The Importance of Aviation Educators
‘Aviation Educators’ Magazine Issue
By Larry Fields, FAA Flight Standards Service Executive Director
I think most folks would agree that flight instructors are an absolutely critical cog in the machinery of the aviation industry. At one point or another in our aviation endeavors, we depend on them for their expertise, guidance, and mentorship, and look to them as role models that portray the professionalism and passion for aviation that we should all strive to achieve. Let’s also not forget the pivotal role they play in the growth of our industry by preparing the next generation of pilots and arming them with the knowledge and decision-making skills needed for safety and success. Given these vast responsibilities, I’d argue there are few pursuits in aviation nobler than the role of flight instructor.
While flight instructors excel at being educators, they have an equal responsibility in being educatees by keeping their skills sharp and maintaining a life-long learning process. That’s a key reason we’ve focused this issue on being a resource for flight instruction. Allow me to highlight a few areas within these pages that you may find helpful in your educational pursuits.
In the feature “Inflight Insights,” we provide an overview of an instructor’s responsibilities, highlight several reasons to become an instructor, and share some words of wisdom from a few veterans in the field. Then, in the article “FAAST-Tracking Your Flight Instructor Success,” we discuss the critical support role that the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) provides to the instructor community by way of regular forums, special events, and an impressive library of free resources that are available to all. This article also covers the important role of instructors in the WINGS Pilot Proficiency program.
Other features in this issue cover how to shore up your ground school game, avoid costly mistakes for your students on check-ride day, and explore how a principles-based approach to flight training could help students reach a correlation level of learning more easily.
Another source of inspiration for success I’d like to call your attention to is this year’s National General Aviation Award winners: Flight Instructor of the Year Adam Magee, Aviation Technician of the Year Marty King, and FAASTeam Representative of the Year Cary Grant. Please join me in congratulating these airmen for this prestigious honor and be on the lookout for them this July at AirVenture. Be sure to go to generalaviationawards.com to learn more about their amazing achievements, as well as how to nominate a deserving airman you know next year.
Another great resource for instructors is the Flight Instructor’s Model Code of Conduct. If you’re not familiar with the Aviator’s Model Code of Conduct series produced by the Aviators Code Initiative, I encourage you to check it out at secureav.com. We jointly encourage instructors to:
🛩️ make safety a high priority,
🛩️ seek excellence in airmanship,
🛩️ develop, exercise, and teach good judgment, and aeronautical decision-making,
🛩️ recognize and manage risks effectively, and teach sound principles of risk management,
🛩️ demonstrate and teach situational awareness, prudent operating practices, and personal operating parameters (e.g., minimums),
🛩️ aspire to professionalism,
🛩️ act with responsibility and courtesy, and
🛩️ adhere to applicable laws and regulations.
In closing, I’d like to again acknowledge and recognize all those who have taken up the call to be educators, whether you’re just starting out, or have made flight instruction a lifelong pursuit. I’m also reminded of some sage advice for instructors provided by the former editor of this publication, Susan Parson. “No matter why you are in the aviation instruction business, you can give — you should give — you must give — the very best you can offer to this time when you touch both the present and the future of aviation.”
Thank you and safe flying!
