I'm BLOWN AWAY by the amazing feedback and engagement on this. Over 1,000 comments. I've spent almost the entire morning replying to as many as I can. I wish I could get to all of them. This is an incredibly important conversation in general aviation, and I deeply appreciate all of you contributing to this conversation. Let's keep it going and spread this message to as many aviators across the world as we can. Thank you! 🙌🏼 -Josh
Clear your calendar Josh. I nominate this as video of the year. I am only halfway through the comments and it is starling to see how many other students have encountered these defective attitudes and at such a degree.
I've had two instructors. One I didn't stay with that long and my current instructor. I'm happy to report the current instructor is great at his job as well as being an awesome human. I only hope I can be as good someday. Thanks for your videos Josh. You and others like you inspired me to take the leap. Been a tough journey but it's changed my life and career path. Kudos to all of you!
Oh how I agree. The pre-flight takes as long as it takes and it doesn't make any sense to rush a student when they are just getting the hang of doing something which is still new to them.
It was one thing for him to basically die in about 50 pieces even before the first piece hit the ground (as it seems like what happened here) - Dragging along a well-meaning student is murder.
The unfortunate irony is that kid would have ended up being a way better pilot than the instructor. He displayed more character and humility than that joke of a cfi probably did in his entire life.
My best instructor ever was an 83 year old aerobatics instructor teaching me in a decathlon. He was a nuclear physicist and didn't need the money. Dude didn't even have a log book. He didn't care about logging time. He just loved to fly and to teach. Learned so much from that guy. I'm sure he's gone now. Wherever you are, thanks Mason. I'm still passing on the lessons I learned from you and you made my early days of flying memorable.
Yes. !!!!! Dude I used to fly with had only flew tail draggers.. loved him ..flew all over the mountains in an underpowered plane so he taught you how to fly like a glider pilot I just I can't specify how good he was as a teacher.... If I could fly and find an instructor like that I would get my privates
@@bwnco And I'm sure you know, but for any who do not, Sully, who captained the "Miracle on the Hudson" flight, started his aviation career as a glider pilot, and said it was those skills that allowed him to perfectly ditch that airliner on a river and save everyone on board. I would wager that Mr. Mason above and probably your tail dragger specialist might have had a military background -- that seems to be what I see from all of these stories where we had men like this that just truly loved to fly. There are great instructors everywhere, and I hope you do motivate yourself to get your PPL. It's liberating in a way few things are.
@@dreamkrusherjay2869 thank you.!!. I met a glider pilot here where I live and he said and I quote... I will never fly with anyone unless they have their glider rating... Sadly it's hard to find someone that flies and is open to what my old instructor and friend were like they were down to earth the people I've met since in are a bunch of Rich snobs.. not saying in any way that's what the majority are so don't bash me folks.. Bud like golfers a lot of the pilots are an arrogant breed
@bwnco You aren't wrong at all. There are unfortunately many (and not just in aviation) that feel they are better than everyone around. It certainly doesn't help that aviation has truly become a rich person's playground in this day and age, unless you started flying in the military or several years ago now to get enough hours in the air. I refuse to get on any commercial aircraft at this point, with how the industry has devolved since the pandemic -- and it truly sucks as due to my health from my father's exposure and murder from Agent Orange in Vietnam, and where it left my health since birth, I can no longer afford to train further, and certainly can't afford a private aircraft either. (None of my health issues keeps me from my medical certificate, only my finances keep me from the air now, and it kills me as I love to fly.) The powers-that-be have truly destroyed the aviation industry, and having worked at KDTW Detroit Metro for a long time, I saw it first hand as they did it. :( Sorry to write you a novel in response. I hope you find a way to get yourself in the air long-term, Sir! (EDIT: Grammar Only.)
Whenever I hear about bad flight instructors, I like to tell the story of my one and only lesson. Soon after we were in the air, the plane caught on fire. Smoke, flames, oil covering the windshield, yeah, it was bad. Not only did the instructor get us back on the ground safely, he continued teaching a lesson the whole time. His attitude was one of “what better time to demonstrate what to do in an emergency.” He was probably also thinking it a good way to keep my mind occupied instead of thinking OH MY GOD THE PLANE IS ON FIRE. For every bad instructor out there, I bet there are many great ones. And to them I say Thank You.
@@joemama069 No that's not normal and can cause deep lasting damage, speaking from personal experience. If you feel this way you should definetly talk to a therapist. And I don't mean that in an insulting way, I myself had an emotionally abusive parent, which led to depression, ptsd and social anxiety, requiring therapy and medication. I shudder to think where I'd be at if I had never gotten any help. The thing is the child often doesn't realise it because to them, that's just how things are and the parent(s) will of course normalise this and if the child speaks up, punishment often follows. Wasn't until I was in my teens that I realised this behaviour is not normal, not acceptable and disgusting and that I should probably talk to someone. Which took another 20 years to muster the courage to do. I did go to a psychiatrist to talk about the symptoms but I had been to manipulated and made to feel ashamed to even mention it, so the ptsd went undiagnosed until recently (early 30s) and I have just begun dealing with it (in a healthy way instead of turning to drink or drugs to feel normal). So if you truly believe what you said I strongly advise you to talk to someone, a professional (and don't tell the parents). I know it's hard. But things can get better and the sooner you try the higher your chances are to end up as undamaged as possible.
I'm not a pilot, but this needs to be said not just in this industry but many others. No matter the profession, a mentor must check his attitude and behavior at the door. The student doesn't need arrogance.
It's really everything that falls under "treating your job with respect". As you said, there's a severe lack of that in many fields. A blase attitude to all sorts of things in becoming all to normal.
WELL SAID. I remember that incident where a student pilot's airplane lost the right main wheel. The ATC, her instructor, and another instructor, no one went macho or belittling or condescending. They all together gently pushed her out of her comfort zone and guided her to a very good landing -- well, as good as can be with a plane that has lost a wheel. She was flying solo, close to panicking, but everyone worked together to instill confidence and calmness in her, and she survived the ordeal stronger and more passionate. That is the kind of stories I want to hear from general aviation education.
This is unfortunately (and your example helps prove this) partially due to the way men/boys are socialized and the way our fathers correct our mistakes being so wrapped up in generations of toxic ideals of what men are supposed to be. Boys are taught from a very young age that you treat girls nicer because they're not as "tough" as you, and then it's compounded by tons of cultural things and sports and media that convince boys that you're always competing with other men and that violence/being an asshole are the ways you solve it "because they can take it if they're not a pussy". I'm not saying they should have treated the girl like shit. I'm saying we need to evaluate why men have such a hard time communicating with other men in any other way outside of "youre my buddy on one side of the spectrum or you're the guy I wanna fight" and with women "I want to fuck you or oppositely treat you like my daughter" and how we can better socialize young boys and girls to generally just treat eachother better and learn to be able to see things from a genuine empathetic perspective instead of a "tough love" approach. Teaching cannot be a tough love thing. It has to be done with the utmost empathy and respect for the students learning process. Teachers are supposed to give us confidence, not tear our mistakes down and make that the focus of our egos. Boys aren't naturally like this either. This is culturally enforced learned behavior, and it makes a lot of us into dickheads who think they need to prove themselves to every other person they meet.
The tower and the CFI were amazing in that video. You could hear the pilot panicking at the start but at the end of the video, she landed that plane like a pro..
"Arrogant, immature and disrespectful...": deadly attitudes in the aviation world. Thank you, Josh, for saying what needed to be said about this oh-so-preventable fatal accident. As a 40+ year pilot and former CFI myself, if you (CFI) don't like to instruct or despise your students, get out of instructing and build your hours some other way (but don't kill those people, either).
This is a perfect example of how to "use your platform" for the common good. Not exploitative, anchored in universal truths, and done with reverence. Thanks Josh.
You can certainly call restating empty platitudes and common wisdom whatever you like, but I just call what it is - restating the obvious, making money. I assume the video is monetized.
@@alk672 Platitudes or not - and I do not think that they are - sometimes "restating the obvious" and stating it again and again until someone listens is the right and most effective thing to do. Many an issue has gotten resolved only after someone persistently raised their voice to "the obvious". "Common wisdom", as you put it, and applying it, are two COMPLETELY different things. Wisdom has little value unless we put it to use. But more importantly, I wonder what is behind your motive to take the time and energy to undermine the spirit of the discussion here. Why was that so important for you to do, and why be so eager to do it?
@@cbesthelper404 because this is not a discussion. A discussion suggests multiple viewpoints. What other viewpoints can there be? Yes, CFIs should be good CFIs and not insult or kill their students. How is this useful other than RUclips revenue?
My brother was a CFI. I was his first student. I was so impressed by his professionalism and ability to teach. He had found his calling and he love it. Sadly he has passed and I miss him much . Good job David!
I had one instructor in my early training that seemed pre-occupied with personal issues and responded to my questions with an attitude. After our third flight, I took him aside and let him know who was in charge and what my expectations were. I also reminded him of how many good and willing CFIs are eager for new Students and how powerful word of mouth is in any business. No problems after that. Don’t ever be afraid to change Instructors if it isn’t working. Thanks Josh!
I had an instructor (I was using for my BFR) who screamed me around the pattern. I landed walked away and found another instructor. I pay for knowledge transfer and intructorial temperament, not an inflight beating!
@@wilsonle61 I'll bet he wasn't "screaming" baseball scores or heavy-metal lyrics. I'll bet he was a switched-on ex-military pilot who was trying to snap you out of some bad piloting, and fill those gaps in your practice with short, sharp, *memorable remedies.* The BFR exists because a private pilot can develop a LOT of bad habits during 2 years of casual UNsupervised flying. Military instructors don't raise their voice at students because they're "big meanies on a power trip", but because being yelled at ABOUT a neuro-motor skill, WHILE performing that skill, actually burns permanent engram-memories into your brain, verbatim recipes for flight safety more powerful than your ego... and much, much later, in *dire moments* of the type that occur in flying machines, when you are FROZEN stiff with fear, and your normally facile mind is vapor-locked and completely out of what-next ideas, and you're just about to lose control of your bowels, THEN arises in your mind's ear, the forgotten voice of Instructor Shout, hammering you with the 1-2-3 plan that snaps you back into action and saves the plane! You need the "inflight beating". Every SAFE pilot does. Should you seek out the CFI that tells you what you WANT to hear, and just signs you off, or the CFI that tells you what you NEED to hear, and makes you keep going around until the yelling turns into a well-deserved "NOW you got it"...? Which one do you think *your passengers* deserve?
@@MajorCaliber I couldn't disagree more with this. NO PILOT or flight student needs to be screamed at or yelled at. This does not make safer pilots, it makes fearful pilots who are afraid of making a small transgression. If you are the kind of learner that "enjoys" being screamed at, more power to you. If you would like to be treated with respect, change flight instructors IMMEDIATELY!
If you are in the air and not qualified you a definitely not “in charge” by FAA regulations. You can resume being in charge after you are on the ground and have been fully debriefed
Josh, when I was 16, I went up with an instructor who was just terrible. I didn’t touch flight controls again until I was 46. Your videos were a big part of what inspired me to get back into aviation and now I’m so close to my check ride, I can see it! What a huge difference a good flight instructor makes! I thank you and my instructors I’ve had on this renewed journey for being professional and excellent.
I too at 18 with 7hrs in 1975..instructor was a novice and would only explain when asked but wouldn't flight demonstrate..always wondered what coulda Spent 36yrs with airlines...below wing
I don't fly, but I'm a motorcyclist and I'm fascinated and shocked by how well this applies to motorcycle instructors too. There's much to learn from the aviation mindset.
I have hundreds of hours in small aircraft functioning as primary observer and navigator in conducting wildlife surveys over a 45 year period; now retired. To your comment, just last year I pursued and received my motorcycle endorsement after a required 5 hour online training/testing, a two-day hands on training and testing, as well as a previous years on the road riding self training/experience. I couldn't afford to pursue a private pilot license, but for some reason, motorcycle riding/training appealed to me. Short of flying, motorcycling provides a freeing, uplifting experience beyond what other forms of ground transportation do, in my opinion. It also brings a higher, inherent degree of danger to which you must be skilled and experienced after receiving the best possible, certified training. Research to find the best available in your area, pursue advanced training, and then practice, practice, practice.
@@toms6841 I totally agree with your view of motorcycling. Interestingly, motorcycle legend Giacomo Agostini for example has a pilot licence too and when asked about an alternative career, he says he would have wanted to be a pilot. Thankfully I was able to obtain my motorcycle licence a few years ago and I actually have an ex-professional rider in the family (first responder) who provided additional training. Unfortunately not every new rider has that and especially the younger ones (you can start on 125cc at 16 where I live) may not even be aware that they have to compensate for the often inadequate and dangerous training they received from their instructors.
It’s not just motorcycling. I took “ground school” when I was ~17 but didn’t go further. Wished I had. Anyway, about the time I started realizing / becoming aware that I was getting a lot of information in school but not a lot of understanding (4th grade, 10yo) I started thinking about what I didn’t know about stuff when I was getting the basic information at school. I didn’t realize this was “weird” but I even pondered how different things were related and their history- everything from etymology to sciences and social studies and after school would go to the public library and study what the in-school texts were leaving out. I developed my own philosophy of learning; I didn’t fully grasp that essentially nobody else did this. I just wanted to know things like ‘why’ a diagonal member of a bridge was stronger, not just learn by rote/recitation that it was stronger to give one example. While I didn’t pursue a PPL, the thought processes and principles were ancillarially informative to how I approached everything- including motorcycling. And motorcycling informed my driving a car. Whether aviation or motorcycling, it’s very easy to see how looking ahead of the vehicles in front of you to anticipate what evasive maneuvers might be required, always leaving yourself a ‘second’ out / backup plan, or in flying to constantly be mindful of what could go wrong, cognitively apply oneself to having spatial awareness, and constantly updating the current situation and comparing it to what you’ve planned pretty much buys you time should an emergency transpire. Now nearing 60yo I’ve been employing those same principles to business, fabrication, productivity, and management. Flying, motorcycling, and relational negotiating all have ‘cross-genre’ applications to real life situations. But as a society ‘we’ do not teach how, why, philosophy, and logic. We teach information… But as you noted, there are a plethora of portable skills obtained in structured disciplines like flying, engineering, motorcycling, and actuarial statistics. And as with flying where to often the goal is “a license” while barely meeting the threshold of competency, the sloppy information-based education we have doesn’t teach students to inquisitively think or understand so people - when faced with the unexpected or an emergency - do not have the neural pathways and/or cognitive habits to think past the immediate elements of a crises and achieve a desirable outcome.
Great video. Right on point. I am a retired military pilot, current airline captain, and I maintain my CFII. There is no better feeling than sending a student off on their first solo and seeing the huge smile on their face when they get back. I do not instruct to build time, I do it because aviation has been very good to me and this is my way of giving back. I don’t even charge for my time, aviation has been that good to me. I do it for the love of it. Having said that, as CFI’s, we are not only responsible for our students, but also for the lives of their future passengers and the people on the ground they fly over. There is a law of primacy in aviation. You will always remember the first things you are taught. When the crap is hitting the fan, you will always go back to the fundamentals you learned first. That puts a pretty big burden on us CFI’s, and we better take our role seriously. So, as CFI’s, we have a great responsibility to uphold. That is why when I first heard about this accident it made my blood boil. I will not go into further detail, because you explained it beautifully. Keep up the good work!
Here’s my question. Do you feel like the job of CFI is treated a little too flippantly in the community? I’m not a pilot but I’ve done my research when I was thinking of going for airline pilot. For many people, becoming a CFI is seen as a stepping stone to build hours and make some money in the run for the airlines. Many PPL students are being taught by people who just barely finished their own flight training and have a bare minimum of flying experience themselves. On the one hand, everything is fresh in their minds, but they are still learning things themselves. So back to my question. Do you feel that this stepping stone approach is a good way of doing things, or do you think that the CFIs teaching new pilots should be more experienced?
I have always found it odd that in an industry where a sink or swim involves life or death we have the most inexperienced people training the new students.
@@av8rGrl734 My flight instructor was a younger guy building hours for his career. He was great, he loved to fly and was able to keep up with my interest to learn. We finished my PPL in 6 weeks if I recall. Instructing is not for everyone, and I'm sure some aren't suited for it. I suppose it mostly comes down to flight schools and their hiring process. I met my instructor through my flying club, so it was a direct relationship, I never went to a brick and mortar flight school. Personally, I don't have a problem with that aspect of the system, what really matters for an instructor or any teacher, is the ability to impart knowledge and stoke the interest in the subject. You don't need to be a chemistry researcher to teach high-school chemistry. While an experienced airline pilot probably would be able to give someone useful career advice, you don't need that to teach for the PPL. Not to mention, there are life-long flight instructors, it's not like everyone only uses it as a stepping stone.
Wish you could be my instructor you sound like a great mentor. Sadly we live in different countries but I'll be looking for CFI's that hold good qualities as per this video. 💜
@@speed150mph it all depends on the instructor that you get. A lot of the young guys and gals are outstanding instructors. They have the advantage of having just gone through what you are trying to do. Yes, there are time builders who only care about themselves. If you get one of these, and it should be obvious when you do, there is no law that says you have to keep flying with them. Remember, you are paying them. They work for you. If it is not working out, go to the chief instructor and ask for a change. The disadvantage the young guys have as opposed to us old heads is what we call airmanship. That comes with experience. Us old guys have seen a lot, made a lot of mistakes, and lived to tell about them. Our bag of tricks is simply bigger than the younger guys. Does not mean they are bad instructors and cannot teach you a lot, it just means that we have different perspectives. In fact, when I get ready to send a student to their first check ride, I always send them to a local flight school to get a few rides with a new instructor. They can teach the nuances of passing the PPL checkride better than me. They just did it. I did it decades ago. I always tell them “I have taught you to fly, they are going to teach you to pass your checkride.” The best case scenario in my humble opinion is to fly with both very experienced instructors as well as the younger guys. You can learn a lot from both of us. Hope that helps and good luck!
Josh - if this was a speech delivered at a general aviation conference, I'd be starting a standing ovation for you right now. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say here, and the clarity & passion with which you delivered it was phenomenal. Keep up the good work, and clear skies to you!
How much better is this for being a speech on RUclips rather than a modest audience at a conference. A quarter of a million views in just 5 days and over 1800 comments.
Airline Check Pilot here. Bravo Josh. Every day I show up with a student, I am accountable to my passengers and to training my students to be accountable to them. We owe them our livelihoods and our focus and expertise.
As a CFI this also made my blood boil. This guy was insult to our profession. Saw a Facebook post from the CFI's dad (who together with his son also had some run ins with the law by the way) in which he defends his son by saying he was an exemplary CFI. Humulity, self refelection and honesty start with your upbringing. This CFI came from a family where this apparently was not part of the syllabus at home. Feel sorry for the family of the student.
The fact that he and his dad got arrested together while drinking was involved- that should have been a red flag regarding their judgement. The Dad sounds exactly like his son- haughty, arrogant and foolhardy. His son never should have been a CFI. His open mocking of that student was just sad. What chance did that kid have with him as a guide? I truly believe if the kid had a different instructor, he would have survived that flight. Not only did the kid die under a bad instructor, the Dad then goes online and insults the kid AGAIN publicly, reiterating what his son said on Snapchat. Unbelievably sad.
This month Tennessee Fly Girl was on a three hour flight to Arkansas to see about upgrading the autopilot on her plane. She was accompanied by her father. She was totally unaware how to use or set the autopilot that the plane got away from her. She crashed the plane into a hill killing them both. The plane burst into flames destroying it. One or both of the GoPro survived the crash and fire. They were trying to figure out how to work the autopilot a Century 2000. In previous videos, she recorded all of them, the main issue was the autopilot. It wasn't working as she put it but it was it was she didn't know how to use it. She went though several instructors while filming her lessons. She had two or three cameras mounted in the cockpit. When she was fussing with the autopilot trying to get it t work the instructor was on his phone checking for messages. Imagine that. Each of the flight instructors failed to report Fly Girl to the FAA stating that she needed to basically start her lessons from the very beginning. I don't suppose that she knew how to judge instructors based on knowledge or references. Fly Girl admitted that she wasn't where she needed to be with basic skills. Her instructors should have prevented her going solo. Based on her videos her instructors should have asked her to remove the cameras so she could focus on flying.
I was watching the videos available and I'm not a pilot nor interested in flying, but her instructors didn't explain the reasoning behind everything, she did seem like she did not know why she was doing stuff, or why stuff went wrong. One guy seemed to make suggestions without explanations. I don't know what instructors do during these flights, but it seems like they should be doing more instructing in a firm manner
In TNFlyGirl case, root cause anaylsis would more likely reveal 1) initial and subsequent CFI negligence and 2) lack of SA. There were many videos revealing her lack of cognizance and SA in the seat leading up to that dreadful day. Social media captures and attention are no doubt contributing factors. Compares to negligence while driving vehicles with cell phones in hand. Death rates have continued on an upward trend. Sad for all.
I have made the mistake she was making before with an in-car gadget. Trying to learn it while driving and without the manual. Stupid rookie mistake. In the end I found the manual and fully familiarized myself with it while NOT driving. So when she was trying to just figure out her autopilot as she flew it was painful to watch. It was like the mistake I had made but far more serious and dangerous. She should have sat at home one time, pulled out the manual and spent a few hours fully familiarizing herself, and then testing out her new knowledge on her next flight. If she got confused that should be a sign to go back to the manual or consult someone else with experience of the model. It was also clear she did not know how to operate her GPS, where she was randomly stabbing at buttons, then turned it off and didn't know how to turn it on again. This is understandable, it looks like a complex device that has a lot of buttons. She needed to know that GPS just like the autopilot.
The with her autopilot wasn't that she didn't know how to use it (though she didn't, not really) but that she couldn't fly the aircraft without it. Ridiculous.
I made a tough decision to replace my instructor the day after I learned about the tragedy you referenced. You really MUST learn from someone you're confident in and who is a good fit. This is a fantastic commentary on this heinous even in aviation history and on the system that allowed it. It's a very random process, in many ways. God bless you for your candor and boldness. Well done. This isn't the last we've heard about this horrible event.
I also replaced my instructor, they were passive aggressive with teaching and dismissive on a relationship level watching this video made me so glad about my decision. Don’t get me wrong there’s still professionalism in the whole learning process but you should preferably choose an instructor who you can connect with on a humanity level :) going back to student flight vlogging soon
That's it. Never be afraid of replacing your instructor. You're paying good money to learn well and with someone that you can feel comfortable and confident enough flying with, and of course, someone that actually knows how to teach others. Flying is no ordinary business, don't just go with anyone. Make it loud and clear that you won't fly with instructor X or Y and why, the other instructors and the school should know this. Call out unprofessional behavior when you see it. ALWAYS. During my PPL days, all the CFI's there were amazing dudes, but one guy in particular always seemed weird and I never hit it off with him. The day that I was scheduled to fly with him I started to feel the weirdness already in the briefing room. Once I reached the plane, got my gear out of it and told everyone there how unprofessional and weird he was. His mannerisms never gave me confidence, he always gave off weird vibes and even the other CFI's told me that this dude was a bit of a dweeb, but somehow was still there. He didn't last long there after this, probably working at some regional airline as a FO nowadays, no freaking idea, but if we ever cross paths again I wouldn't hesitate to say that directly to his face. Fuck these weirdos and all the childish, unprofessional, passive-aggressive and bitch-slapping CFI's/pilots who are a total disgrace not only to aviation, but to humanity as a whole.
I remember the fist thing my flight instructor (Bulai Elena) told me in April 1990 (in former comunist Romania), just before my first flight: "First I teach my students to be decent human beings. Then I teach them to fly". For a 17 years old lad, those words (and the whole attitude and behavior that accompanied them) meant a lot. I still use/display them in my current HR/ training career.
Well said. That flight instructor was probably going to wind up in a deep hole sooner than later. It's just such a shame he took an innocent person with him. I feel so sorry for the families of both young men. I wonder if, at the last second, the instructor was able to say "I'm sorry".
I doubt it, this obvious narcissist was probably blaming the student until the moment of impact. That's how they are. A true narcissist is one of the most dangerous personality types to be around - any psychologist will tell you they're pretty much unredeemable.
At 75yo, retired, and living on SS, I made the decision to cease flying, simply because doing my "90 day VFR currency" flight was not enough to keep me proficient, and I knew it better than anyone else. My CFII is still current, and I can still exercise that privilege (even with my expired medical) so long as the person I fly with is completely legal as PIC. Just know, I agree with you 1000%, and applaud this post from you. I soloed at 16. My instructor (a WW2 B-24 pilot who later flew F-100's) was a god to me! I dare say, he was my very first role model!!! Across the years, I've had many other instructors...some of them quite good, and others....well......I've experienced the dark cloud of equals to your subject flight instructor a few times too!!!!! Once, I got rusty with my Instrument skills, and scheduled an instructor to accompany me in a Piper Arrow for a night flight from Concord CA to Sacramento. He was exhibiting many of the traits you have described. While taxing to the active, I key'd Ground and cancelled IFR, with request to taxi back to the FBO.
You, sir, are a hero to me. You have a great attitude and the guts to back it up. Knowing when to say "enough" takes a lot of honest introspection and courage against perceived societal expectations. Thank you for being a responsible pilot.
That was the right thing to do, on both counts, but what impressed me the most, is you driving this guy back to the FBO. Good on you, mate! as they say down under 😉
I got my private license in 1980. My best instructor was a Marine Lt Colonel, Commanding Officer and pilot in an A4 squadron. He was buying the flight school prior to retirement. The patience he showed me while puttering along in a Piper Tomahawk was amazing. He watched me closely and reinforced what I needed without me asking.
Finding a flight instructor that loves to teach and isn’t just using the student to get to the airlines…is so rare. I’ve changed flight instructors more than once. I finally got my commercial certificate last week. I plan to continue on to CFI and my aim is to be nothing like the irreverent and thoughtless CFIs that exist today. (I realize there are a few good ones). But by God’s grace, I will be the best instructor I can be who loves to teach and values the time and most importantly, the lives of my students.
As a child as a student you inherently and sometimes blindly put your trust And faith in your mentor/instructor.A friend once advised me that a cfi is there to instruct make you a safe pilot and open you up to the beauty and joys of aviation. In my training I had to FIRe 2 different CFI’s It was hard like firing a teacher or professor; you may be too afraid to do it. But it may be for your own good and your life.We’ll presented concern.
Great video. I am recently retired from a major airline. As a Captain, I figured out quickly, the more comfortable the guy is sitting in the right seat, the smoother the entire flight is going to go. If your F/O makes a little mistake, rather than jump on him about it, correct it, let him know you are just backing each other up so you can both get to the layover hotel in one piece. Same with you flight instructors, make the guy comfortable and he'll learn quickly. Nothing will shut down a student pilot (or fellow crew member) faster than screaming at him.
Agreed. Here’s a guy who’s willing to spend thousands of dollars to learn to fly, and even has the humility to tell the instructor he wants feedback. This is infuriating. I’m not a pilot YET, but I’ve been dreaming of it since I was a little boy. This is exactly the reason I plan on doing multiple “discovery flights” with different instructors before I decide on a school. The respect and camaraderie in aviation is what makes it so great!
I totally respect that he took the responsibility to not only himself but to his viewers to write down every thought and be comfortable enough to read it on camera. Very professional.
I remember my first CFI Jim in Athens GA. He was older. Very mature and calm. He started me on a great path. He was always respectful and matter of fact. Sadly, I had to move to another state, and end my training with him. His last words to me were “You need to keep flying, you’re a natural.” That really stuck with me to continue to do right by what he would expect from me. In Maine I had a new, younger CFI, similar in manner to this deceased CFI. My first flight was an awful experience. I tried my best and naturally assumed “it must be me.” After a second flight lesson, I was so discouraged that I quit. Follow up three years later and I tried flying lessons again, this time in Columbus, Georgia. My CFI was a young man named Anthony. To say he was unconventional would be an understatement. He was excellent. We got along well, and I passed my check ride easily. Everything this video says is true. If it doesn’t fit, as the deceased student already knew, fire your CFI. Yes, FIRE them. It’s not a question of personalities. It’s up to the CFI to reach across to you. If they don’t, or can’t they’ve failed in their job.
Thanks Josh. I'm working on my CFI at age 54. I don't need money or hours... I'd love for it to be my part-time, and later my 'retirement job'. I've taught multiple subjects in the military... There was no yelling or sarcasm. We fired instructors like that if they couldn't be coached. We provided learning opportunities respectfully to even the lowest ranked soldier or sailor for one simple reason: The other way doesn't work, and what we taught was life and death. And instructor has to be accepted by the student. Thanks for this video Josh... I'm going to do this for the love of it.
Hey! Wow! I'm 56 and have a commercial/instrument, haven't flow in about 20 years, and also will soon begin working on CFI. Well, after I get current of course! Goal would be CFII & MEI (is there MEII?). I also don't need the money/hours but have been told I'm a good teacher in my role in maintenance of F-35s, teaching new-hires & instructing in certain tasks someone is new to. I would like to instruct perhaps full-time until I can do it no longer.
Awesome debrief Josh. Well done. Geez how sad man. Another needless accident and such a high cost for the student and the families of the deceased. Bless their hearts.
@@ShaunHensleyyeah, his defending of his sons snapchats comments was unnecessary and frankly, they are indefensible. It is sadly obvious this boy learned his lack of humility from his father.
Thank you Josh for this video. I am a licensed pilot, finally! I've had at least four instructors before I finally got my license. The first and second instructors were very nice, both got jobs with the airline industry while instructing me. The third was exactly what you have described in this video. I was constantly yelled at, embarrassed and finally I told him that as a student pilot, I was going to make mistakes, but I was there to learn, not to be yelled at so I quit. My fourth instructor was a retired Air Force pilot, 3000+ hours, extremely patient with me, had nothing to prove to anyone and this man loved to teach! I learned early on that this was the instructor that I needed. I wanted to learn how to fly for convenience. My wife lived in six hours away driving, but 1.5 hours flying. I got my license. On one particular weekend trip, I flew my wife to Charleston, W. Va. airport. Her parents lived in St. Albans, W. Va. I dropped her off, came back home to Frederick, Md. Sunday afternoon a week later, I got up, checked weather in Charleston, all was good so I left Frederick to go pick her up. On my way down, I checked weather, scattered and broken cloud cover in Charleston. I was flying over Martinsburg, W. Va. and it was solid cloud cover, nothing under me but clouds. I wasn't IFR rated. What happens if I get to Charleston and it's nothing but clouds. I checked ATIS, same info, scattered and broken. My instructor had told me many, many times about get-there-itis! I turned around and came back to Frederick. Upon coming into Frederick, I was once again confronted with solid cloud cover. I couldn't see the ground. I knew I was over the airport because the Vortac kept going from to, to from, back to to, back to from. I knew I was flying over the Vortac located at the airport. So, what do I do now? I found a sucker hole and I went through it and got under the clouds. Thankfully there wasn't another fool like me trying to get on top of the clouds. I landed. AOPA was located on the airport grounds. I walked in and signed up to get my IFR rating. The words of my Air Force flight instructor were screaming in my head. I had done a very stupid thing but made it out alive, this time. It wasn't going to happen again. My get-there-itis could have killed me and had I made it to Charleston, it could have killed both of us on the way back. This video brought those memories back, the good and the bad.
@@jessicasnaplesfl7474 well its expensive and not needed for most flights. But flying vfr deserves the same amount of respect as flying ifr, and requires the same level of diligence and planning. It's clear that OP learned a valuable lesson here.
This has so much more to do than just aviation, it has to do with anyone in any profession that should be acting as a mentor to others. I am a senior engineer at a wireless phone company and I mentor and encourage the new people as they come into the company to try to give them the confidence to do what they need to do. I remember when I first started the senior engineers where unhelpful and discouraging. I vowed never to be like that and to give up my time to help people to the fullest of my ability whenever they need it. Good for you Sir!
Thank you for posting this! Reminds me of my detested CFI 15 years ago, who spent most of my training literally screaming at me, and I would get so rattled trying to fly the plane and learn while dealing with the insane yelling. “NO! NO! GODDAMNIT HOW MANY EFFING TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO….” (Fill in the blank.). Criticizing almost everything I did, and he refused to follow the Cessna step by step “Learn to Fly” program the Flight School made me buy, that he was supposed to use, so he continually repeated the same lessons, and worse, “taught” me to fly by rarely letting me handle the controls! (“I taught plenty of dumb guys in the Navy and didn’t have some stupid program!”). I don’t think he knew how the computer worked is why he didn’t use it. All that did was drive up my pre-solo hours and costs. It was always, “Watch, here’s how you do it!,” or “Yeah, that was OK, but let me show you a better way, how it’s REALLY done! I have the plane.” Again and again. I was essentially paying $120 an hour at the time plus fuel surcharges for him to fly with me sitting there! He even flew up and down the runway in a nearby town once so he could wave at the woman in the tower he was dating. I was just the passenger paying for everything like an idiot. He also never communicated anything. I tried for a week to get ahold of him before the check ride and he was never available, then two days before I go in and he waves his license in my face; “I’ve got mine, don’t you care enough to get yours? Where have you been!! We have to prepare!” Me: “I’ve been in every day looking for you, and I left messages.” Him: “THAT’s YOUR PROBLEM! I’ve got my license!” And on and on; I was working 50 hours a week and trying to be there on his schedule, but he made it impossible with his total lack of communication and don’t give a crap attitude. During prep for the check ride, he followed his friend who was going to give it around, and whenever I spoke to the examiner he would interject: “I never said that! What did I tell you about this guy, huh?” Then they would both laugh and talk about the “dumbass guys they taught to fly in the Navy! Har har, yuk, yuk!” When I finally got my license his friend who did the check ride told me “you did a shitty job on your steep turns, but I guess. Here’s your license. Congratulations.” I took my $15,000 and 110! hour solo shirt tail off the wall and threw it in the trash, told him and my CFI to shove it, and never flew again. I’ve never felt lower or more depressed and worthless and “shitty” about anything I supposedly accomplished. That was the year I lost my love of all things aviation i had had since I was a kid, and stopped going to the regional air show. I know, my fault for the reaction, and taking it so poorly, but I’m embarrassed to tell people how long the whole training process took me and what a miserable ordeal it ended up being. If this ahole arrogant CFI had survived, he should have been fired by the FBO. Thanks again.
Dear Sir, I hope that you find or have found a person who genuinely loves to teach aviation and that you get back into the airplane and follow your dreams. When a student has not learned, it is usually because the instructor has not taught. The job market for pilots is booming like never before. Follow your dreams, Sir. There are many, many of us who live to see our students succeed!
That’s not how the vast majority of the aviation community is at all. I don’t understand why you stayed with that instructor… and I really don’t understand why you quit flying after finally getting through all of that. I strongly recommend looking back into it…
I passed this video on to my local FAASTeam. This needs to be viewed by as many instructors, pilots and flight schools as possible. This may be the single most important video on your channel. We need to do and be better as an aviation community.
This isn't just good and critically important advice to student pilots and professional instructors; this is advice that is necessary in any professional environment. From pilots and drivers to machinists and contractors and even office workers and C-Suite executives. Understanding how, when and why to give constructive criticism improves safety, productivity, and morale and that benefits everybody.
I wish I had you. I didn't even make it through ground school before I realized how scary and childish my instructors were. I grew up in rural Alaska. Spotting cowboy bush pilots is an essential survival skill that my dad taught me.
@@drawmaster77 cowboy is also a word for someone who is careless, reckless, cavalier Bush pilots are those pilots that specialize in flying and landing in the world’s most remote locations. Bush flying is inherently dangerous not just because these regions have very bad weather, and have poor coverage in… everything; these areas typically can only handle smaller planes - which don’t fare well in poor weather. Small planes, small budgets, big areas… Really bad to toss in a reckless pilot. _Cowboy bush pilot._
Josh.. my daughter and I found your channel about 5 years ago…. Two weeks ago (at age 58.5) I passed my ppl… thanks for saying this. My journey includes losing a cfi in an accident (still baffled from my experience with him), 7 planes and 4 instructors at 5 airports. I was blessed to have four totally different personalities as instructors have… but also that every one of them was a pro. Again. Thanks for saying ALL OF THIS
Hey Jeff, i'm glad to see your age in this commect. I am 49 years old and have won't to fly since i was a kid and haven't started yet. I was actually thinking today to myself, Am i to late? Well i can now see your comment and tell myself, It's never to late. Thanks Jeff for sharing this bit of info. Stay safe brother.
@@darylic146brother its never too late, please please do not think just because your any certain age its ever too late, just start, put the worry aside and just start.
Yes Jeff, thanks for sharing this comment. At 52, I've been watching Josh and others for the same amount of time. I hope to start working on my ppl within the next couple of years, hopefully. Congrats, and stay safe!
Jeff, I started flying at 59 and passed my checkride at 60. I also feel blessed by the professional attitude of my 3 CFI's. 3 different people, a few different things to learn from each, but a supportive and professional attitude displayed by all. Its good to see those with a megaphone (not to mention younger) like Josh thoughtfully calling out what is wrong.
You are so right about the Law of Primacy. Even though it was 50 years ago, I distinctly remember what my DPE said as he signed off on my Private Pilot check ride, then turned to look directly at me: "Every time you fly an airplane you are putting your life and the lives of your passengers in your hands."
I saw this title and thumbnail, and I couldn’t help but wonder where this video was going. I totally agree. I hate instructors who don’t care about their students, BUT I do believe that there is a time for destructive criticism. It should not be used often, but I’ve seen a handful of situations that required that style. They were some of my least favorite lessons, but I gained some valuable insight from an instructor that used that technique. That being said, the very next day, that instructor went out of his way to build me back up with some awesome instruction and great tips. Military aviation is a different animal. Lol. We should work together some time. That would be fun
My first flight was in 1969. I was 14. Rode with a ret. AF pilot, who had a zillion hours and a great demeanor. He had spoken with me for hours about the basics, including "what if" scenarios. Was in an early 60s Mooney, taking a couple of friends back to college - one in Denton, TX, one is Stillwater, OK. I got my chance at the controls after departing SWO. We went north, over Lake Carl Blackwell. I was in the right seat, of course, and after about 15 minutes of tutelage, wasn't all over the sky. Pretty straight and level. Thereupon, the engine quit. Raw panic came up in me, but my AF buddy reminded me we had discussed these scenarios and reminded me of what to do. Aviate, navigate, communicate. Did two of those things and pretty soon the panic subsided. We were at about 5K feet, so pretty well set for figuring it out. When I did, the engine came back to life. It was a deliberate fuel starvation [he shut the fuel off at the valve, located on the left, in a Mooney]. I was pissed, but the lesson proved invaluable.
As a fellow Instructor, that was one of the best debriefings I have heard and we need many more posted. We have so many "Professional" pilots making it look so easy that the plane almost flies itself in their RUclips videos. This has created what I call the Video Game Pilot, one that knows the technologies and yet not the fundamentals. This is the job of a good instructor, teach EVERY aspect of the fundamentals as though that student was going to be your co-pilot for life. With some instructors, I'm sure that concept may be a scary thought.
I agree with this. My favorite captains / FO's to fly with over the years have been those with the stick-and-rudder, seat-of-the-pants sense to be able to seriously and precisely fly an airplane while always thinking in terms of moderating risks and having plan-B's for those moments when something was not going to work as anticipated. The video-game style of training, practice, and operations will never take someone to that level.
@@ReflectedMilesYes -- vids and simulators have their place - good for procedures, and cheaper than the real thing ,especially IFR work . But, for the feel of the a/c and what it’s telling you , particularly light a/c , not so much of course .
This was much more calm and collected than it deserved-- but that's a testament to your professionalism. Appreciate your contributions to GA, Josh. When I told my wife about this accident, I was visibly agitated, and she was flabbergasted. I've been fortunate to have very good instructors, and I'm very thankful there are so many strong, visible, and vocal advocates for safe and fun flying.
I’m just starting my research on obtaining a pilot’s license. I’m a bit older than most beginners & wouldn’t tolerate disrespectful behavior from anyone including a CFI. I truly appreciate you making this video to hopefully raise awareness of these issues for students, CFI’s & pilots. Great job & well stated sir! 👍
My grandson is working his first flight license. I will make sure that he sees this video, understands what you are saying, and hopefully grows from this. Thank you for making a very important point. I am not a pilot but have been a teacher for many years. Your thoughts are on the mark for anyone who accepts the responsibility of guiding others in their chosen field. Again, sincere thanks.
Watching this video should be MANDATORY before earning every certificate and rating. Well said in a professional, concise and respectful manner. Job well done, Josh.
As a professional pilot I have said this before, and will say it as long as the situation persists: Pilots as a group have a major humility issue. Thank you for bucking the trend.
In the trucking industry, this is a problem as well. Always contact your dispatch and request a new instructor if your safety is in question. Your safety and the safety of your peers are number one.
Josh, I started watching your videos 10 or 12 years ago. I grew up in the 1940s and 50s with a tiny GA airport a mile from my house. Starting when I was 7 I would ride my bike there, walk among the planes and dream. I've never taken lessons, but I love general aviation. I haven't seen your videos for 8 or 9 years, but when I clicked on this in my feed I immediately said, "I know this guy." Then I looked at your handle. What an impressive man you have become. Your parents should be very proud.
Fantastic video, Josh. As instructors in this new generation, I hope you and I can lead the charge and set a new standard of excellence. And it's really all about mindset. A humble, always learning mindset like you articulated well here. The age of hard@$$-nothing-is-good-enough flight instructors is over. Everyone will be better off if we can all treat each other a little bit better.
The problem instructors are the time-builders. They have no experience, have no desire to instruct, and are merely using other people to fund their career ambitions. That trash has no place in aviation.
This is very refreshing to hear. As a 30 year airline pilot, I’m always looking at my First officers as future Captains and how they will eventually communicate with their crews. We are always learning, teaching and communicating. It is up to all of to preserve our workplace culture.
I was blessed to have the most amazing flight instructor that was always at her best and expected the same from me. So thankful for her dedication and professionalism to aviation and her students.
People like Josh give me hope not only as a hopeful aviator, but also as a human. This man is a damn good person, and an even better pilot. I love this channel.
I received that same impression while viewing the video. It is similar to the vibe I get from Tyler Dewitt who has a bunch of Chemistry videos. Both Josh and Tyler are very humble, very professional, and extremely intelligent, and they don't let ego get in the way to destroy those good human qualities. We certainly need more individuals like them. Your using the word "hope" resonated with me because that is what I felt after viewing this. I felt more hopeful that there are still good people in the world, young and old.
@@cbesthelper404 I’ll have to look into the channel. I’m more into engineering/physics, but anyone worth their salt knows that chemistry is an undeniably important field of study. The funny thing is guys like Josh used to be the norm. Tell it like it is, facts/logic/reasoning as opposed to todays culture of lying to fit in with the majority. Being the “cool” guy is not always cool.
I am not a pilot but am a lover of aviation who spent a good portion of my working career teaching technical topics. I have to say "VERY WELL SAID" in my opinion Josh!
I’m so excited to be a part of aviation soon. Been watching you’re videos to get me more ready for what I’m abt to see and because of you I and many more will become great pilots bc of the true and honest pilot you are. Thank you so much really.
Right on Josh! I’m always blown away by your content, but this one was a long time coming and much needed! Thank you for sharing all this information and your point of view on all the problems in Aviation right now! Keep it coming…!
I've spent the last 600 hours unlearning much of the first 4,000 and the weakness of much of my early training. These are spot-on points you make. Thank you.
Hi, I'm a student pilot here. I'm curious to know why and what are you trying to unlearn that you did for a staggering 4000 hours already. Asking because this might direct me to the right part since I'm already in the preliminary stages of learning.
I wrote a massive essay on how much I love this message and how badly it needs to be told. No one needs my life story. All you need to know Josh was that I was applauding after every point you made and at the end of the video. Thank you.
Under no circumstances should a CFI be "Snapchatting" while on the job. WTF? Additionally, under no circumstances is it ever acceptable to publicly ridicule a student especially on line. I gotta tell you, I am glad I took my flight instruction long before the internet even existed.
Internet existed when I got my training, thankfully my instructors have been old guys who didn't know how to use social media. My second instructor who was my favorite would occasionally take calls from close acquaintances but I'd take that as a compliment he was comfortable enough with my current control of the aircraft to do so lol.
This is such and important topic to be discussed. Thank you for using your platform to deliver the message to the aviation community. Not connecting with your instructor can be an uncomfortable topic but do not be afraid to recognize the need to change. You will not regret that uncomfortable conversation. Keep up the great work Josh!
That debrief broke my heart. You're one hell of a role model and I wish all flight instructors were like you. Can't believe that instructor was allowed to teach and I'm so sorry for that student who paid the ultimate price 😢
I experienced that weather storm and observed the high gusty winds that night all while on the ground. Then the next morning to learn a small plane was flying in that and had crashed, that brought in a mix of emotions of why was someone flying in that. Then over time to learn more and more details about the flight, it made my blood boil too. Then thinking of the family of the student pilot is very rough too. I hope this video you made can be shared when pilots need a reality check and some humility.
Josh, I’m in the Austin area and recently found your channel. I am a student pilot and this may be the most important flight safety RUclips video ever, certainly the best I’ve seen.
We need more of this Josh! Well said. I've been following you for years. You have earned the respect of the aviation community to give this message in the tone and delivery just displayed. Well done!
Good video man. My niece is a flight instructor living with me while building time as a flight instructor. She just passed 700 hours and for the last several months I have listened to her talk about the challenges she faces with certain students. She and I talked about this video last night and listened closely to the snap chat posts of that instructor. I was reassured that she was appalled by his behavior. When she gets to a certain point where some students don't seem to be progressing after considerable extra effort, she talks to a chief and they try another instructor. Keep up the good work brother.
First, blue skies to the poor student who needlessly died. And condolences to his poor family. As someone who spent the majority of my 51 years DREAMING of becoming a pilot, this one got to me. Flying has been my own personal Mount Everest that has brought to bare a lifetime of strengths AND weaknesses. While it isn't the CFI's job to be a therapist, the individual moments of personal growth under the direction of a GOOD CFI are priceless. The confidence brought about by a CFI that sees you as a person and not a paycheck will likely shave hours off stage of training. For those in training unsure of where they stand in the student/instructor relationship.....never fly with ANYONE who makes you feel "less than". Your time (and life) are more valuable than that.
At ATP/CTP training before my airline job they made us sit through dozens of case studies and it opened our eyes to our responsibility more than ever before. Our responsibility not only to our aircraft, but our crew and our passengers. I feel like videos like this one should be shown to brand new cfis with that intention in mind. Well done Josh
Great video! I agree with you on every point. I retired from the NTSB after 15 years and normally don’t like these types of videos, but I will follow you and your postings. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Well said! The two mantras that kept me safe throughout my flying were: “Flying is not dangerous, it’s just very unforgiving of errors” (subtext: work hard to avoid errors) and “Better down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here” (subtext: delay, divert or cancel if you’re not sure). All of which, and much more besides, was taught to me by a string of excellent instructors and examiners (yes, I learned from several of my examiners) as I progressed from PPL to CPL to ATP. But I have also met some gung-ho, downright dangerous instructors who showed me how NOT to be a pilot - but may also have produced a few gung-ho, downright dangerous pilots.
I'm actually amazed you were able to hold back as well as you did. This whole scenario is so disturbing and disgusting the more I learn about it. I'm in the process of becoming a CFI and I find the responsibility daunting, even scary. Not a responsibility to take lightly at all.
1000% concur with your statements! Been blessed to have had passionate and professional CFII’s. (Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Florida. Safe flying!
Excellent video here and absolutely needed. I’m a retired Corporate Pilot and CFI of 35 + years and agree with your assessment 100%. Aviation demands the highest levels of professionalism and discipline. Thank you for reinforcing this.
Would love to participate in anyway I can. Continuing training, regardless of TT, Type Ratings, or seat is extremely important. Initial and recurrent training isn’t enough. It doesn’t need to be fancy. AOPA, FSF, NBAA, and others are all great resources. Also, treat each flight with the highest level of professionalism and discipline it deserves. It doesn’t matter if it’s KSLN or SAEZ. Humility is also key. Thanks again for your efforts.
Josh, big kudos to you for recording and posting such an important video. Very correct, fair and passionately conveyed points. Many thanks for such an important public message. Happy flying!
I'm a teacher, trainer and operations manager (not in aviation). I love your attitude and your approach to presenting this video. We need more people like you in all industries and companies. If there were more students and instructors who were guided by your suggestions there would be more challenges, more successes, more rewards, and more happy people in the world.
Thanks for an incredible debriefing, Josh. I am a non-pilot dad with a 19 year old daughter who is working on her commercial rating right now. She is planning on getting her CFI soon afterwards. She has been fortunate to have some wonderful instructors on her journey; some *old* guys in their 50's and her current instructor(a great guy!) in his mid 20's! I hope a lot of current and future CFIs see this video. My hear aches for the parents of that poor student in Kentucky.... :(
Josh, I began following you and watching your channel back in 2015, when I started flying. We were almost at the same spot on our respective aviation journeys. I met you at the AOPA Fly-in at Colorado Springs that summer in 2015, having flown there in a C182 from Seattle in an amazing cross country two months after getting my private pilot certificate. We both have grown in our aviation journeys but I am [still] so impressed with all you have done with your channel and how you have contributed to aviation safety AND learning. Please keep doing what you’re doing. You are an example of what we need more of in aviation. Excellent video! I appreciate how you deviated from your norm to provide this valuable presentation.
Thank you Josh. This is horrific story and my heart goes out to the families of the student pilot and the CFI. Their loss is one that no one should have to bear. I can think of no more appropriate tribute than reaching out, as you are, to all pilots and CFI's with this lesson we can learn from.
Im so happy to see you made this video. Its important to have voices like yours to bring unfortunate incidences like these to remind and help us pilots to be better and safer professionals. It also helps the aviation industry maintain its high standard of safety.
Wow. I was in total shock by what I saw and like you my blood was boiling. Thank you bringing your message to our aviation community. Let’s hope that it has a positive impact as I believe it will.
This was a fantastic video with an amazing message as a student pilot these are the impressions and goals that should be taken with care and seriousness
Nothing else to say besides "well done, Josh" You are an outstanding attribute to the world of general aviation; here's to hoping that people will listen.
You've made me rethink virtually all of my experiences as a student. I'm embarrassed to admit that everything you said made perfect sense after you said it, yet practically none of it crossed my mind before I heard you say it. I have much to re-examine, both in my own thoughts and behavior, and in those of my instructors. But most importantly, I am absolutely 100% certain that your production and release of this video will save human lives. You will change the training trajectory of many students, making them better pilots, and some of those students will save their own lives, and others, because of the changes you brought about.
I read this many many years ago......The greatest teacher is one who leads by example. All the abilities and qualities of an individual that stem from being an example accelerate learning and is encouragement in itself. The student will never ever forget that wonderful/not so wonderful experience and will pass it on down the chain of life in this case aviation. What a wonderful talk my friend. I had and seen similar experiences when i was learning to fly. As health and safety has evolved so has best practices in all areas of human endeavour and i am glad this has come as i knew it would from many years ago. Well done!
Leaving the surface of the Earth, putting your life(and others) literally in your hands and the machine you are sitting in should never be lost on anyone flying. It is a glorious gift and privilege to be up there looking out as far as you can see... where only birds, angels and pilots have been before. I was a radio guy doing traffic reporting and flew in a C172 with several different pilots during that time. One was an F-16 pilot and instructor, another was a young CFI about 10 years younger than I was. They all let me fly (I've had every version of flight sim from MS going back to the 80s so it was familiar) and they all made me feel comfortable by telling me I would've been an easy student. They made you WANT to fly with them and do well. Life didn't allow for a Pilot's License for me though and now at 55 I have accepted that it won't. My heart kind of broke for that student. I could feel what he was feeling...would have loved to feel what he was feeling...wanting to get everything right, a little nervous because it was at night maybe? And there was this instructor who took it all for granted and was a jerk. He didn't deserve the privilege and the student didn't deserve that instructor. Thanks for you videos.
Josh! Right On The Money! Do NOT Stop your messages! You will Save SO MANY LIVES while pursuing your channel reviews! Salute! ALWAYS CONSTRUCTIVE, NEVER DESTRUCTIVE! 👍
When I heard the details of this wreck from another prominent aviation youtuber, the instructor's behavior was disgusting & in my opinion, he was 100% personally responsible for it happening. My heart goes out to the student pilot, but not to that POShxt flight instructor. Other details were revealed about the guy, his father, partying excessively, prior felony charges against him, etc. This guy should have never been an instructor & God forbid he ever become a commercial pilot. Thank you for posting & you are more diplomatic about this guy than I am. Cheers.
Josh, this was perfectly communicated and I couldn't agree more. Your perspective is spot on. With such an important topic you were calm, cool, and collected and said what needed to be said in a professional manner and provided a prime example of the "ideal' instructor and aviation professional you were describing through yourself. Well done my friend.
Outstanding! This is communication at its finest. Thank you for speaking out. Kudos. Keep it up. And I agree. Each of us who carry a pilot’s certificate is an ambassador for aviation. At all times, everywhere. Thanks again for such a cogent and necessary message.
I'm BLOWN AWAY by the amazing feedback and engagement on this. Over 1,000 comments. I've spent almost the entire morning replying to as many as I can. I wish I could get to all of them. This is an incredibly important conversation in general aviation, and I deeply appreciate all of you contributing to this conversation. Let's keep it going and spread this message to as many aviators across the world as we can. Thank you! 🙌🏼 -Josh
This is right on point. You're tickling the feet of a monster. I hope people listen to your words carefully and don't jump to conclusions.
First of your videos that I have seen. Won‘t be the last. Very nicely done.
Clear your calendar Josh. I nominate this as video of the year. I am only halfway through the comments and it is starling to see how many other students have encountered these defective attitudes and at such a degree.
Thanks Josh! You're an awesome asset to the aviation industry
I've had two instructors. One I didn't stay with that long and my current instructor. I'm happy to report the current instructor is great at his job as well as being an awesome human. I only hope I can be as good someday.
Thanks for your videos Josh. You and others like you inspired me to take the leap. Been a tough journey but it's changed my life and career path. Kudos to all of you!
That guy had no business being a CFI, he's an embarrasment to all pilots and people in aviation. Great debrief Josh.
Oh how I agree. The pre-flight takes as long as it takes and it doesn't make any sense to rush a student when they are just getting the hang of doing something which is still new to them.
ur right, everything I heard leads to the fact that the CFI was an asshole, full-time.
It was one thing for him to basically die in about 50 pieces even before the first piece hit the ground (as it seems like what happened here) - Dragging along a well-meaning student is murder.
Yep that was bad. And good luck disputing it after posting it on social media, WTF?!
Sounds like toxic narcissism. I think he wanted to watch the students struggle with the storm.
The unfortunate irony is that kid would have ended up being a way better pilot than the instructor. He displayed more character and humility than that joke of a cfi probably did in his entire life.
My best instructor ever was an 83 year old aerobatics instructor teaching me in a decathlon. He was a nuclear physicist and didn't need the money. Dude didn't even have a log book. He didn't care about logging time. He just loved to fly and to teach. Learned so much from that guy. I'm sure he's gone now. Wherever you are, thanks Mason. I'm still passing on the lessons I learned from you and you made my early days of flying memorable.
Yes. !!!!! Dude I used to fly with had only flew tail draggers.. loved him ..flew all over the mountains in an underpowered plane so he taught you how to fly like a glider pilot I just I can't specify how good he was as a teacher.... If I could fly and find an instructor like that I would get my privates
These are the CFIs prospective students should seek out, not an "hour builder" like Timothy McKellar Jr.
@@bwnco And I'm sure you know, but for any who do not, Sully, who captained the "Miracle on the Hudson" flight, started his aviation career as a glider pilot, and said it was those skills that allowed him to perfectly ditch that airliner on a river and save everyone on board.
I would wager that Mr. Mason above and probably your tail dragger specialist might have had a military background -- that seems to be what I see from all of these stories where we had men like this that just truly loved to fly.
There are great instructors everywhere, and I hope you do motivate yourself to get your PPL. It's liberating in a way few things are.
@@dreamkrusherjay2869 thank you.!!. I met a glider pilot here where I live and he said and I quote... I will never fly with anyone unless they have their glider rating... Sadly it's hard to find someone that flies and is open to what my old instructor and friend were like they were down to earth the people I've met since in are a bunch of Rich snobs.. not saying in any way that's what the majority are so don't bash me folks.. Bud like golfers a lot of the pilots are an arrogant breed
@bwnco You aren't wrong at all. There are unfortunately many (and not just in aviation) that feel they are better than everyone around. It certainly doesn't help that aviation has truly become a rich person's playground in this day and age, unless you started flying in the military or several years ago now to get enough hours in the air.
I refuse to get on any commercial aircraft at this point, with how the industry has devolved since the pandemic -- and it truly sucks as due to my health from my father's exposure and murder from Agent Orange in Vietnam, and where it left my health since birth, I can no longer afford to train further, and certainly can't afford a private aircraft either. (None of my health issues keeps me from my medical certificate, only my finances keep me from the air now, and it kills me as I love to fly.)
The powers-that-be have truly destroyed the aviation industry, and having worked at KDTW Detroit Metro for a long time, I saw it first hand as they did it. :(
Sorry to write you a novel in response. I hope you find a way to get yourself in the air long-term, Sir!
(EDIT: Grammar Only.)
Whenever I hear about bad flight instructors, I like to tell the story of my one and only lesson. Soon after we were in the air, the plane caught on fire. Smoke, flames, oil covering the windshield, yeah, it was bad. Not only did the instructor get us back on the ground safely, he continued teaching a lesson the whole time. His attitude was one of “what better time to demonstrate what to do in an emergency.” He was probably also thinking it a good way to keep my mind occupied instead of thinking OH MY GOD THE PLANE IS ON FIRE. For every bad instructor out there, I bet there are many great ones. And to them I say Thank You.
42 years and 12,000 hours later I still remember my first flight instructor’s words. They’re like parents.
+1 . 14000 hours and 45 years here, agree 100%.
Parents that care only about themselves and their careers.
@@jimmyfall9302 so regular parents
@@joemama069 No that's not normal and can cause deep lasting damage, speaking from personal experience. If you feel this way you should definetly talk to a therapist. And I don't mean that in an insulting way, I myself had an emotionally abusive parent, which led to depression, ptsd and social anxiety, requiring therapy and medication. I shudder to think where I'd be at if I had never gotten any help. The thing is the child often doesn't realise it because to them, that's just how things are and the parent(s) will of course normalise this and if the child speaks up, punishment often follows. Wasn't until I was in my teens that I realised this behaviour is not normal, not acceptable and disgusting and that I should probably talk to someone. Which took another 20 years to muster the courage to do. I did go to a psychiatrist to talk about the symptoms but I had been to manipulated and made to feel ashamed to even mention it, so the ptsd went undiagnosed until recently (early 30s) and I have just begun dealing with it (in a healthy way instead of turning to drink or drugs to feel normal). So if you truly believe what you said I strongly advise you to talk to someone, a professional (and don't tell the parents). I know it's hard. But things can get better and the sooner you try the higher your chances are to end up as undamaged as possible.
Very sad. :( @@jimmyfall9302
I'm not a pilot, but this needs to be said not just in this industry but many others. No matter the profession, a mentor must check his attitude and behavior at the door. The student doesn't need arrogance.
It's really everything that falls under "treating your job with respect". As you said, there's a severe lack of that in many fields. A blase attitude to all sorts of things in becoming all to normal.
Complacency kills
Ego is bullshit
Thank you for your insightful comment.
Watching the CFI's behavior made me physically ill. Thank you for the message- well said.
WELL SAID.
I remember that incident where a student pilot's airplane lost the right main wheel. The ATC, her instructor, and another instructor, no one went macho or belittling or condescending. They all together gently pushed her out of her comfort zone and guided her to a very good landing -- well, as good as can be with a plane that has lost a wheel. She was flying solo, close to panicking, but everyone worked together to instill confidence and calmness in her, and she survived the ordeal stronger and more passionate.
That is the kind of stories I want to hear from general aviation education.
This is unfortunately (and your example helps prove this) partially due to the way men/boys are socialized and the way our fathers correct our mistakes being so wrapped up in generations of toxic ideals of what men are supposed to be. Boys are taught from a very young age that you treat girls nicer because they're not as "tough" as you, and then it's compounded by tons of cultural things and sports and media that convince boys that you're always competing with other men and that violence/being an asshole are the ways you solve it "because they can take it if they're not a pussy". I'm not saying they should have treated the girl like shit. I'm saying we need to evaluate why men have such a hard time communicating with other men in any other way outside of "youre my buddy on one side of the spectrum or you're the guy I wanna fight" and with women "I want to fuck you or oppositely treat you like my daughter" and how we can better socialize young boys and girls to generally just treat eachother better and learn to be able to see things from a genuine empathetic perspective instead of a "tough love" approach. Teaching cannot be a tough love thing. It has to be done with the utmost empathy and respect for the students learning process. Teachers are supposed to give us confidence, not tear our mistakes down and make that the focus of our egos. Boys aren't naturally like this either. This is culturally enforced learned behavior, and it makes a lot of us into dickheads who think they need to prove themselves to every other person they meet.
that’s Maggie. her CFI was a boss. she went on and passed her checkride and i think is working on her commercial last i heard.
@@subsoar5734 Yeah, found the ATC recording again thanks to VAS.
The tower and the CFI were amazing in that video. You could hear the pilot panicking at the start but at the end of the video, she landed that plane like a pro..
That was an incredible story. She, the instructors, and the tower were amazing in helping her safely get that plane on the ground.
"Arrogant, immature and disrespectful...": deadly attitudes in the aviation world.
Thank you, Josh, for saying what needed to be said about this oh-so-preventable fatal accident.
As a 40+ year pilot and former CFI myself, if you (CFI) don't like to instruct or despise your students, get out of instructing and build your hours some other way (but don't kill those people, either).
"Arrogant, immature and disrespectful...": deadly attitudes ANYWHERE!
This is a perfect example of how to "use your platform" for the common good. Not exploitative, anchored in universal truths, and done with reverence. Thanks Josh.
Absolutely! And everything that he said holds true for the kind of INDIVIDUAL we can strive to be.
You can certainly call restating empty platitudes and common wisdom whatever you like, but I just call what it is - restating the obvious, making money. I assume the video is monetized.
@@alk672 Platitudes or not - and I do not think that they are - sometimes "restating the obvious" and stating it again and again until someone listens is the right and most effective thing to do. Many an issue has gotten resolved only after someone persistently raised their voice to "the obvious".
"Common wisdom", as you put it, and applying it, are two COMPLETELY different things. Wisdom has little value unless we put it to use. But more importantly, I wonder what is behind your motive to take the time and energy to undermine the spirit of the discussion here. Why was that so important for you to do, and why be so eager to do it?
@@cbesthelper404 because this is not a discussion. A discussion suggests multiple viewpoints. What other viewpoints can there be? Yes, CFIs should be good CFIs and not insult or kill their students. How is this useful other than RUclips revenue?
@@alk672 Scores of viewpoints if you scroll through the comments.
My brother was a CFI. I was his first student. I was so impressed by his professionalism and ability to teach. He had found his calling and he love it. Sadly he has passed and I miss him much . Good job David!
My condolences for your loss. May he rest in peace.
do you still fly?
I had one instructor in my early training that seemed pre-occupied with personal issues and responded to my questions with an attitude. After our third flight, I took him aside and let him know who was in charge and what my expectations were. I also reminded him of how many good and willing CFIs are eager for new Students and how powerful word of mouth is in any business. No problems after that. Don’t ever be afraid to change Instructors if it isn’t working. Thanks Josh!
I had an instructor (I was using for my BFR) who screamed me around the pattern. I landed walked away and found another instructor. I pay for knowledge transfer and intructorial temperament, not an inflight beating!
Reason you are still alive today!
@@wilsonle61 I'll bet he wasn't "screaming" baseball scores or heavy-metal lyrics. I'll bet he was a switched-on ex-military pilot who was trying to snap you out of some bad piloting, and fill those gaps in your practice with short, sharp, *memorable remedies.* The BFR exists because a private pilot can develop a LOT of bad habits during 2 years of casual UNsupervised flying. Military instructors don't raise their voice at students because they're "big meanies on a power trip", but because being yelled at ABOUT a neuro-motor skill, WHILE performing that skill, actually burns permanent engram-memories into your brain, verbatim recipes for flight safety more powerful than your ego... and much, much later, in *dire moments* of the type that occur in flying machines, when you are FROZEN stiff with fear, and your normally facile mind is vapor-locked and completely out of what-next ideas, and you're just about to lose control of your bowels, THEN arises in your mind's ear, the forgotten voice of Instructor Shout, hammering you with the 1-2-3 plan that snaps you back into action and saves the plane!
You need the "inflight beating". Every SAFE pilot does. Should you seek out the CFI that tells you what you WANT to hear, and just signs you off, or the CFI that tells you what you NEED to hear, and makes you keep going around until the yelling turns into a well-deserved "NOW you got it"...? Which one do you think *your passengers* deserve?
@@MajorCaliber I couldn't disagree more with this. NO PILOT or flight student needs to be screamed at or yelled at. This does not make safer pilots, it makes fearful pilots who are afraid of making a small transgression.
If you are the kind of learner that "enjoys" being screamed at, more power to you. If you would like to be treated with respect, change flight instructors IMMEDIATELY!
If you are in the air and not qualified you a definitely not “in charge” by FAA regulations. You can resume being in charge after you are on the ground and have been fully debriefed
Josh, when I was 16, I went up with an instructor who was just terrible. I didn’t touch flight controls again until I was 46. Your videos were a big part of what inspired me to get back into aviation and now I’m so close to my check ride, I can see it! What a huge difference a good flight instructor makes! I thank you and my instructors I’ve had on this renewed journey for being professional and excellent.
I’m sorry about your first experience, but congratulations on getting back to flying
I too at 18 with 7hrs in 1975..instructor was a novice and would only explain when asked but wouldn't flight demonstrate..always wondered what coulda
Spent 36yrs with airlines...below wing
Disgusting behavior from that "CFI"
Repulsive and reprehensible.
@@Aviation101 - Yeah - brutal. I hadn't heard about this one until now. So much good advice here.
CFI?
Certified Flight Instructor@@K1OIK
@@K1OIKCommercial Flight Instructor
I don't fly, but I'm a motorcyclist and I'm fascinated and shocked by how well this applies to motorcycle instructors too. There's much to learn from the aviation mindset.
Heartily seconded. Having the self-control not to punch out my first bike instructor is one of my proudest accomplishments.
I have hundreds of hours in small aircraft functioning as primary observer and navigator in conducting wildlife surveys over a 45 year period; now retired. To your comment, just last year I pursued and received my motorcycle endorsement after a required 5 hour online training/testing, a two-day hands on training and testing, as well as a previous years on the road riding self training/experience. I couldn't afford to pursue a private pilot license, but for some reason, motorcycle riding/training appealed to me. Short of flying, motorcycling provides a freeing, uplifting experience beyond what other forms of ground transportation do, in my opinion. It also brings a higher, inherent degree of danger to which you must be skilled and experienced after receiving the best possible, certified training. Research to find the best available in your area, pursue advanced training, and then practice, practice, practice.
@@toms6841 I totally agree with your view of motorcycling. Interestingly, motorcycle legend Giacomo Agostini for example has a pilot licence too and when asked about an alternative career, he says he would have wanted to be a pilot.
Thankfully I was able to obtain my motorcycle licence a few years ago and I actually have an ex-professional rider in the family (first responder) who provided additional training. Unfortunately not every new rider has that and especially the younger ones (you can start on 125cc at 16 where I live) may not even be aware that they have to compensate for the often inadequate and dangerous training they received from their instructors.
the Wright Brothers, were 2 wheel people before the made their airplane.
It’s not just motorcycling.
I took “ground school” when I was ~17 but didn’t go further. Wished I had.
Anyway, about the time I started realizing / becoming aware that I was getting a lot of information in school but not a lot of understanding (4th grade, 10yo) I started thinking about what I didn’t know about stuff when I was getting the basic information at school. I didn’t realize this was “weird” but I even pondered how different things were related and their history- everything from etymology to sciences and social studies and after school would go to the public library and study what the in-school texts were leaving out. I developed my own philosophy of learning; I didn’t fully grasp that essentially nobody else did this. I just wanted to know things like ‘why’ a diagonal member of a bridge was stronger, not just learn by rote/recitation that it was stronger to give one example.
While I didn’t pursue a PPL, the thought processes and principles were ancillarially informative to how I approached everything- including motorcycling. And motorcycling informed my driving a car.
Whether aviation or motorcycling, it’s very easy to see how looking ahead of the vehicles in front of you to anticipate what evasive maneuvers might be required, always leaving yourself a ‘second’ out / backup plan, or in flying to constantly be mindful of what could go wrong, cognitively apply oneself to having spatial awareness, and constantly updating the current situation and comparing it to what you’ve planned pretty much buys you time should an emergency transpire.
Now nearing 60yo I’ve been employing those same principles to business, fabrication, productivity, and management.
Flying, motorcycling, and relational negotiating all have ‘cross-genre’ applications to real life situations. But as a society ‘we’ do not teach how, why, philosophy, and logic. We teach information…
But as you noted, there are a plethora of portable skills obtained in structured disciplines like flying, engineering, motorcycling, and actuarial statistics.
And as with flying where to often the goal is “a license” while barely meeting the threshold of competency, the sloppy information-based education we have doesn’t teach students to inquisitively think or understand so people - when faced with the unexpected or an emergency - do not have the neural pathways and/or cognitive habits to think past the immediate elements of a crises and achieve a desirable outcome.
Great video. Right on point.
I am a retired military pilot, current airline captain, and I maintain my CFII.
There is no better feeling than sending a student off on their first solo and seeing the huge smile on their face when they get back. I do not instruct to build time, I do it because aviation has been very good to me and this is my way of giving back. I don’t even charge for my time, aviation has been that good to me. I do it for the love of it.
Having said that, as CFI’s, we are not only responsible for our students, but also for the lives of their future passengers and the people on the ground they fly over.
There is a law of primacy in aviation. You will always remember the first things you are taught. When the crap is hitting the fan, you will always go back to the fundamentals you learned first. That puts a pretty big burden on us CFI’s, and we better take our role seriously.
So, as CFI’s, we have a great responsibility to uphold. That is why when I first heard about this accident it made my blood boil.
I will not go into further detail, because you explained it beautifully.
Keep up the good work!
Here’s my question. Do you feel like the job of CFI is treated a little too flippantly in the community? I’m not a pilot but I’ve done my research when I was thinking of going for airline pilot. For many people, becoming a CFI is seen as a stepping stone to build hours and make some money in the run for the airlines. Many PPL students are being taught by people who just barely finished their own flight training and have a bare minimum of flying experience themselves. On the one hand, everything is fresh in their minds, but they are still learning things themselves.
So back to my question. Do you feel that this stepping stone approach is a good way of doing things, or do you think that the CFIs teaching new pilots should be more experienced?
I have always found it odd that in an industry where a sink or swim involves life or death we have the most inexperienced people training the new students.
@@av8rGrl734 My flight instructor was a younger guy building hours for his career. He was great, he loved to fly and was able to keep up with my interest to learn. We finished my PPL in 6 weeks if I recall. Instructing is not for everyone, and I'm sure some aren't suited for it. I suppose it mostly comes down to flight schools and their hiring process. I met my instructor through my flying club, so it was a direct relationship, I never went to a brick and mortar flight school. Personally, I don't have a problem with that aspect of the system, what really matters for an instructor or any teacher, is the ability to impart knowledge and stoke the interest in the subject. You don't need to be a chemistry researcher to teach high-school chemistry. While an experienced airline pilot probably would be able to give someone useful career advice, you don't need that to teach for the PPL. Not to mention, there are life-long flight instructors, it's not like everyone only uses it as a stepping stone.
Wish you could be my instructor you sound like a great mentor. Sadly we live in different countries but I'll be looking for CFI's that hold good qualities as per this video. 💜
@@speed150mph it all depends on the instructor that you get. A lot of the young guys and gals are outstanding instructors.
They have the advantage of having just gone through what you are trying to do. Yes, there are time builders who only care about themselves. If you get one of these, and it should be obvious when you do, there is no law that says you have to keep flying with them. Remember, you are paying them. They work for you. If it is not working out, go to the chief instructor and ask for a change.
The disadvantage the young guys have as opposed to us old heads is what we call airmanship. That comes with experience. Us old guys have seen a lot, made a lot of mistakes, and lived to tell about them. Our bag of tricks is simply bigger than the younger guys. Does not mean they are bad instructors and cannot teach you a lot, it just means that we have different perspectives.
In fact, when I get ready to send a student to their first check ride, I always send them to a local flight school to get a few rides with a new instructor. They can teach the nuances of passing the PPL checkride better than me. They just did it. I did it decades ago. I always tell them “I have taught you to fly, they are going to teach you to pass your checkride.”
The best case scenario in my humble opinion is to fly with both very experienced instructors as well as the younger guys. You can learn a lot from both of us.
Hope that helps and good luck!
Josh - if this was a speech delivered at a general aviation conference, I'd be starting a standing ovation for you right now. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say here, and the clarity & passion with which you delivered it was phenomenal.
Keep up the good work, and clear skies to you!
How much better is this for being a speech on RUclips rather than a modest audience at a conference. A quarter of a million views in just 5 days and over 1800 comments.
Airline Check Pilot here. Bravo Josh. Every day I show up with a student, I am accountable to my passengers and to training my students to be accountable to them. We owe them our livelihoods and our focus and expertise.
As a CFI this also made my blood boil. This guy was insult to our profession. Saw a Facebook post from the CFI's dad (who together with his son also had some run ins with the law by the way) in which he defends his son by saying he was an exemplary CFI. Humulity, self refelection and honesty start with your upbringing. This CFI came from a family where this apparently was not part of the syllabus at home. Feel sorry for the family of the student.
Saw that too. He's so gross.
As retired military in aviation for 2.5 decades, we always said "it starts at home". You hit it on the head. It's a toxic fester in this case.
Yep, seems like the apple didn't fall far from the tree in that case.
The fact that he and his dad got arrested together while drinking was involved- that should have been a red flag regarding their judgement. The Dad sounds exactly like his son- haughty, arrogant and foolhardy. His son never should have been a CFI. His open mocking of that student was just sad. What chance did that kid have with him as a guide? I truly believe if the kid had a different instructor, he would have survived that flight. Not only did the kid die under a bad instructor, the Dad then goes online and insults the kid AGAIN publicly, reiterating what his son said on Snapchat. Unbelievably sad.
This month Tennessee Fly Girl was on a three hour flight to Arkansas to see about upgrading the autopilot on her plane. She was accompanied by her father. She was totally unaware how to use or set the autopilot that the plane got away from her. She crashed the plane into a hill killing them both. The plane burst into flames destroying it. One or both of the GoPro survived the crash and fire.
They were trying to figure out how to work the autopilot a Century 2000.
In previous videos, she recorded all of them, the main issue was the autopilot. It wasn't working as she put it but it was it was she didn't know how to use it.
She went though several instructors while filming her lessons. She had two or three cameras mounted in the cockpit. When she was fussing with the autopilot trying to get it t work the instructor was on his phone checking for messages. Imagine that.
Each of the flight instructors failed to report Fly Girl to the FAA stating that she needed to basically start her lessons from the very beginning.
I don't suppose that she knew how to judge instructors based on knowledge or references.
Fly Girl admitted that she wasn't where she needed to be with basic skills. Her instructors should have prevented her going solo. Based on her videos her instructors should have asked her to remove the cameras so she could focus on flying.
I was watching the videos available and I'm not a pilot nor interested in flying, but her instructors didn't explain the reasoning behind everything, she did seem like she did not know why she was doing stuff, or why stuff went wrong. One guy seemed to make suggestions without explanations. I don't know what instructors do during these flights, but it seems like they should be doing more instructing in a firm manner
Not only did her instructors fail her, whoever signed off on her check ride failed right?
In TNFlyGirl case, root cause anaylsis would more likely reveal 1) initial and subsequent CFI negligence and 2) lack of SA. There were many videos revealing her lack of cognizance and SA in the seat leading up to that dreadful day. Social media captures and attention are no doubt contributing factors. Compares to negligence while driving vehicles with cell phones in hand. Death rates have continued on an upward trend. Sad for all.
I have made the mistake she was making before with an in-car gadget. Trying to learn it while driving and without the manual. Stupid rookie mistake. In the end I found the manual and fully familiarized myself with it while NOT driving.
So when she was trying to just figure out her autopilot as she flew it was painful to watch. It was like the mistake I had made but far more serious and dangerous. She should have sat at home one time, pulled out the manual and spent a few hours fully familiarizing herself, and then testing out her new knowledge on her next flight. If she got confused that should be a sign to go back to the manual or consult someone else with experience of the model.
It was also clear she did not know how to operate her GPS, where she was randomly stabbing at buttons, then turned it off and didn't know how to turn it on again. This is understandable, it looks like a complex device that has a lot of buttons. She needed to know that GPS just like the autopilot.
The with her autopilot wasn't that she didn't know how to use it (though she didn't, not really) but that she couldn't fly the aircraft without it. Ridiculous.
I made a tough decision to replace my instructor the day after I learned about the tragedy you referenced. You really MUST learn from someone you're confident in and who is a good fit. This is a fantastic commentary on this heinous even in aviation history and on the system that allowed it. It's a very random process, in many ways. God bless you for your candor and boldness. Well done. This isn't the last we've heard about this horrible event.
I’d love to hear this more in depth. Going to subscribe
What made you think you needed to replace your instructor?
I also replaced my instructor, they were passive aggressive with teaching and dismissive on a relationship level watching this video made me so glad about my decision. Don’t get me wrong there’s still professionalism in the whole learning process but you should preferably choose an instructor who you can connect with on a humanity level :) going back to student flight vlogging soon
That's it. Never be afraid of replacing your instructor. You're paying good money to learn well and with someone that you can feel comfortable and confident enough flying with, and of course, someone that actually knows how to teach others. Flying is no ordinary business, don't just go with anyone. Make it loud and clear that you won't fly with instructor X or Y and why, the other instructors and the school should know this. Call out unprofessional behavior when you see it. ALWAYS.
During my PPL days, all the CFI's there were amazing dudes, but one guy in particular always seemed weird and I never hit it off with him. The day that I was scheduled to fly with him I started to feel the weirdness already in the briefing room. Once I reached the plane, got my gear out of it and told everyone there how unprofessional and weird he was. His mannerisms never gave me confidence, he always gave off weird vibes and even the other CFI's told me that this dude was a bit of a dweeb, but somehow was still there. He didn't last long there after this, probably working at some regional airline as a FO nowadays, no freaking idea, but if we ever cross paths again I wouldn't hesitate to say that directly to his face.
Fuck these weirdos and all the childish, unprofessional, passive-aggressive and bitch-slapping CFI's/pilots who are a total disgrace not only to aviation, but to humanity as a whole.
@@JAI_8I guess seeing some of the same behavior that was on display by the late instructor here.
I remember the fist thing my flight instructor (Bulai Elena) told me in April 1990 (in former comunist Romania), just before my first flight: "First I teach my students to be decent human beings. Then I teach them to fly". For a 17 years old lad, those words (and the whole attitude and behavior that accompanied them) meant a lot. I still use/display them in my current HR/ training career.
Well said. That flight instructor was probably going to wind up in a deep hole sooner than later. It's just such a shame he took an innocent person with him. I feel so sorry for the families of both young men. I wonder if, at the last second, the instructor was able to say "I'm sorry".
I doubt it, this obvious narcissist was probably blaming the student until the moment of impact. That's how they are. A true narcissist is one of the most dangerous personality types to be around - any psychologist will tell you they're pretty much unredeemable.
@@deezelfairy The narcissist and their victim are often indistinguishable to the third party observer. Something to keep in mind.
I don't feel sorry for the "instructor's" family. Did you see what his dad said? Absolutely sickening
@@Ena48145 what did his dad say ?
I did not. @@Ena48145
At 75yo, retired, and living on SS, I made the decision to cease flying, simply because doing my "90 day VFR currency" flight was not enough to keep me proficient, and I knew it better than anyone else. My CFII is still current, and I can still exercise that privilege (even with my expired medical) so long as the person I fly with is completely legal as PIC. Just know, I agree with you 1000%, and applaud this post from you. I soloed at 16. My instructor (a WW2 B-24 pilot who later flew F-100's) was a god to me! I dare say, he was my very first role model!!! Across the years, I've had many other instructors...some of them quite good, and others....well......I've experienced the dark cloud of equals to your subject flight instructor a few times too!!!!! Once, I got rusty with my Instrument skills, and scheduled an instructor to accompany me in a Piper Arrow for a night flight from Concord CA to Sacramento. He was exhibiting many of the traits you have described. While taxing to the active, I key'd Ground and cancelled IFR, with request to taxi back to the FBO.
You, sir, are a hero to me. You have a great attitude and the guts to back it up. Knowing when to say "enough" takes a lot of honest introspection and courage against perceived societal expectations. Thank you for being a responsible pilot.
Thank you sir for being a responsible pilot. God bless you, 🙏🏼
You are a good man. Be well going forward!
That was the right thing to do, on both counts, but what impressed me the most, is you driving this guy back to the FBO. Good on you, mate! as they say down under 😉
Sorry, but what is IFR and FBO? I'm not privy to aviation terminology.
I got my private license in 1980. My best instructor was a Marine Lt Colonel, Commanding Officer and pilot in an A4 squadron. He was buying the flight school prior to retirement. The patience he showed me while puttering along in a Piper Tomahawk was amazing. He watched me closely and reinforced what I needed without me asking.
Finding a flight instructor that loves to teach and isn’t just using the student to get to the airlines…is so rare. I’ve changed flight instructors more than once. I finally got my commercial certificate last week. I plan to continue on to CFI and my aim is to be nothing like the irreverent and thoughtless CFIs that exist today. (I realize there are a few good ones). But by God’s grace, I will be the best instructor I can be who loves to teach and values the time and most importantly, the lives of my students.
As a child as a student you inherently and sometimes blindly put your trust And faith in your mentor/instructor.A friend once advised me that a cfi is there to instruct make you a safe pilot and open you up to the beauty and joys of aviation.
In my training I had to FIRe 2 different CFI’s It was hard like firing a teacher or professor; you may be too afraid to do it. But it may be for your own good and your life.We’ll presented concern.
Great video. I am recently retired from a major airline. As a Captain, I figured out quickly, the more comfortable the guy is sitting in the right seat, the smoother the entire flight is going to go. If your F/O makes a little mistake, rather than jump on him about it, correct it, let him know you are just backing each other up so you can both get to the layover hotel in one piece. Same with you flight instructors, make the guy comfortable and he'll learn quickly. Nothing will shut down a student pilot (or fellow crew member) faster than screaming at him.
well said Josh
Hi Jeff im a long-time subscriber 😊
Oh, hey there Jeff
Watching that clip of student pilot doing his walk around crushed my heart, My condolences to the families of both aviators.
Agreed. Here’s a guy who’s willing to spend thousands of dollars to learn to fly, and even has the humility to tell the instructor he wants feedback. This is infuriating. I’m not a pilot YET, but I’ve been dreaming of it since I was a little boy. This is exactly the reason I plan on doing multiple “discovery flights” with different instructors before I decide on a school. The respect and camaraderie in aviation is what makes it so great!
I totally respect that he took the responsibility to not only himself but to his viewers to write down every thought and be comfortable enough to read it on camera. Very professional.
I remember my first CFI Jim in Athens GA. He was older. Very mature and calm. He started me on a great path. He was always respectful and matter of fact. Sadly, I had to move to another state, and end my training with him. His last words to me were “You need to keep flying, you’re a natural.” That really stuck with me to continue to do right by what he would expect from me.
In Maine I had a new, younger CFI, similar in manner to this deceased CFI. My first flight was an awful experience. I tried my best and naturally assumed “it must be me.” After a second flight lesson, I was so discouraged that I quit.
Follow up three years later and I tried flying lessons again, this time in Columbus, Georgia. My CFI was a young man named Anthony. To say he was unconventional would be an understatement. He was excellent. We got along well, and I passed my check ride easily.
Everything this video says is true. If it doesn’t fit, as the deceased student already knew, fire your CFI. Yes, FIRE them.
It’s not a question of personalities. It’s up to the CFI to reach across to you. If they don’t, or can’t they’ve failed in their job.
Thanks Josh. I'm working on my CFI at age 54. I don't need money or hours... I'd love for it to be my part-time, and later my 'retirement job'. I've taught multiple subjects in the military... There was no yelling or sarcasm. We fired instructors like that if they couldn't be coached. We provided learning opportunities respectfully to even the lowest ranked soldier or sailor for one simple reason: The other way doesn't work, and what we taught was life and death. And instructor has to be accepted by the student. Thanks for this video Josh... I'm going to do this for the love of it.
Hey! Wow! I'm 56 and have a commercial/instrument, haven't flow in about 20 years, and also will soon begin working on CFI. Well, after I get current of course! Goal would be CFII & MEI (is there MEII?). I also don't need the money/hours but have been told I'm a good teacher in my role in maintenance of F-35s, teaching new-hires & instructing in certain tasks someone is new to. I would like to instruct perhaps full-time until I can do it no longer.
I am "working" on playing for the Patriots.
Awesome debrief Josh. Well done. Geez how sad man. Another needless accident and such a high cost for the student and the families of the deceased. Bless their hearts.
the highest cost. 😞
Let’s just say the apple didn’t fall far from the tree regarding that so called instructor
@@Aviation101 Probable the first time the student is night pre-flighting and the instructor cant help but do nothing and complain....
@@ShaunHensleyyeah, his defending of his sons snapchats comments was unnecessary and frankly, they are indefensible. It is sadly obvious this boy learned his lack of humility from his father.
Thank you Josh for this video. I am a licensed pilot, finally! I've had at least four instructors before I finally got my license. The first and second instructors were very nice, both got jobs with the airline industry while instructing me. The third was exactly what you have described in this video. I was constantly yelled at, embarrassed and finally I told him that as a student pilot, I was going to make mistakes, but I was there to learn, not to be yelled at so I quit. My fourth instructor was a retired Air Force pilot, 3000+ hours, extremely patient with me, had nothing to prove to anyone and this man loved to teach! I learned early on that this was the instructor that I needed.
I wanted to learn how to fly for convenience. My wife lived in six hours away driving, but 1.5 hours flying. I got my license. On one particular weekend trip, I flew my wife to Charleston, W. Va. airport. Her parents lived in St. Albans, W. Va. I dropped her off, came back home to Frederick, Md. Sunday afternoon a week later, I got up, checked weather in Charleston, all was good so I left Frederick to go pick her up. On my way down, I checked weather, scattered and broken cloud cover in Charleston. I was flying over Martinsburg, W. Va. and it was solid cloud cover, nothing under me but clouds. I wasn't IFR rated. What happens if I get to Charleston and it's nothing but clouds. I checked ATIS, same info, scattered and broken. My instructor had told me many, many times about get-there-itis! I turned around and came back to Frederick. Upon coming into Frederick, I was once again confronted with solid cloud cover. I couldn't see the ground. I knew I was over the airport because the Vortac kept going from to, to from, back to to, back to from. I knew I was flying over the Vortac located at the airport. So, what do I do now? I found a sucker hole and I went through it and got under the clouds. Thankfully there wasn't another fool like me trying to get on top of the clouds. I landed. AOPA was located on the airport grounds. I walked in and signed up to get my IFR rating. The words of my Air Force flight instructor were screaming in my head. I had done a very stupid thing but made it out alive, this time. It wasn't going to happen again. My get-there-itis could have killed me and had I made it to Charleston, it could have killed both of us on the way back. This video brought those memories back, the good and the bad.
Not a pilot but I wonder WHY all recreational pilots do not get their IFR certification.
@@jessicasnaplesfl7474 well its expensive and not needed for most flights. But flying vfr deserves the same amount of respect as flying ifr, and requires the same level of diligence and planning. It's clear that OP learned a valuable lesson here.
This has so much more to do than just aviation, it has to do with anyone in any profession that should be acting as a mentor to others. I am a senior engineer at a wireless phone company and I mentor and encourage the new people as they come into the company to try to give them the confidence to do what they need to do. I remember when I first started the senior engineers where unhelpful and discouraging. I vowed never to be like that and to give up my time to help people to the fullest of my ability whenever they need it. Good for you Sir!
Thank you for posting this! Reminds me of my detested CFI 15 years ago, who spent most of my training literally screaming at me, and I would get so rattled trying to fly the plane and learn while dealing with the insane yelling. “NO! NO! GODDAMNIT HOW MANY EFFING TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO….” (Fill in the blank.). Criticizing almost everything I did, and he refused to follow the Cessna step by step “Learn to Fly” program the Flight School made me buy, that he was supposed to use, so he continually repeated the same lessons, and worse, “taught” me to fly by rarely letting me handle the controls! (“I taught plenty of dumb guys in the Navy and didn’t have some stupid program!”). I don’t think he knew how the computer worked is why he didn’t use it. All that did was drive up my pre-solo hours and costs. It was always, “Watch, here’s how you do it!,” or “Yeah, that was OK, but let me show you a better way, how it’s REALLY done! I have the plane.” Again and again. I was essentially paying $120 an hour at the time plus fuel surcharges for him to fly with me sitting there! He even flew up and down the runway in a nearby town once so he could wave at the woman in the tower he was dating. I was just the passenger paying for everything like an idiot.
He also never communicated anything. I tried for a week to get ahold of him before the check ride and he was never available, then two days before I go in and he waves his license in my face; “I’ve got mine, don’t you care enough to get yours? Where have you been!! We have to prepare!” Me: “I’ve been in every day looking for you, and I left messages.” Him: “THAT’s YOUR PROBLEM! I’ve got my license!” And on and on; I was working 50 hours a week and trying to be there on his schedule, but he made it impossible with his total lack of communication and don’t give a crap attitude.
During prep for the check ride, he followed his friend who was going to give it around, and whenever I spoke to the examiner he would interject: “I never said that! What did I tell you about this guy, huh?” Then they would both laugh and talk about the “dumbass guys they taught to fly in the Navy! Har har, yuk, yuk!”
When I finally got my license his friend who did the check ride told me “you did a shitty job on your steep turns, but I guess. Here’s your license. Congratulations.” I took my $15,000 and 110! hour solo shirt tail off the wall and threw it in the trash, told him and my CFI to shove it, and never flew again.
I’ve never felt lower or more depressed and worthless and “shitty” about anything I supposedly accomplished. That was the year I lost my love of all things aviation i had had since I was a kid, and stopped going to the regional air show. I know, my fault for the reaction, and taking it so poorly, but I’m embarrassed to tell people how long the whole training process took me and what a miserable ordeal it ended up being.
If this ahole arrogant CFI had survived, he should have been fired by the FBO. Thanks again.
Your reaction is totally justified and proportional. It's awful that they robbed you of your love of flying. I hope you get back into it some day.
YOU! did all that 😅YOU! 😅
Dear Sir,
I hope that you find or have found a person who genuinely loves to teach aviation and that you get back into the airplane and follow your dreams. When a student has not learned, it is usually because the instructor has not taught. The job market for pilots is booming like never before. Follow your dreams, Sir. There are many, many of us who live to see our students succeed!
Fdso
That’s not how the vast majority of the aviation community is at all. I don’t understand why you stayed with that instructor… and I really don’t understand why you quit flying after finally getting through all of that. I strongly recommend looking back into it…
I passed this video on to my local FAASTeam. This needs to be viewed by as many instructors, pilots and flight schools as possible. This may be the single most important video on your channel. We need to do and be better as an aviation community.
Thanks so much for sharing, and for being a part of this conversation.
Well stated.
This isn't just good and critically important advice to student pilots and professional instructors; this is advice that is necessary in any professional environment. From pilots and drivers to machinists and contractors and even office workers and C-Suite executives. Understanding how, when and why to give constructive criticism improves safety, productivity, and morale and that benefits everybody.
I wish I had you. I didn't even make it through ground school before I realized how scary and childish my instructors were. I grew up in rural Alaska. Spotting cowboy bush pilots is an essential survival skill that my dad taught me.
whats a cowboy bush pilot? 😁
@@drawmaster77 cowboy is also a word for someone who is careless, reckless, cavalier
Bush pilots are those pilots that specialize in flying and landing in the world’s most remote locations.
Bush flying is inherently dangerous not just because these regions have very bad weather, and have poor coverage in… everything; these areas typically can only handle smaller planes - which don’t fare well in poor weather. Small planes, small budgets, big areas…
Really bad to toss in a reckless pilot. _Cowboy bush pilot._
@@Chris-fn4df ohh, thanks for explanation!
@@drawmaster77 anytime
Josh.. my daughter and I found your channel about 5 years ago…. Two weeks ago (at age 58.5) I passed my ppl… thanks for saying this. My journey includes losing a cfi in an accident (still baffled from my experience with him), 7 planes and 4 instructors at 5 airports.
I was blessed to have four totally different personalities as instructors have… but also that every one of them was a pro. Again. Thanks for saying ALL OF THIS
Hey Jeff, i'm glad to see your age in this commect. I am 49 years old and have won't to fly since i was a kid and haven't started yet. I was actually thinking today to myself, Am i to late? Well i can now see your comment and tell myself, It's never to late. Thanks Jeff for sharing this bit of info. Stay safe brother.
@@darylic146brother its never too late, please please do not think just because your any certain age its ever too late, just start, put the worry aside and just start.
congrats on passing!
Yes Jeff, thanks for sharing this comment. At 52, I've been watching Josh and others for the same amount of time. I hope to start working on my ppl within the next couple of years, hopefully. Congrats, and stay safe!
Jeff, I started flying at 59 and passed my checkride at 60. I also feel blessed by the professional attitude of my 3 CFI's. 3 different people, a few different things to learn from each, but a supportive and professional attitude displayed by all. Its good to see those with a megaphone (not to mention younger) like Josh thoughtfully calling out what is wrong.
You are so right about the Law of Primacy. Even though it was 50 years ago, I distinctly remember what my DPE said as he signed off on my Private Pilot check ride, then turned to look directly at me: "Every time you fly an airplane you are putting your life and the lives of your passengers in your hands."
Reminds me of a saying we have in Romania for driving: "When you're at the wheel, you keep on foot in jail and the other in your grave."
I saw this title and thumbnail, and I couldn’t help but wonder where this video was going. I totally agree. I hate instructors who don’t care about their students, BUT I do believe that there is a time for destructive criticism. It should not be used often, but I’ve seen a handful of situations that required that style. They were some of my least favorite lessons, but I gained some valuable insight from an instructor that used that technique. That being said, the very next day, that instructor went out of his way to build me back up with some awesome instruction and great tips. Military aviation is a different animal. Lol.
We should work together some time. That would be fun
My first flight was in 1969. I was 14. Rode with a ret. AF pilot, who had a zillion hours and a great demeanor. He had spoken with me for hours about the basics, including "what if" scenarios. Was in an early 60s Mooney, taking a couple of friends back to college - one in Denton, TX, one is Stillwater, OK. I got my chance at the controls after departing SWO. We went north, over Lake Carl Blackwell. I was in the right seat, of course, and after about 15 minutes of tutelage, wasn't all over the sky. Pretty straight and level. Thereupon, the engine quit. Raw panic came up in me, but my AF buddy reminded me we had discussed these scenarios and reminded me of what to do. Aviate, navigate, communicate. Did two of those things and pretty soon the panic subsided. We were at about 5K feet, so pretty well set for figuring it out. When I did, the engine came back to life. It was a deliberate fuel starvation [he shut the fuel off at the valve, located on the left, in a Mooney]. I was pissed, but the lesson proved invaluable.
As a fellow Instructor, that was one of the best debriefings I have heard and we need many more posted. We have so many "Professional" pilots making it look so easy that the plane almost flies itself in their RUclips videos. This has created what I call the Video Game Pilot, one that knows the technologies and yet not the fundamentals. This is the job of a good instructor, teach EVERY aspect of the fundamentals as though that student was going to be your co-pilot for life. With some instructors, I'm sure that concept may be a scary thought.
I agree with this. My favorite captains / FO's to fly with over the years have been those with the stick-and-rudder, seat-of-the-pants sense to be able to seriously and precisely fly an airplane while always thinking in terms of moderating risks and having plan-B's for those moments when something was not going to work as anticipated. The video-game style of training, practice, and operations will never take someone to that level.
@@ReflectedMilesYes -- vids and simulators have their place - good for procedures, and cheaper than the real thing ,especially IFR work . But, for the feel of the a/c and what it’s telling you , particularly light a/c , not so much of course .
This was much more calm and collected than it deserved-- but that's a testament to your professionalism. Appreciate your contributions to GA, Josh. When I told my wife about this accident, I was visibly agitated, and she was flabbergasted. I've been fortunate to have very good instructors, and I'm very thankful there are so many strong, visible, and vocal advocates for safe and fun flying.
Thanks so much - It's our job (as humble aviators) to keep this dialogue going.
I’m just starting my research on obtaining a pilot’s license. I’m a bit older than most beginners & wouldn’t tolerate disrespectful behavior from anyone including a CFI. I truly appreciate you making this video to hopefully raise awareness of these issues for students, CFI’s & pilots. Great job & well stated sir! 👍
My grandson is working his first flight license. I will make sure that he sees this video, understands what you are saying, and hopefully grows from this. Thank you for making a very important point. I am not a pilot but have been a teacher for many years. Your thoughts are on the mark for anyone who accepts the responsibility of guiding others in their chosen field. Again, sincere thanks.
Watching this video should be MANDATORY before earning every certificate and rating.
Well said in a professional, concise and respectful manner. Job well done, Josh.
As a professional pilot I have said this before, and will say it as long as the situation persists: Pilots as a group have a major humility issue. Thank you for bucking the trend.
💯
In the trucking industry, this is a problem as well. Always contact your dispatch and request a new instructor if your safety is in question. Your safety and the safety of your peers are number one.
My thoughts exactly bad attitudes are contagious you wouldn’t want to catch it
Josh, I started watching your videos 10 or 12 years ago. I grew up in the 1940s and 50s with a tiny GA airport a mile from my house. Starting when I was 7 I would ride my bike there, walk among the planes and dream. I've never taken lessons, but I love general aviation. I haven't seen your videos for 8 or 9 years, but when I clicked on this in my feed I immediately said, "I know this guy." Then I looked at your handle. What an impressive man you have become. Your parents should be very proud.
❤
Fantastic video, Josh. As instructors in this new generation, I hope you and I can lead the charge and set a new standard of excellence. And it's really all about mindset. A humble, always learning mindset like you articulated well here. The age of hard@$$-nothing-is-good-enough flight instructors is over. Everyone will be better off if we can all treat each other a little bit better.
The problem instructors are the time-builders. They have no experience, have no desire to instruct, and are merely using other people to fund their career ambitions. That trash has no place in aviation.
Thanks man. Let's lead the conversation. Share Share Share and KEEP IT GOING. 🙌🏼
This is very refreshing to hear. As a 30 year airline pilot, I’m always looking at my First officers as future Captains and how they will eventually communicate with their crews. We are always learning, teaching and communicating. It is up to all of to preserve our workplace culture.
I was blessed to have the most amazing flight instructor that was always at her best and expected the same from me. So thankful for her dedication and professionalism to aviation and her students.
As a aspiring Pilot this terrifies me. Condolences to the young lads family
People like Josh give me hope not only as a hopeful aviator, but also as a human. This man is a damn good person, and an even better pilot. I love this channel.
I received that same impression while viewing the video. It is similar to the vibe I get from Tyler Dewitt who has a bunch of Chemistry videos. Both Josh and Tyler are very humble, very professional, and extremely intelligent, and they don't let ego get in the way to destroy those good human qualities. We certainly need more individuals like them.
Your using the word "hope" resonated with me because that is what I felt after viewing this. I felt more hopeful that there are still good people in the world, young and old.
@@cbesthelper404 I’ll have to look into the channel. I’m more into engineering/physics, but anyone worth their salt knows that chemistry is an undeniably important field of study. The funny thing is guys like Josh used to be the norm. Tell it like it is, facts/logic/reasoning as opposed to todays culture of lying to fit in with the majority. Being the “cool” guy is not always cool.
I am not a pilot but am a lover of aviation who spent a good portion of my working career teaching technical topics. I have to say "VERY WELL SAID" in my opinion Josh!
I’m so excited to be a part of aviation soon. Been watching you’re videos to get me more ready for what I’m abt to see and because of you I and many more will become great pilots bc of the true and honest pilot you are. Thank you so much really.
Right on Josh!
I’m always blown away by your content, but this one was a long time coming and much needed! Thank you for sharing all this information and your point of view on all the problems in Aviation right now!
Keep it coming…!
I've spent the last 600 hours unlearning much of the first 4,000 and the weakness of much of my early training. These are spot-on points you make. Thank you.
Hi, I'm a student pilot here. I'm curious to know why and what are you trying to unlearn that you did for a staggering 4000 hours already. Asking because this might direct me to the right part since I'm already in the preliminary stages of learning.
I wrote a massive essay on how much I love this message and how badly it needs to be told. No one needs my life story. All you need to know Josh was that I was applauding after every point you made and at the end of the video. Thank you.
Under no circumstances should a CFI be "Snapchatting" while on the job. WTF? Additionally, under no circumstances is it ever acceptable to publicly ridicule a student especially on line. I gotta tell you, I am glad I took my flight instruction long before the internet even existed.
Internet existed when I got my training, thankfully my instructors have been old guys who didn't know how to use social media. My second instructor who was my favorite would occasionally take calls from close acquaintances but I'd take that as a compliment he was comfortable enough with my current control of the aircraft to do so lol.
This is such and important topic to be discussed. Thank you for using your platform to deliver the message to the aviation community. Not connecting with your instructor can be an uncomfortable topic but do not be afraid to recognize the need to change. You will not regret that uncomfortable conversation. Keep up the great work Josh!
That debrief broke my heart. You're one hell of a role model and I wish all flight instructors were like you. Can't believe that instructor was allowed to teach and I'm so sorry for that student who paid the ultimate price 😢
I experienced that weather storm and observed the high gusty winds that night all while on the ground. Then the next morning to learn a small plane was flying in that and had crashed, that brought in a mix of emotions of why was someone flying in that. Then over time to learn more and more details about the flight, it made my blood boil too. Then thinking of the family of the student pilot is very rough too. I hope this video you made can be shared when pilots need a reality check and some humility.
Josh,
I’m in the Austin area and recently found your channel. I am a student pilot and this may be the most important flight safety RUclips video ever, certainly the best I’ve seen.
We need more of this Josh! Well said. I've been following you for years. You have earned the respect of the aviation community to give this message in the tone and delivery just displayed. Well done!
Good video man. My niece is a flight instructor living with me while building time as a flight instructor. She just passed 700 hours and for the last several months I have listened to her talk about the challenges she faces with certain students. She and I talked about this video last night and listened closely to the snap chat posts of that instructor. I was reassured that she was appalled by his behavior. When she gets to a certain point where some students don't seem to be progressing after considerable extra effort, she talks to a chief and they try another instructor. Keep up the good work brother.
First, blue skies to the poor student who needlessly died. And condolences to his poor family. As someone who spent the majority of my 51 years DREAMING of becoming a pilot, this one got to me. Flying has been my own personal Mount Everest that has brought to bare a lifetime of strengths AND weaknesses. While it isn't the CFI's job to be a therapist, the individual moments of personal growth under the direction of a GOOD CFI are priceless. The confidence brought about by a CFI that sees you as a person and not a paycheck will likely shave hours off stage of training. For those in training unsure of where they stand in the student/instructor relationship.....never fly with ANYONE who makes you feel "less than". Your time (and life) are more valuable than that.
If you haven't achieved a pilot certificate, stick with it. I got mine at age 72 and am working on IFR rating at age 76. If I can do this, anyone can
@@timhoke2 Thanks! But happily certificated now working on my tailwheel endorsement. I could have been a little more clear in my post. lol
At ATP/CTP training before my airline job they made us sit through dozens of case studies and it opened our eyes to our responsibility more than ever before. Our responsibility not only to our aircraft, but our crew and our passengers. I feel like videos like this one should be shown to brand new cfis with that intention in mind. Well done Josh
Great video! I agree with you on every point. I retired from the NTSB after 15 years and normally don’t like these types of videos, but I will follow you and your postings. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Well said! The two mantras that kept me safe throughout my flying were: “Flying is not dangerous, it’s just very unforgiving of errors” (subtext: work hard to avoid errors) and “Better down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here” (subtext: delay, divert or cancel if you’re not sure).
All of which, and much more besides, was taught to me by a string of excellent instructors and examiners (yes, I learned from several of my examiners) as I progressed from PPL to CPL to ATP. But I have also met some gung-ho, downright dangerous instructors who showed me how NOT to be a pilot - but may also have produced a few gung-ho, downright dangerous pilots.
I'm actually amazed you were able to hold back as well as you did. This whole scenario is so disturbing and disgusting the more I learn about it.
I'm in the process of becoming a CFI and I find the responsibility daunting, even scary. Not a responsibility to take lightly at all.
1000% concur with your statements! Been blessed to have had passionate and professional CFII’s. (Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Florida. Safe flying!
This is just a fantastic video concerning integrity, as a whole. Thank You For Stepping Up & Speaking Out!
Excellent video here and absolutely needed. I’m a retired Corporate Pilot and CFI of 35 + years and agree with your assessment 100%. Aviation demands the highest levels of professionalism and discipline. Thank you for reinforcing this.
I'm glad this topic has so much support. Let's keep the dialogue going!
Would love to participate in anyway I can. Continuing training, regardless of TT, Type Ratings, or seat is extremely important. Initial and recurrent training isn’t enough. It doesn’t need to be fancy. AOPA, FSF, NBAA, and others are all great resources. Also, treat each flight with the highest level of professionalism and discipline it deserves. It doesn’t matter if it’s KSLN or SAEZ.
Humility is also key. Thanks again for your efforts.
This advice could be used in any industry where safety is concerned. Thank you, Josh, for this very important video.
Josh, big kudos to you for recording and posting such an important video.
Very correct, fair and passionately conveyed points.
Many thanks for such an important public message.
Happy flying!
This is so well done Josh. I truly appreciate you being bold enough to address the real issues. Keep up the great work!
I'm a teacher, trainer and operations manager (not in aviation). I love your attitude and your approach to presenting this video. We need more people like you in all industries and companies. If there were more students and instructors who were guided by your suggestions there would be more challenges, more successes, more rewards, and more happy people in the world.
Thanks for an incredible debriefing, Josh. I am a non-pilot dad with a 19 year old daughter who is working on her commercial rating right now. She is planning on getting her CFI soon afterwards. She has been fortunate to have some wonderful instructors on her journey; some *old* guys in their 50's and her current instructor(a great guy!) in his mid 20's! I hope a lot of current and future CFIs see this video. My hear aches for the parents of that poor student in Kentucky.... :(
Well said Josh. Our condolences to the families impacted by this accident.
Josh, I began following you and watching your channel back in 2015, when I started flying. We were almost at the same spot on our respective aviation journeys. I met you at the AOPA Fly-in at Colorado Springs that summer in 2015, having flown there in a C182 from Seattle in an amazing cross country two months after getting my private pilot certificate. We both have grown in our aviation journeys but I am [still] so impressed with all you have done with your channel and how you have contributed to aviation safety AND learning. Please keep doing what you’re doing. You are an example of what we need more of in aviation. Excellent video! I appreciate how you deviated from your norm to provide this valuable presentation.
Thank you Josh. This is horrific story and my heart goes out to the families of the student pilot and the CFI. Their loss is one that no one should have to bear. I can think of no more appropriate tribute than reaching out, as you are, to all pilots and CFI's with this lesson we can learn from.
Im so happy to see you made this video. Its important to have voices like yours to bring unfortunate incidences like these to remind and help us pilots to be better and safer professionals. It also helps the aviation industry maintain its high standard of safety.
Wow. I was in total shock by what I saw and like you my blood was boiling. Thank you bringing your message to our aviation community. Let’s hope that it has a positive impact as I believe it will.
This was a fantastic video with an amazing message as a student pilot these are the impressions and goals that should be taken with care and seriousness
I’m training for my CFI. You give very good advice, and have handled this case study better than anyone else I’ve listened to thus far. Thank you.
Nothing else to say besides "well done, Josh" You are an outstanding attribute to the world of general aviation; here's to hoping that people will listen.
You've made me rethink virtually all of my experiences as a student. I'm embarrassed to admit that everything you said made perfect sense after you said it, yet practically none of it crossed my mind before I heard you say it. I have much to re-examine, both in my own thoughts and behavior, and in those of my instructors. But most importantly, I am absolutely 100% certain that your production and release of this video will save human lives. You will change the training trajectory of many students, making them better pilots, and some of those students will save their own lives, and others, because of the changes you brought about.
I read this many many years ago......The greatest teacher is one who leads by example.
All the abilities and qualities of an individual that stem from being an example accelerate learning and is encouragement in itself. The student will never ever forget that wonderful/not so wonderful experience and will pass it on down the chain of life in this case aviation. What a wonderful talk my friend. I had and seen similar experiences when i was learning to fly. As health and safety has evolved so has best practices in all areas of human endeavour and i am glad this has come as i knew it would from many years ago. Well done!
Well said. Thank you for being such a positive ambassador of aviation, we all appreciate you.
Leaving the surface of the Earth, putting your life(and others) literally in your hands and the machine you are sitting in should never be lost on anyone flying. It is a glorious gift and privilege to be up there looking out as far as you can see... where only birds, angels and pilots have been before. I was a radio guy doing traffic reporting and flew in a C172 with several different pilots during that time. One was an F-16 pilot and instructor, another was a young CFI about 10 years younger than I was. They all let me fly (I've had every version of flight sim from MS going back to the 80s so it was familiar) and they all made me feel comfortable by telling me I would've been an easy student. They made you WANT to fly with them and do well. Life didn't allow for a Pilot's License for me though and now at 55 I have accepted that it won't. My heart kind of broke for that student. I could feel what he was feeling...would have loved to feel what he was feeling...wanting to get everything right, a little nervous because it was at night maybe? And there was this instructor who took it all for granted and was a jerk. He didn't deserve the privilege and the student didn't deserve that instructor. Thanks for you videos.
It's people like this young man that make me feel optimistic about our futures
Thank You
Josh!
Right On The Money!
Do NOT Stop your messages!
You will Save SO MANY LIVES while pursuing your channel reviews!
Salute! ALWAYS CONSTRUCTIVE, NEVER DESTRUCTIVE! 👍
When I heard the details of this wreck from another prominent aviation youtuber, the instructor's behavior was disgusting & in my opinion, he was 100% personally responsible for it happening. My heart goes out to the student pilot, but not to that POShxt flight instructor. Other details were revealed about the guy, his father, partying excessively, prior felony charges against him, etc. This guy should have never been an instructor & God forbid he ever become a commercial pilot. Thank you for posting & you are more diplomatic about this guy than I am. Cheers.
I thought his comment about the Special Olympics was mean spirited and totally inappropriate.
“..more diplomatic…than I am.” That’s why he stayed on script!!! To prevent the words that would have come naturally.
Josh, this was perfectly communicated and I couldn't agree more. Your perspective is spot on. With such an important topic you were calm, cool, and collected and said what needed to be said in a professional manner and provided a prime example of the "ideal' instructor and aviation professional you were describing through yourself. Well done my friend.
Outstanding! This is communication at its finest. Thank you for speaking out. Kudos. Keep it up.
And I agree. Each of us who carry a pilot’s certificate is an ambassador for aviation. At all times, everywhere.
Thanks again for such a cogent and necessary message.
You sir, are a champion. Simply put, one of the most important aviation videos out there.