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www.balloonlife.com

02.2001

How importantisthestudentpilot’sse-
lectionofaflightin-structor?Whileit
maysoundmelodramatic,itcouldbea
matter of lifeanddeath. Someday,once
you’ve earnedyour wings, youmay find
yourselffacedwitha situationwhereby
your life, and the lives of your passengers
coulddependonyour exercisingthe re-
sponsibilitiesaspilotincommandof an
aircraft. The decisions you make in such a
situationcouldeasilycarrylifeor death
consequences.The cornerstone tobuild-
ing a safe pilot is the quality of the training
you receive as a student. Thus the purpose
of this article istogive prospective stu-
dent pilots some guidance in the selection
oftheirballoonflightinstructor.Even
thoughballooningistheoldestformof
manned flight, historically there has been
little emphasisonthequalificationsand
skills needed to pilot these aircraft. Early
pilots experimented on their own and got
opinionsandtechniquesfromthefew
others who were trying to orhad mastered
their owncraft. Asrecentlyastheearly
1970’s a balloon pilot only neededa few
hours loggedin flight, about 8 to 12, and
he or she could get their commercial pilot
certificate.
However,withthe rapidchangesin
technologyandtherapidlyexpanding
numberof balloons being purchased,wise
andexperiencedballoonist (modernday
pioneers) in conjunction with the Federal
AviationAdministration(FAA)andthe
BalloonFederationofAmerica(BFA),
established minimum guidelines and stan-
dardsfor becoming a balloonpilot. Only
private andcommercial certificates were
established.Aseparateflightinstructor
certificatewasnotrequiredfor balloons
as it is for other aircraft because the privi-
legeof givingballoonflightinstruction
wasvestedwithinthecommercialbal-
looncertificate.TheninFebruary1987,
these requirementswere furtherdefined

sothatanyonetakingthecommercial
balloon flight testmustdemonstrate cer-
tainknowledgeandskillsofa“flight
instructor” in order to pass that flight test.
Whatdoesallthismeantoyouthe
eagerballoon student looking for the“per-
fect”instructor?Simplythatthereare
manypotentialflightinstructors“quali-
fied” by virtue oftheir commercial certifi-
cate. But as youcanappreciate from the
evolutionof the Standards, there may be
great differences betweeninstructors.
You mayhastily decide that you are
goingto seek commercialpilots i.e., “in-
structors”,whohavereceivedtheircer-
tificate recentlybecause they have dem-
onstratedtheirabilitytomeetthestan-
dards.Thiscouldbeamistakebecause
whilethenewlycertificatedinstructor
shouldhave standards, requirements etc.
freshonthemind,therearemanywho
havebeengivingflightinstructionfor
years whoare outstandingflight instruc-
tors. Whodoyouthinkpreparedthe re-
cent candidates for their commercial cer-
tificate? The new kid on the block anxious
for his or her first student may, or may not
be the bestchoice for you.
Menandwomenstudentsjokingly
saytheylookforthemostattractiveor
handsome instructortheycanfind. That
might be one criterion for your selection,
but let’s hope that you make it the last on
your list. One of the most important steps
you can do in the processof finding your
balloonflightinstructoristointerview
(talkwith)asmanydifferentflightin-
structorsaspossible andwiththeir prior
students.If theinstructorisreluctantto
givethenameofformerstudents,be-
ware!
Sometimes you will be severely lim-
ited in the number of instructors available
inyour town or state,and unlessyou are
willing to travel elsewhere, you will have
tosettlefor thoseavailabletoyou.Just

becausethereisonlyafewforyouto
choose from doesn’t mean that they aren’t
excellent or thatyou shouldn’t be just as
particular inyour selection.
During theprocess of yourinterviews
there are several key things that you should
lookfor to help find the instructor who is
best for you.

Attitude
How does the instructor being inter-
viewed feel about teaching? Why do they
instruct? Whatdo they think about all of
the regulations and requirements fortrain-
ing?Iftheinstructorisemployedbya
professionalballoonbusiness,youwill
needtofind out the philosophyand com-
mitmentofthecorporationtoflightin-
struction. You might get bumped for a big
ride orpromotion.Doesthe corporation
have an established curriculum or is it left
uptotheindividualinstructor(s)?Will
yoube assignedoneor severaldifferent
instructorsdependingonwhoisavail-
able? If you are purchasing a balloon and
flight training is part of the package, you
may want to ask previous purchasers how
these arrangements worked out for them.
Keep in mind there can always be person-
alitydifferenceswhichcaninfluencea
person’s perceptionof someonebeinga
good or badinstructor.

Skill
A brief discussionwith potential in-
structorscanrevealtheirflyinghistory,
number of hours, whether they do routine
flight instructionand generally how they
brag or feel about their flight accomplish-
ments. You might even ask for an aviation
resumé. Many professional flight schools
will have these available for their instruc-
tors as will some of the more professional
independentinstructors.If apersonhas

How to Select a
Flight Instructor

by Bill Bird and Tom Hamilton

Continued on top of page 26

www.balloonlife.com

02.2001

26

alsobeeninvolvedinairplaneflightin-
struction,youcanbeassuredthatthey
have demonstrated instructor skills to the
FAApriortoreceivingtheirflightin-
structor certificate.
Another goodsource for judgingan
instructor’scapabilities and skills can be
found in talking to thegeneral community
of pilots in the area. They usuallyhave a
graspof thosewhoyoudon’twantand
cangive some recommendations of who
the better onesare. Youshouldcertainly
talkwiththelocalFAADesignated
Examiner(s).Althoughnottotallyunbi-
ased, they have the opportunity to see the
results of various instructors’ student per-
formanceduringtheflightchecksthey
conduct. Many times they canhelpsteer
you to the more thorough instructor(s). Of
course, manyofthemmayalsoworkas
instructors.

Safety
Youshouldbeconcernedwiththe
instructor’sphilosophyonsafetyprac-
tices.Changesinthe insuranceindustry
regarding balloons will dictate minimum
continuingeducationandsafetycourses
attended annually. Your instructor should
be knowledgeable of these requirements
and pass thisinformation ontoyou. You
may also wish to consider the instructor’s
participationinsuchskillimprovement
programs as the FAA’s Wings, the BFA’s
PilotAchievementAwardProgram,as

wellastheBFA’sLTAInstructorPro-
gram.

Cost
Usually one of the first things asked
about, this should not even enter into your
discussion until you find an instructor that
suits you. Many instructors are willing to
negotiatethefeedependingonwhose
equipment they will be using. You might
evenfindapilotwhowillnotcharge if
instructionisgiveninyourballoon,al-
though this is not very likely. Many times
pilots will “give” instruction to their faith-
ful crew members. If you havedone all the
investigation suggested hereand are happy
withyour pilot asan instructor,go for it!
Asinthechoiceofaninstructor,
costs will vary depending on whether you
seekaprivateorcommercialrating,if
you’re working through a certified flight
school (Part 141)and who’s supplying the
balloon, chase vehiclesandcrew.Some
instructorsprefertoworkonaflatfee
basis, with costsranging from$1,000to
$1,250 for a private pilot certificate when
usingyour balloonor$2,000to$2,500
using theirs. Prices for a commercial cer-
tificate,whenusingyourballoon,will
begin around $2,000. Hourly rates may be
available, but many instructors don’t like
toofferthemasthisleavestoomany
optionsopenforthestudenttodiscon-
tinuetraining. Ofcourse, the dealeryou
purchased a balloon from may also be an

instructor so it may be possible to include
flight training in a package price deal. As
in any business transaction it is best to
draw up a written agreement so there are
no misunderstandings even if the instruc-
tor is a friend.

Follow-up
Howdoestheinstructorfeelabout
you becoming a new pilot? Willthe stu-
dent-instructorrelationshiplastbeyond
yourcertification as a pilot? Many believe
that a pilot’s license is nothing more than
a“licensetolearn.”Evenafteryou’ve
earnedyourwings willthe instructor be
availabletohelpyouanalyzesituations
you encounterin your early flights?While
there will be a tendencyasa freshly cer-
tificatedpilot to wanttobe considereda
“peer among peers”, every pilot can con-
tinue to learn through the sharing ofexpe-
riences(“hangar flying”).If youtrusted
your instructor’s judgement while astu-
dent, you should be able to return to them
for counseling as your piloting skills con-
tinuetodevelop.Agoodteachernever
losesinterestinastudentregardlessof
how long ago the studentwasinclass.
These are a few of the key points that
youshouldbelookingforasyoutryto
findyour instructor. It’s much like find-
inga brainsurgeon.Youdon’twantan
average one, if there’s a choice, you want
THE BEST.

When to Change Instructors

If your instructor/studentrelationship is going sour there
are probably warning signs that both of you should be able to
see.Areyouangryorargumentativeduringthelessons?
Maybeyou’redraggingyourfeethavingcancelledseveral
lessons at the lastminute because “somethingcameup.” Do
youfeelrushed,unimportant,liketheinstructorhasbetter
thingstodowhendonewithyou?(Ifyourinstructoris
constantlydelayinglessonsbecauseofpaidridesormore
important check rides you definitelyneedtolookelsewhere.)
Ifoneormoreoftheseconditionsexistinyourlearning
environment, something is amiss. Perhaps it’s time to consider
some options.
First,trytositdownandworkitoutwithyour current
instructor.Be candidaboutyourfeelings.Therearelotsof
reasonswhyaninstructor/studentrelationshipcangoawry.
Sometimestheproblemisassimpleastwoincompatible
personalitiesinthe basket, or maybe its just an attitude.
Youmayfeelthatthe instructoris notshowingenough
patiencewithyou.Perhapsthe instructionalmethodsbeing

usedaren’tworkingandtheinstructorisunwillingtoseek
otherwaystocommunicate.Ifyou’renotgettingenough
positive feedback, youmay be confused aboutyour progress.
Remember,hoursloggedarenotnecessarilyareflectionof
lessons learned. Whatever the problem, it won’tgo away and
you can’t solve it until you’re willing totalk about it.
If a good heart to heart talk doesn’t smooth the waters and
restore your confidence, tell your instructor youwanttotry a
lesson with someone else. A professional should understand,
recommend a substitute instructor and even help you schedule
a flight. If your current instructor doesn’t exhibitat least this
level of concern for you, it’s definitelytime for a change.
How will youknow if the change ininstructorswas the
rightmove?Forone,the linesofcommunicationshouldbe
improved and your sense of accomplishment should be height-
enedas you realize you are finally learningtofly. Most likely
you’llknow the change workedonthe drivehome from the
next lesson, when youfind yourself thinking what a great day
you hadballooning.