CGS Groundschool Grade 1 work up Instructional foundations © Crown copyright 2014. No part of this presentation may be reproduced without the permission of the issuing authority. The views expressed in this presentation do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the MOD.

Introduction As a Grade 1 pilot you must: Be responsible for the safety of the young men and women entrusted to your charge Operate in a professional manner throughout Set a good example to your trainee; a trainee will learn from what you do even when you are not formally teaching Make the experience of flying in a glider/motorglider an enjoyable one; the first flight if carried out unprofessionally can discourage a trainee from ever trying it again Reflect the ethos of the Royal Air Force and the Air Cadet Organisation in your skills and approach to the task This presentation highlights a number of general principles that must be kept in mind to improve the quality of your instruction.

To get the best results EQUALITY Treat each trainee with equal consideration ENTHUSIASM Show enthusiasm for flying at all times Improved lesson delivery ADAPT Adapt your approach to the lesson to suit the temperament of the individual Look at ‘what ifs’ (leads to decision) Reverse, Lag roll, Power and turn

Instructor/Trainee compatibility Occasionally you may find you will not get on with your trainee, if this happens, discuss with your CO or CFI, if necessary the trainee will be given to a different instructor If trainee progress is unusually slow, an instructor change should also be considered If a trainee and instructor are well matched, it is desirable for them to fly together as much as possible for the sake of continuity

Trainee comfort The trainee will not learn as effectively if he/she is uncomfortable in the aircraft, ensure the following: The trainee is not too hot or too cold The trainee’s vision is not impaired by being too low in the cockpit The trainee can comfortably reach the control column when it is fully forward Small trainees may need cushions to improve the two points above Cushions and straps should not interfere with control movement Ensure the trainee remembers the cushion configuration they are using for future flights.

Trainee participation The trainee’s active participation in the lesson is of vital importance The trainee should take control as soon as possible when being taught a skill as learning will be at a maximum when the trainee is in control Do not ‘ride’ the controls – this will destroy trainee confidence and give a false impression of what the controls feel like Allow the trainee to practice the skills they have learnt in previous sorties

Communication Ensure the trainee can hear you clearly – for Vigilant trainees, ensure the headset is comfortable Use appropriate language and terminology, the trainee may not understand acronyms and mnemonics often used in flying operations Do not talk over RT in the background Vigilants only – use the mute switch correctly: Mute switch ‘ON’ – Patter – Mute switch ‘OFF’

Trainee nervousness and confidence A trainee will not learn if they are nervous, the following signs may be symptoms of nervousness: Fixed straight ahead focus Very quiet despite being asked questions Leaning away from the turn excessively Try to relax a trainee, if this cannot be achieved, the sortie should be curtailed. Ensure the trainee has the correct confidence level Overly confident trainees should be set difficult tasks and criticised fairly but firmly for lack of perfection. Under confident trainees may require more praise than usual and they should not be allowed to believe that their flying ability is anything other than normal.

Instructor/trainee relationship To give the trainee the best chance of learning encourage an atmosphere where the trainee is happy to ask questions and openly discuss problems This can be achieved by using a sense of humour appropriately Notwithstanding the above comment it is also important to insist on discipline The ability to combine good discipline and a willingness to help by being patient and good-humoured explanation is one of the most important attributes that an instructor can possess Discuss outside hobbies and interests with the trainee; show an interest in the trainee as a person and not just as a trainee.

Airmanship and flying accuracy Trainees are very good at modelling their own behaviour on that of their instructor, as such you must set a good example to your trainee at all times. Ensure you: Complete FRC checks correctly. Fly with the level of accuracy required by your Grade/Category When referring to airspeeds and balance, use the trainees ASI and slip ball not your own; it is not uncommon for ASIs to indicate up to 5kt difference or for minor discrepancies between slip balls due to mounting imperfections.

Over-briefing Instructors often over-brief in an attempt to give the trainee a detailed brief. Although initially this seems like a good thing to do it will overload the trainee. As such make sure that briefings: Are brief Use simple terminology Are clear and concise.

Trainee errors and intervention At times trainees will make errors, this is a natural part of learning. To ensure the safety of the crew and the aircraft, a trainee must not be allowed to continuously make errors without correction As such there will be times when you need to intervene. The amount of intervention form the instructor is on a ‘sliding scale’ depending on the severity of the error. MINOR SEVERE Allow the trainee to recognise the error and take his own recovery action Point out the error succinctly, but allow the trainee to rectify it in his own time Direct the trainee to take prompt recovery action Take immediate control and take appropriate recovery action

Conclusion Finally, think back to those who taught you to fly If they were bad, no-one knows better than you in what respects they failed As such: Follow the example of the good instructors Avoid the faults of the bad instructors Consult those who are more experienced than yourself By following the guidance in this presentation you will have little difficulty in teaching your trainees to fly well and enjoy learning.

Questions?