CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 2 - 36

CHIEF'S CORNER
Soon, and probably by the time you're reading this, I
will have started with a new primary learner working
toward his private pilot airplane single-engine land
certificate. I really enjoy teaching primary learners.
There's just something about watching them put it
all together and being successful with maneuvers,
landings, radio communications, emergencies, and
absorbing all the knowledge required to successfully
pass the written exam and the practical test. While
it doesn't pay the bills, those smiles at the key points
in a learner's progress are what I like to call the
CFI's paycheck.
WE HAVE A CRAWL, WALK, RUN PLAN FOR THAT
AND WE'RE SPENDING A GOOD BIT OF TIME IN
OUR SIMULATOR TO WORK ON INTEGRATING OUR
AVIONICS SUITE INTO HIS MUSCLE MEMORY.
In between my new private pilot and my rusty pilot,
I had the opportunity to help get another colleague
started on the flight training path by helping her
obtain her student pilot certificate. Again, it was fun
to see the excitement as she realized that she was now
going to hold a student pilot certificate and learn to
fly. I hope that enthusiasm continues to grow as her
training progresses.
It's easy to get jaded as a flight instructor and not
be as excited for our learners as we once were. To
combat that, keep in mind the words that one of my
colleagues would say before opening our tent at major
aviation events, " We've been here all week, have
worked hard and are tired, but for many, today is their
only experience, so let's make it a great one for them. "
We must do that with our learners no matter where
they are in their training. If they've hit a plateau, we
must help them by finding a way around it, changing
direction slightly or injecting some fun into the
training program.
A wise man once said that many runners enter a race to
win a prize, but only one will win it. Run the race to win
that prize and celebrate your learners' graduations.
Fly Safe!
John Collins is the AOPA Air Safety Institute's
chief flight instructor and manager of aviation safety
programs. Before joining ASI, John was AOPA's
manager of aviation policy. He earned his flight
instructor certificate in 1996 and enjoys seeing
students light up when they put it all together and nail a
maneuver.
Email: john.collins@aopa.org
Class E Surface
Area Special VFR
Revisited
In the last Chief's Corner, I wrote about
Class E Surface Area airspace and it
prompted a question from a couple of
readers about what to do if the airport
you're headed to lies within a Class
E surface area (centered on a nearby
airport), but the ASOS at the primary
airport is reporting IFR. Yet, you can
clearly see the destination airport located
outside the fog bank that is causing the
restriction to visibility and ceiling at
the primary airport, which is IFR with
visibility below 1 mile. What now? That's
a great question-there isn't anything
that I can find that would require you to
get an SVFR clearance. You should be
able to fly to and land at that airport.
You should also be able to fly through
that Class E surface area enroute to
somewhere else without having to talk to
anybody according to the AIM, Section
3-2-6e.2. What do you think, is this clear
enough or does it need clarification by
the FAA, and what do you teach your
learners?

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue1/index.php#/p/33 https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap3_section_2.html https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap3_section_2.html

CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 2

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