Those of us who have completed any form of flight training will agree that it is one of the most rewarding and challenging tasks we have ever pursued. Those that had no prior experience or had limited knowledge of flying would also agree that it can feel like taking a leap of faith into the unknown.
There are many unanswered questions in the beginning and we put a large amount of faith into the person we call “my instructor”. During your training it is important that you get along with you instructor and that they guide you so that you can accomplish your goal. During your training you will have many questions, one of which might be: Should I train with multiple instructors?
While every student has unique preferences, in general it is very common and effective to have multiple flight instructors. Having the opportunity to fly with multiple instructors throughout your training ensures effective training by allowing you to gain knowledge through different perspectives and training method.
Flight training is extremely rewarding and if you want to maximize your training experience it is important to do as much research on your own and ensure you are getting the training that you deserve. There are many different ways to complete training and having the option to fly with multiple instructors can be effective if done carefully.
Should I train with multiple flight instructors?
During flight training, consistency helps the student develop flight skills faster. Any time a student trains with another instructor the new instructor has to overcome the learning curve on the student’s previous progress as well as developing a student/instructor dynamic.
Normally it takes time for a student to get comfortable flying with a new person and can delay progress if there is constantly a different instructor. There may also be items or maneuvers that the student needs to practice but the new instructor may not be aware that these are focus areas for that particular student.
Although it can be good to learn from instructors with different teaching techniques it can also be harmful to try and learn from a new instructor during the middle of training. Every instructor has a slightly different teaching method, and although most are effective, it has the possibility of confusing a student.
In general we at Airplane Academy recommend you stick with one (or a few) instructors if at all possible. That being said, there are situations where it is normal and beneficial to have additional flight instructors. One of those situations is through training progress checks.
Multiple Instructors for Progress Checks
It is important to know the most effective way to train with multiple instructors, as it can be harmful to jump back and forth between instructors often. One example of an effective way is through the use of progress checks. Some flight schools use progress checks as a way to verify that a particular student is learning the skills needed to conduct flights safely and has acquired the proper piloting knowledge.
These progress checks are usually conducted by a different instructor than the student’s primary instructor. This allows the student to get instruction from a different perspective while allowing the new instructor to evaluate the student’s skill.
These checks can be conducted before solo, before the students 1st solo cross country, and before the student takes the practical exam. Breaking these checks up before major milestones will allow certain skills to be evaluated separately.
Progress checks also allow the student to practice for the practical exam. For instance, a student must overcome a fear of flying with a different instructor and get a feel for someone evaluating their skills.
These checks are not only beneficial for the student but allow the student’s instructor to receive feedback on certain subject areas that the student may not be fully grasping. After a progress check the instructor normally receives feedback on how the student did and can find the areas where the training may have been deficient.
Situations Where You’ll Have More Than One Instructor
While we recommend that you try to keep your number of instructors very limited in order to maintain consistency and pace of training, there are a couple other situations where you’ll inevitably have more than one instructor.
Part 141 Programs
Part 141 flight schools have a more structured training regiment that must be approved by the FAA, and are also subject to periodic inspections as well as student volume and check ride pass percentages. As a result, they are allowed to graduate students with fewer requirements than Part 61 programs.
These flight schools typically have higher volumes of instructors and students than Part 61 programs. As a result, if you are training in a Part 141 environment, you will more than likely have many different instructors along your training journey.
Some students prefer only having one instructor which is more common in a Part 61 training environment.
For more reading on this topic, see our article on the differences and requirements of Part 61 vs. 141 flight schools.
My Instructor is on Vacation
Sometimes there may be a time during training that the student’s instructor must be gone for an extended amount of time. It is always a good idea during long periods of downtime to discuss with your instructor on the best strategy for your training. Your instructor may choose to have you study for the written exam, oral portion of the check ride, or brief another instructor on your progress and have you fly with them to practice maneuvers.
In any situation you can help prepare yourself for the check ride by studying the ACS (Airmen Certification Standards) and “chair flying” anytime you can. Chair flying is sitting down with a checklist and thinking though maneuvers and visualizing each step and thinking through exactly what you would do if you were actually sitting in the aircraft. Using these methods can help all the information stay fresh and allow you to jump back into flying easier when your instructor returns.
Losing your current instructor
If your current instructor happens to leave during your training it is important to have a discussion with them and have them introduce you to another good instructor that matches your learning style. By doing this it also allows your old instructor to brief the new one so that the transition is easier.
A student should not get discouraged if they must find another instructor during training. It is important to find a new instructor as quick as possible and get back flying. Minimizing the downtime between instructors will help decrease the amount of material that must be repeated.
Instructors Should Ultimately Teach the ACS
The good news is during any training all instructors should teach to the Airmen Certification Standards, or ACS. The ACS is the required knowledge and skills that any pilot must acquire and demonstrate during a check ride to receive the particular training they are working towards.
This is good news to students because technically they should be able to sit down and go over their progress with any instructor and be able to pick up where they left off in training.
Another benefit to this is that all students have access to the standards and can hold themselves accountable to meet the criteria and verify that their instructor is teaching these items in a way that makes sense.
Should I train in multiple airplanes?
When starting out learning to fly learning the fundamentals of flight is the most important skill to learn. Your primary training lays the foundation for the rest of your flight training. That being said it is normally not as beneficial to jump back and forth to different models of aircraft. Although most aircraft have many similarities there are often slight differences that can distract you from learning the basics.
After earning a private certificate and throughout your flying career it can be a great benefit to learn and fly different aircraft that have slightly different flying qualities and systems. In doing this it is also important to remain diligent in maintain proficiency between the different models.
Related Questions
Should I train with the same instructor for all of my ratings?
If you are going straight into other ratings it can be efficient to keep your current instructor instead of trying to and find a new one. It is a good idea to check your instructor’s ratings and see if they are able to provide instruction for your next rating.
If your instructor knows that you plan to continue ratings they might be able to adjust some of the training material and give you a better insight to what is ahead. For instance, if you are nearing the end of your private certificate they may take you into instrument weather and let you get a feel for what an instrument rating will allow you to do.
Should I train at the same flight school?
A flight school can be a smaller part 61 operation at your local airport, training in one of the branches of the military, a family friend with the proper credentials, or a large part 141 flight academy at a college. These are a few paths you can take in order to learn how to fly.
With any training it is important to find a flight school that fits your needs and are happy with. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to discover if a flight school is meeting your needs:
- Am I happy with the scheduling flexibility and availability for airplanes and instructors?
- Is the maintenance history of the fleet reputable, or are lessons frequently being canceled because of mechanical issues?
- Am I treated fairly by the staff and instructors in this school? Do I feel like they are interested in my success as a student pilot or just getting my money?
If you do not feel that your current flight school is fitting your needs it is typically best to find a new one. It can help to do research on all of your options and discuss with people that are already there and get an idea for what it will be like. As a data point, check out our article “American Flyers Flight School: My Review After Training 100+ Hours There”.
How do I choose an instructor that is best for me?
You need to find an instructor that you can get along with and one that is able to teach in a way that makes sense to you. Most of the time you have the option to fly with a few different instructors to find a good fit that is up to you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to discover if an instructor is a good fit for you:
- Is this instructor approachable with any question that I have?
- Do I feel like this instructor cares about and is invested in my success?
- Is this instructor giving me constructive feedback in a way that is motivating to me?
- Is time with this instructor stressful, more than just the stress of training?
- Does this instructor explain things in different ways until I am able to understand?
- Is this instructor patient with me?
If you are not able to get an instructor that does not teach in a way you can understand it may be beneficial to get another instructor. If you are not able to change instructors you can try having a conversation with them and explaining the areas in which you are struggling to understand.
