your fault...its HIS.  That is the burden of the PIC (and yes even when you're solo, you are operating under you CFI's umbrella so everything you do is his fault).  Whether you feel he war "rude" or "mean" is up to you.  However 99% of all CFIs are extremely professional and extremely competent.  Manners need to go out the window from time to time in the interest of safety.

To illustrate my point I'll simply pose a question to you...  Are you ever going to do it again?

I thought not.  Lesson learned and mission accomplished.

Answer 3

I know exactly what you are talking about, and dont expect any support from any pilots. If there is one thing about pilots its that we are generally stuck up and self centered.

Being intimidated by instructors is probably one of the biggest problems out there.

A great example was that back when I only had my instrument, I took up another student and in one flight I was able to teach him everything I had been taught in a year (Just as you can in a hour long stage check), showed him everything about VFR and IFR navigation and using the FMS. Its really simple to learn when youre not under pressure.

After that flight his instructors pretty much brutalized him, constantly played games with his time, gave him insanely unrealistic and useless assignments with unrealistic goals. One of them was to memorize an entire section of the FAR and write it exactly as it is in the book, and of course he failed because he didnt have exactly perfect punctuation, even though he knew it all.

One time I was even threatened with being kicked out because I asked for a week off because I was stressed out, and got a whole speech just like these other guys here are giving you. Then the next week my room mate asked for 3 weeks off for the same reason and the same guy who had denied me just said "ok" and that was it.  

They pretty much didnt want to have students that do better than they did. They want to make it hard on you so you cant do as well as them.

The thing is that the only thing you can do is ignore it because if you stand up for yourself they will be worse. Ignore favoritism also, there is nothing you can do to help it and it will only get worse if you complain.

Dont ever look to pilots to talk about problems, very few of us are willing to listen and most will just make you feel even worse. If you need to talk to someone you should get some kind of counselor. They are the only people you can rely on to feel for you. Dont be to prideful to get one if you need one.

Answer 4

Tommy, this is all BS. Piloting an aircraft is a serious business. Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous, but it is totally unforgiving of mistakes. Mistakes get people killed. If you cannot handle the heat of getting chewed out, stop flying before you kill someone.

Stop the whining, it is unbecoming and dangerous.

Dan

PS I don't know what you did, but I don't think that the instructor was hard enough on you.

Answer 5

If things are not working out with a certain instructor get a different one. I have had 3 different ones, not because of any problems with any of them I have just taken to long to get my license and instructors move on to better paying jobs.

Flying an airplane is not a trivial task and mistakes can be deadly for you and your passenger (instructor).  The instructor needs to be very clear when you are doing something wrong.

Successfully learning to pilot an aircraft is a great confidence builder and a skill that very few people master. But in your case you do need to address your personnel issues fully before you move forward with you flight training

Answer 6

/ Well said!

Answer 7

I think no matter how unfair the instructor is it is for the good of the student remember one mistake you die along with hundreds of your passenger. I mean it is best now that you are being chewed alive and come out 2nd best if not the best.

I've seen FO's (co-pilots) who gripes that they were never given T/Off or landing and it's the worse thing that could happen to anyone just because they're kinda raw in their flying or too sensitive to admit their mistake and correct it before.I've seen these many times as an accompanying mechanic in a flight.

As an A&P, when we have a Ground Engineer course (type rating) to pass it after the written exams we have an oral exam and a certain "terror instructor" always as if intentional, i get the hard part like explain the landing gear + doors extension and retraction, sometimes even cargo loading from power on like the sill latches must be down to the X & Y & Z latches. I was so pissed but now I have seen his purpose, I may not be the best Line mechanic but after 30 years, I still get the job offers from airline or MRO.