In many ways, flight instruction is akin to compressed parenting: the instructor starts with complete responsibility for the very survival of another human being. The task is to transfer the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for the helpless human to understand, think independently, and make sound choices to navigate the complexities the real world serves up every day. The nature of that task makes flight instruction a risky business.
There are many ways to get hurt if you are not paying attention to the right thing at the right time, and the long-term stakes are high since the things you teach will affect how the trainee flies in the future. In this context, Paul Preidecker and Susan Parson discuss three specific challenges that flight instructors face and offer tips and techniques for meeting them successfully.