First Impressions

Day one, so much to cover so little time. We would start by doing the preflight walk around. I would give him or her the checklist and ask them to read out each item. I would have them follow me and I would show them what I was looking for. The student will check each item with me. I know that they won't remember everything that I say, but at least they will know that the checklist can help take them through the walk around step by step.

We would then get ready to taxi and run up. I would do all the radio calls, but I would ask the student to try to follow along. Before each call I would explain to the student what I am requesting and what the controllers response is. We would do the run up together.

I would have the student on the controls with me for takeoff. Once we are cruising its all him/her. The lesson would be very basic visual maneuvers.

If I took on a student from another instructor I would check their folder for the obvious. The lesson, any repeat lessons, and any ground instruction. Some questions I would ask the student are "Where are you in your flight training?" "What have you gone over with your old instructor?" "What areas do you think are your weakest?" I would want to ask his old instructor what he thought of the student. I would also ask the instructor what they have been doing, but would not necessarily do the same as the old instructor, just incase the instructor is the reason for the switch. To figure out where he is on his ground, I feel the easiest way is to quiz him. Good times to quiz him would be walking to and from the plane, during the preflight, and in flight ops before we go out to the plane.