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tips for working with experienced student
Hello,
I'm a newly minted CFI working in Florida. I have a student assigned to me named John, who has accumulated approximately 1,200 flight hours at this particular school but is unable to obtain a medical certificate.
I'm not sure if I'm being overly sensitive, but John seems to dictate the agenda for every lesson and shows little interest in learning anything new. Furthermore, he has repeatedly criticized my flying and attempted to offer me "tips" on how to improve.
Am I being overly sensitive, or is this something I should bring up with my manager?
https://redd.it/1xu1fzm
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Just got my PPL today, and idk how to feel
I know that this is a common experience, and I wasn't expecting to feel like I'm on top of the world or anything, but I cant help but feel that I am not deserving of this license.
I feel as though I barely passed, and I'm getting heavy imposter syndrome right now.
Does anyone have any advice other than the standard "license to learn" stuff? I know that I will always have at least a portion of this nagging feeling from time to time that I don't belong here, etc. And I also understand that I will never be the perfect pilot, that I will always be striving to get better.
But even with my PPL in my hands now, I wouldn't feel comfortable going out on my own. What is strange is that I never had that feeling in the lead up to any of my solo flights.
To me this is feeling ALOT like when I got my drivers license. I was able to drive very well with my teacher next to me, I could go on the freeway just fine, etc. And that continued into my drivers permit. But the moment I got that license, I was suddenly scared of the freeway and developed some sewing machine leg when going fast. Eventually I got past that phase, but I really would like to avoid a similar situation. I cant let myself develop that type of response to adversity.
I am continuing my training for my IFR with the same instructor. I think this will be helpful in regards to all that I mentioned. And I also think that in the coming days this feeling should ease.
Thanks for any comments.
https://redd.it/1xu0mrl
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Seaplane Flying in FL
https://redd.it/1xtxo3s
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This is atrocious… Boeing why ?
https://redd.it/1xtvs71
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Looking for pilot insight into my uncle’s fatal plane crash in 1999
Hi r/aviation, I have a somewhat unusual background and connection to aviation, and I’ve been lurking on this sub for a year or so. I’m not a pilot or even an aviation enthusiast, but finding this sub and learning more about the good and bad of flying has really helped me.
To cut to the chase. My uncle and young (and only) cousin died in a plane crash in 1999. He was 42, my cousin was 9, and I was 11. My uncle was piloting his Piper PA-16. Ironically, the crash happened on their way home from an air show. They were both killed instantly. Our family was extremely close, and the impacts of “The Accident” continue to this day.
Then last year, a longtime friend of mine lost several of his close friends, including the pilot, in the May 2025 crash in the Murphy Canyon crash in San Diego. That tragedy sent me down a rabbit hole of watching aviation accident videos, reading NTSB reports, finding this sub, and wanting to try to to understand more about how and why these things happen.
So now that, 27 years on, I have the intellectual and emotional capacity, I’ve found myself wondering whether we’d have more answers if it had happened today. I know the answer is probably not, and that there’s probably not much else to glean from the inconclusive NTSB report, but I also don’t know enough about aviation to really interpret the technical details or nuance in the report. But I’m also an engineer, just like my uncle (which I didn’t know until well after the fact - I do believe we were kindred spirits and never really got to realize that), so I can’t help but wanting to learn as much as I can.
I will link the report in the comments and am grateful for anyone who takes the time to ready it. I am curious about any insight, no matter how speculative. His report of “clear air turbulence” in particular has always been something I have wanted to better understand, if that’s even possible.
(And FWIW, this has crippled me over the years to the point of not even being able to think about stepping foot on a plane without sweating, crying, and feeling like vomiting… but I have done a lot of work over the last couple of years on my fear of flying and have managed to get from that point to recently peacefully enduring a couple of six hour cross-country flights! My next goal is a trans-Atlantic flight. I am also seriously, considering taking flight lessons to learn to fly and be more comfortable in the air.)
https://redd.it/1xtrs8f
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Pilot killed in aircraft crash linked to Remembrance Day ceremony in Quebec's Beauce region | CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/aircraft-crash-beuce-saint-georges-qc-9.7418143
https://redd.it/1xtpkdp
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3D printed an Eurofighter Typhoon out of chocolate glazing
https://redd.it/1xtmxdz
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Comparison of J-20A's (Top) and J-20's (bottom) cockpit
https://redd.it/1xtc8ft
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Nav Canada removing Diversity Transponder requirement for ADS-B
https://avbrief.com/nav-canada-releases-low-altitude-ads-b-proposal/
https://redd.it/1xth79z
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Flying our Cessna 150J 'Dragonfly' over the Great Barrier Reef
https://redd.it/1xt1w02
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Feeling discouraged…
Started trying to get my PPL a couple months ago.
I work full time so trying to find time to study is really hard. My job requires to be moving nearly at all times. I might get like a 30 minute segment but I never know when. On my days of I’m usually at the airport practicing so I don’t even get many off days for actual study.
Not to mention I’m so very confused most of time what I should be reading. I was trying to read cover to cover the jeppesen pilot books. There’s about 4 of them with ones for maneuvers, discovery flight, PPL ect.
I’ve been told to try and read what I’m currently learning but it makes navigate to different sections confusing. Currently I’ve been learning VOR but I feel If I’m not actively getting hands on alongside it. Once I get in the cockpit it’s like I’m having to relearn and then I feel like I’m failing.
I need brutal honesty. Because it only gets harder outside of PPL but I feel like at times Im to stupid. Behind the yoke I feel I can learn somewhat better visually but if I try and consume book material I feel I’m getting knowhere.
Right now when I go flying I’m reviewing things I’ve already learned but also trying to learn new things before I even feel like I’ve fully grasped what I’m reviewing.
I check my flight schedule pro to see what needs improvement but then I circle back how do I find time to read everything?, if I find time how do I know if I’m remembering the correct thing?, and then it’s how do I juggle what I’ve I’ve learned, what I’m still trying to learn and what is brand new and being introduced to me.
There’s so much I’m unsure of. My ATC communication I feel is horrible, I keep making mistakes in being able to fully know what they’re saying and when I do pre flight prep I can’t write information down fast enough to get weather and information from the avionics.
Sorry if this feels like a rant. I just feel lost & confused. My instructor is great but I don’t know if I’m up to their standards.
Any help, advice or criticism is welcome. I don’t think I can feel more down than i already am. 😅
Also according to my FSP I’m about 20% through the PPL course. It’s that slow for me since trying to fly 2 times a week leaves nearly no off days for study.
https://redd.it/1xtcjks
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Any DPE for CFI-initial booking less than 2 months out in WA? Just reached out and the soonest available was two months out
https://redd.it/1xtaaub
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Boyfriend present ideas
My boyfriend is a CFI, who is an overall aviation nerd. He loves to play video games especially counter strike and his flight sim (he uses his PC with an XBOX controller). If anyone else out here has the same interests can you please give me ideas for birthday/Christmas presents. I’m usually really good at getting him gifts, but it just seems like anything he would like would absolutely break my bank aka anything for a sim or like a new headset.
https://redd.it/1xt8h4g
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FlyNYON Sightseeing Bell 206 Helicopter Hard Landing Footage
https://redd.it/1xt2zsp
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New single dad airline pilots. Anyone in this position?
Any single dad airline pilots? Curious how you handle raising a son yourself
I’m a newly single dad with a 1 year old. How do you guys handle this new transition of life. I’m grateful to have a setup where I have my parents able to help me raise my son. We all live in a house together. How do you give the best life to your son, raise him effectively as a single dad, and how do you navigate dating as a single dad? I never thought I’d be in this position in life, but I’ve accepted it. I’m just trying to find some guidance on how to move forward and do this the best way possible. Thanks
https://redd.it/1xt3khg
@r_aviation
Professional pilots, do you ever miss your CFI days?
I guess I’m just kind of curious how pilots who have “made it” look back on their days as a CFI. I’ve been instructing for close to a year now, some days I love it, some days are very grueling (very grateful to have a job right now even when it’s challenging). A lot of the CFIs I know are pretty miserable with how exhausting the schedule can be and very poor compensation, but I’m wondering if when we make it to the other side if we’ll miss flying janky old Cessnas in the extreme heat lol. I’d imagine the pay and the lifestyle of a professional pilot job would outweigh any of the benefits of instructing, but I could definitely see myself looking back longingly on this job.
https://redd.it/1xu1cxd
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NASA X-59 and F-15D departing KDAB
https://redd.it/1xtz7jp
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Pope Leo XIV seated in the cockpit during landing in Buenos Aires
https://redd.it/1xtxmej
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Passed MEI ride today
Very happy to be done but wondering how to cope with the fact that the CFI market is still so bad LOL
https://redd.it/1xtts3t
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RCAF CF-18 Flyover In Ottawa
https://redd.it/1xtqos6
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Went solo for the first time ever today... everything went well but feel bad about cutting an instructor off on turning base
I was doing my usual lessons, and my instructor said its time for my first ever solo (non-towered). I got the maneuvers down and I was ready. The weather started turning and it starting rain and then it just was an added factor but I still went through my mental checklist. One thing I missed was the instructor and student that said they were extended left base and totally turned final. He radio'd asking for my instructor and I said that he was on the ground and I was going solo for the first time and he told me all good. But I still feel like I failed even though my instructor said I did a good job and some other people in the traffic pattern said nice landing. Are first solos not suppose to be close to perfect? Should I be giving myself a hard time? I have now learned to really hone in my skill on who and what is around me and all the radio calls.
https://redd.it/1xto61r
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Antonov An-124
https://redd.it/1xtgj6f
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Airbus’ A350-1000ULR flew 14,388 miles nonstop in 24 hours, setting a new commercial-airliner distance record
https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/14388-mile-nonstop-airbus-sets-world-record
https://redd.it/1xtil9x
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Etihad Airways B78X McLaren Racing Livery spotted at HKT/VTSP
https://redd.it/1xtfoos
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B-1B Lancer Pilots Are Now Training On HondaJets
https://www.twz.com/air/b-1b-lancer-pilots-are-now-training-on-hondajets
https://redd.it/1xt0oib
@r_aviation
Finding A good Flight School in Spain
As an Indian Girl i was thinking to complete my training from Spain but i am not sure about flight school i still have 6 months left for this but i still wanted to have some knowledge from u guys as i am really experienced but i saw Flyby flying school but peeps have mixed opinions about that and even if i manage to find a flight school and get my license what will be the job aspects in future
Please Help cause i am very confused
PS also suggest me flying schools in Germany without giving DLR exam
https://redd.it/1xtbbjb
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Question on interpretation of cross-country time
https://redd.it/1xt8psg
@r_aviation
Twas the night before my checkride...
What should I do right now? My private checkride is tomorrow. I don't want to cram, but I just want to do a little review to make sure I don't forget anything stupid. I'm gonna turn on a show and go to bed early too. Tomorrow morning I'm gonna finish my navlog with the updated weather/winds and then get to the airport early.
https://redd.it/1xt7ifz
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Student pilot, 28 hours in, and I keep botching the same landing flare
I'm working on my private pilot certificate and I'm about 28 hours into training in a Cessna 172. Most things are coming together: radio calls, traffic patterns, steep turns. The one thing I can't seem to fix is the flare on landing. I either flare too high and balloon, or I flare too late and bounce.
My instructor is patient and keeps saying "look farther down the runway" and "hold the nose off," and when he talks me through it, it feels fine. The moment he stops, I tense up and go back to staring at the runway right in front of the nose. I can tell I'm fixating, but I can't seem to break the habit.
We've done about ten landings in a row on the last two lessons, and I'd say only two or three were good. I know this is a common struggle for students, but it's discouraging. Does anyone have a mental trick or a drill that helped them? I've watched a bunch of videos and read the handbook chapter, but it feels different in the seat. I'd also like to know how long it took you to get consistent. Any real stories from people who struggled and then got it would be a nice boost right now.
https://redd.it/1xt5inm
@r_aviation
Instructor recommends stage check for my first solo after 9.3 hours of flight time. I feel ready but have a few questions
Granted, I actually have 23.3 hours of total flight time, but those 14 hours were done in 2022. I was not in the right head space during that time. Spring forward to 2026, I've been enjoying my flight training and taking it serious. We've practiced maneuvers and simulated an engine out descent. We're in a 172 with g1000. I am flying 2 times per week. We've done 3 sessions doing traffic pattern flights now.
My thing is I feel like I need more time on the g1000 and the turn from base to final. G1000 aside, I can probably find outside resources. I'm not missing anything crucial for VFR flight, just need to learn the specifics. I feel more comfortable using a glass cockpit because I stare at screens all day anyway. Secondly, my instructor has told me to tighten my turn on the base to final a few times. I think I understand that if the AOA is low, we won't stall during that turn. Nonetheless, it makes me uneasy when he tells me to bank steeper. I like to be conservative on that turn and keep it shallow. Making the base turns shallower turn has lead me to overshoot the runway a few times and have to correct it to line up with the runway. We even had to do a go around once.
Is there any advice you guys can give me to polish the base turn to final? It was also pretty windy on my last session; we had a 7 knot crosswind. I think that might be why I overshot the runway and had to go around this past Sunday.
https://redd.it/1xswxms
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