One of the first and most important steps in beginning flight training is selecting the right flight instructor, commonly referred to as a CFI.  Too often, people walk into a flying club or flight school and hook up with the very first CFI they talk to, I guess because they have the notion that flight instruction is highly standardized and that one CFI is as good as the next.  The truth is that, while CFI credentials, experience, and hourly rate are factors that weigh in the decision, equally important (if not moreso) are the CFI’s instructional philosoply and “bedside manner”, so to speak.  The chemistry that exists between the CFI and student goes a long way towards determining that student’s success in acheiving his or her goal.  For this reason, I encourage every flight training candidate to take some time and interview several CFI’s before making this very important decision.

As you’ll see in the video below, I place a great deal of importance in making sure that flight training is fun.  Over the course of my own flying career, I myself have worked with 14 or 15 CFI’s and can tell you that I’ve seen some very good ones, and some very bad ones.  It’s often difficult to know ahead of time how a CFI is going to behave in the cockpit – they may be quite charming and personable on the ground but change dramatically once in the air.  If this happens, dump that instructor immediately – remember, he/she works for you, not the other way around.