I am in training for my helicopter CFI and am having trouble talking through the manuevers. Any suggestions?

Question

the helicopter is a scwiezer 300cbi. I can do the manuevers fine and explain it in detail on the ground or in a hover but i get tongue tied in the air and have tried lots of things to try to correct this. Any suggestions or sample excerpts from what you would say in the air would be greatly appreciated. Especially confined areas. Thanks

Answer 1

Try a different instructor - get their input on what's going on.

Answer 2

Don't let this bother you. Everyone is the same way when they are learning to teach and fly at the same time. You WILL get there. It just takes some getting used to. I can't say for sure of course, but you probably don't need a new instructor because EVERYONE goes through this. It never hurts to do a stage check with someone else though. Here are some thoughts:

The first, last, and most important thing is to fly the aircraft at all times. This is primarily for your safety, but it is also more important for the student to see a properly performed maneuver than it is for them to hear a properly explained maneuver. Half the time they are not even listening to you anyway, and they will remember what you do rather than what you say.

There is no substitute for thorough ground instruction. Prior to introducing any maneuver in the air, you should give the student a complete explanation on the ground. What you say in the air should just give the highlights, since the details have already been covered on the ground. Your examiner on the checkride should also assume that ground instruction has been previously completed when judging your method of instruction in the air.

Try to avoid scripted explanations or maneuver checklists. They will only distract you from flying the aircraft. It has to be natural and from memory and practice. There are some memory aids you can use, like the WOTFEEL checklist for your high recon on a confined area, but in general you shouldn't be reading anything or trying to recite some memorized explanation while you are trying to fly and demonstrate a maneuver.

When introducing a maneuver I like to start with a basic definition and purpose. It actually helps me too by mentally preparing for the maneuver so I am not just fishing for what to say:

"We're going to do a confined area approach. We use a confined area approach when our landing zone is surrounded by obstacles."



When actually performing the maneuver, don't worry so much about what to say. Say what you are doing rather than trying to do what you are saying:

"I am starting a high recon now. I am flying at X feet and X knots. I'm checking the winds, they're out of the South. Obstacles are trees and a set of power lines...."

"My high recon is finished. I'm setting up a normal pattern while keeping the spot in sight. I'm doing my landing checks....."

"I am starting the steep approach by lowering the collective, gving aft cyclic and right pedal. My target is the last third of the lz...."

And so on. Do the maneuver properly and the words will follow. Right now you're worried about saying the wrong thing because the guy in the other seat actually knows how to fly. Worry about doing the right thing instead of saying the right thing.

There really isn't some secret trick to it, it just takes some practice. Remember to fly the aircraft, keep explanations simple, stick to the highlights, say what you're doing rather than doing what you say, and keep practicing it.

Good luck! You'll get it soon!

Answer 3

Bring a maneuvers checklist with you stating the first thing you do, the second, etc.  Read them one by one to your student and then you should be able to explain them if the procedures are right in front of you..Good luck chopper boy