Reaching New Heights
By Tom Hoffmann, FAA Safety Briefing Magazine
“If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.” — Confucius
The educators we encounter in our lives, whether in the classroom or the cockpit, have a unique ability to help guide us, mold us, and make us better people (and pilots). And it’s not just the amount of knowledge they impart; it’s how they deliver it, so it sinks in and makes an impression. This is not an easy task given how people learn and appreciate things in infinitely different ways.
While the schoolteacher and flight instructor professions might seem worlds apart, there are several parallel tracks in terms of roles and responsibilities that can have a lasting impact on a student’s future success. I credit these experiences with helping me reach new heights, literally and figuratively.
Looking back, we can all probably recall a few outstanding academic teachers who made a significant impact on our learning and maybe even our career aspirations. I recall a high school English teacher who saw some potential in me during our in-class creative writing exercises. Her constructive criticism of my prose helped me identify some weak areas, but also take note of precisely where I excelled. I’m sure I had other good English teachers during my schooling, so it’s funny how some of those interactions, even the seemingly subtle ones, resonate with us and stick out in our minds.
On the flip side, I’m sure everyone can similarly recall some not-so-good educators who seemed much less inclined to impart their wisdom. My AP Calculus teacher immediately comes to mind. Convinced that no one in the class was even capable of learning the subject aside from one or two students, he proceeded to teach just those students while the rest of us were instructed to read a book or take a nap. Seriously! I quickly dropped the class and was resigned to taking it in college. As it turns out, I had a great calculus teacher during my freshman year in college who made learning the sometimes-intimidating subject fun with real-world examples. I had no desire to become a mathematician after that, but it did show how the right teacher can make a difference, even with a difficult subject.
My experience with aviation educators is not all that different. As I’ve pointed out here in previous On Final columns, my flight training was a bit of a roller coaster ride, but I did my best to take away something positive in every case. There were some instructors who seemed to be biding their time, while others took a genuine interest in helping me work on my weaknesses and went out of their way to help me become a better aviator. Many of my flight instructors also helped underscore the sheer fun of flying, a facet of flight training that can — but most certainly shouldn’t — be overlooked. We can be safe and still have fun, right?
Much like a classroom teacher, an aviation educator should endeavor to take a personal interest in learners, offer constructive criticism where and when needed, and help their students see how to improve. It’s important to also set a good example, strive to be courteous and professional, and continually demonstrate the qualities of a good airman.
These actions can have a lasting and positive impression on students. With GA instructional flying being significantly higher these days — accounting for nearly one-quarter of hours flown according to 2022 FAA survey data — it’s more important than ever to model these attributes to cultivate confidence, advance sound decision-making, and contribute to the overall safety of the national airspace system.
The education occupation is a mighty responsibility, but the rewards of seeing your students succeed and shaping their future in a positive light can make it all worthwhile. It’s not lost on me that as I write this, it just so happens to be National Teacher Appreciation Week. However, I’d say it’s always a good time to honor and acknowledge all teachers far and wide, on the ground and in the air. We appreciate you!
