Would being a flight instructor scare the cr@p out of you?

Question

Really, the training includes rehearsing all sorts of things that novice pilots need to know about, and many of these maneuvers are to some extent dangerous, as are landings and takeoffs.

Answer 1

Well, to tell the truth in can. Anytime a student is taught something that in demonstration could result in a compromising situation a thorough pre-flight briefing should be given to prepare the student for what to expect. More importantly a positive communication should be understood in the event the pilot instructor needs to take over aircraft control. It's not only novice pilots that can be pushed beyond their capabilities; many experienced pilots have failed to respond to a situation correctly, these scenarios are often practiced in a simulator where no one gets hurt. Advanced flight instruction such as multi-engine training can be especially dangerous for a flight instructor who must often block controls that a novice pilot may inadvertently use. Many instructors giving engine out demonstrations in light twin aircraft have told horror story's of students shutting down the remaining engine due to mis-identification of the engine set for zero thrust power.

Perhaps the most feared of all situations is a student that may freeze on the controls and may be difficult to overpower. I've heard of instructors who had to slap the hand or the knee of the student to get them to let go of the controls.

Answer 2

In all training aircraft you have a yolk and rudder peddles on your side of the airplane so that you pretty much control whats going on. And "My airplane" and "Your airplane" are passed off between the student and the instructor. I am working to be a flight instructor now and I can't think of anything I want to do more at this point in my life. Yes there are some dangerous maneuvers that are preformed but the thrill of it is teaching someone who knew nothing about how to do it. As a flight instructor you go over your whole flight on the ground telling the student what you are doing that day and preparing them for it. I myself flew my first solo with 10 hours under my belt. So really, yeah its dangerous; but as a pilot it doesn't scare me one bit.

Answer 3

As a JSUPT IP, absolutely. Especially when you start teaching your students formation. I can't even tell you how many times during the course of a single flight I would have to take the controls because the student is about to hit the other airplane. Now that I am back on the operational side of flying, I wouldn't want to go back to instructing JSUPT.

Answer 4

Yes it will. I scared my instructor a few times.
but the thing a flight instructor has to me most prepared for, is the chance that someone might trow up during the flight, and all those I have seen, the student actually trew up on the instructor.... that is for me by far worst then the scared part.

Answer 5

I am a flight instructor, and I am not scared to teach. Everyday, you just have to remain vigilant, and trust that your skills will get you out of a jam that a student got you into. Mostly it's about training and experience.

Answer 6

Training aircraft are pretty bulletproof and pretty much any idiot can fly them and walk away with some basic (preflight) knowledge. (The aircraft might have some damage though)

I've seen and performed some pretty scary landings and was extremely surprised to see the landing gear still intact.

Float flying is another story. I would not want to be a float instructor.

Answer 7

Maybe. Being a student pilot scared the cr@p out of my CFI a couple of times.

Answer 8

No. You would be trained to handel the pressure.

Answer 9

no