Things CFIs are Sick of saying, doing, or hearing

[Ian J]

Got this idea from another thread... just want to see what everyone is sick of repeating over and over again, sick of seeing over and over again, or are sick of hearing over and over again.

I'll start it off.... sick of saying: "If you can consistantly land to the left of centerline, you can land on the centerline."

[jrh]

Hearing from students:

"I'm too [tired/busy/stressed/...] to fly tomorrow. I need to cancel my lesson."

Not to say I'd ever push somebody to fly when they aren't fit, but when they make up a reason to cancel over and over, I can tell they aren't interested enough in flying to make it a priority. And this is coming from supposed future professional pilots, not the weekend warrior types who just want to fly for fun in their spare time.

Otherwise, I never really get tired of the actual in-the-plane teaching. Sure, I have to repeat myself a lot, but I don't expect students to memorize every word I say, the first time I say it.

[FlyingNole]

Flare....Flare....FLARE!

[Snow]

watch your altitude
watch your heading
pitch for your airspeed

My students must think I enjoy the sound of my own voice or somthing!

[adreamer]

Right rudder, right rudder

Look outside. There are quite few traffics out there.

[cavu4u]

Let me preface all this by saying that I absolutely LOVE to flight instruct.



Sick of hearing: "Pleasantville traffic, Cessna 12345 on LEFT final for 35, Pleasantville"

Sick of saying: "Right rudder!"

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by cavu4u

Let me preface all this by saying that I absolutely LOVE to flight instruct.



Sick of hearing: "Pleasantville traffic, Cessna 12345 on LEFT final for 35, Pleasantville"

Sick of saying: "Right rudder!"

I heard that for the first time yesterday!

And I think most of us can agree that we love (or at least like) flight instructing too... nothing wrong with ranting playfully over stuff like this!

[BoilerPilot2007]

In response to any question I ask, I'm sick of saying:
"are you suuuure?" and sick of hearing "uhh, not really...."

[Timbuff10]

[quote=cavu4u]
Sick of hearing: "Pleasantville traffic, Cessna 12345 on LEFT final for 35, Pleasantville"

QUOTE]

I don't have a problem with this at all. I don't do it but I see nothing wrong with this as it just tells people what pattern you are flying. I like to make my calls as I am doing the turn so if you say "turning left final" that will give people more of an idea where you are and where you are coming from. Not to mention it differentiates you from those morons who fly a non standard pattern, doing right traffic when left is standard at the particular airport, or those idiots who just do straight in finals, and enter on base legs.

It is just one word and isn't hurting anyone. If anything it is even more safe. No different than saying "left upwind".

What I do have a problem with is people who think their way is the only correct way of doing something. As a CFI I see many things, some good, some bad, and some just different.

[Ian J]

[quote=Timbuff10]

Originally Posted by cavu4u

Sick of hearing: "Pleasantville traffic, Cessna 12345 on LEFT final for 35, Pleasantville"

QUOTE]

I don't have a problem with this at all. I don't do it but I see nothing wrong with this as it just tells people what pattern you are flying. I like to make my calls as I am doing the turn so if you say "turning left final" that will give people more of an idea where you are and where you are coming from. Not to mention it differentiates you from those morons who fly a non standard pattern, doing right traffic when left is standard at the particular airport, or those idiots who just do straight in finals, and enter on base legs.

It is just one word and isn't hurting anyone. If anything it is even more safe. No different than saying "left upwind".

What I do have a problem with is people who think their way is the only correct way of doing something. As a CFI I see many things, some good, some bad, and some just different.

Oh good lord...

[Timbuff10]

Tell me this then... What is wrong with saying "left final"? I am yet to hear anyone come up with a good answer to this, other than, "it annoys me", or "I don't like it".

I'm not a huge fan of it either, but until I hear of a good reason not to do it, I'm not going to correct people for it or act like I am better than them because they say it.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by ChinookDriver

No different than saying "left upwind

Except that there is a such thing as a left upwind . . .

I personally hate it when people refer to the departure leg as the upwind leg . . . . . AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[Chris_Ford]

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

Tell me this then... What is wrong with saying "left final"? I am yet to hear anyone come up with a good answer to this, other than, "it annoys me", or "I don't like it".

It clogs up the frequency. Same reason people don't like "Annnnnnd Center, Delta 123 WITH YOU, level 330"

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

Tell me this then... What is wrong with saying "left final"? I am yet to hear anyone come up with a good answer to this, other than, "it annoys me", or "I don't like it".

I'm not a huge fan of it either, but until I hear of a good reason not to do it, I'm not going to correct people for it or act like I am better than them because they say it.

What I was refering to was this:

What I do have a problem with is people who think their way is the only correct way of doing something

Just because it annoyed him (cavu) doesn't mean he believes his is THE ONLY correct way of doing things. You just jumped out all hostile and aggressive for no good reason.

[Ian J]

[quote=Timbuff10]

Originally Posted by cavu4u

Sick of hearing: "Pleasantville traffic, Cessna 12345 on LEFT final for 35, Pleasantville"

QUOTE]

I don't have a problem with this at all. I don't do it but I see nothing wrong with this as it just tells people what pattern you are flying. I like to make my calls as I am doing the turn so if you say "turning left final" that will give people more of an idea where you are and where you are coming from. Not to mention it differentiates you from those morons who fly a non standard pattern, doing right traffic when left is standard at the particular airport, or those idiots who just do straight in finals, and enter on base legs.

It is just one word and isn't hurting anyone. If anything it is even more safe. No different than saying "left upwind".

What I do have a problem with is people who think their way is the only correct way of doing something. As a CFI I see many things, some good, some bad, and some just different.

And in my opinion, saying the standard "left crosswind, left downwind, and left base" calls is sufficient to let others know your intended traffic pattern direction without sounding like a knob and saying "left final and left departure." Again, just my opinion. A CFI having a technique and an opinion is not tantamount to him thinking his way is the only way.

[Timbuff10]

Not trying to get hostile... I guess re-reading that, perhaps it did come across like that. Not my intention at all, and not saying he is one of those people who thinks his way is the only way. I just see alot of people that seem to HATE it when people say "left final". Once I have even heard them ask on the same frequency, "where is left final?" If tying up the frequency with one extra word at an uncontrolled airport is that big of a deal to people, why tie it up even more with another transmission?

It just seems to me that there are a billion other things that are more problematic in the GA world than saying "left final" but there are few things that get people's blood boiling as much. I never got that.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

Not trying to get hostile... I guess re-reading that, perhaps it did come across like that. Not my intention at all, and not saying he is one of those people who thinks his way is the only way. I just see alot of people that seem to HATE it when people say "left final". Once I have even heard them ask on the same frequency, "where is left final?" If tying up the frequency with one extra word at an uncontrolled airport is that big of a deal to people, why tie it up even more with another transmission?

It just seems to me that there are a billion other things that are more problematic in the GA world than saying "left final" but there are few things that get people's blood boiling as much. I never got that.

I agree, it's not going to hurt anything. I personally don't want my students saying it for the sake of standardization.

[Timbuff10]

Originally Posted by ChinookDriver

And in my opinion, saying the standard "left crosswind, left downwind, and left base" calls is sufficient to let others know your intended traffic pattern direction

Totally agree, that is how I fly and how I teach it.

[cavu4u]

Ha... sorry guys. Didn't mean to start a lively discussion. Just thought I'd participate in the light-hearted thread and offer something that I often hear at the local airport that I can't help but chuckle a bit when I do hear.

Timbuff... no sweat... I agree, it's just one word that's relatively harmless. In fact, I rarely call my students out on it when they do say it since there are so many other more important things to focus on... like landing the airplane.

ChinookDriver... you hit the nail on the head. By no means do I think "my way" is the only way. Heck... I'm just a one-year CFI who's still learning everyday.

[Ian J]

Cool... now back to the light-hearted posts!

[SteveC]

Just to continue the "pattern radio calls" discussion a little bit, I like to make my calls at the "corners" of the pattern. Doing so gives a more precise location of where the other traffic should look to find me. It usually makes my aircraft more visible to others because I am, or soon will be, in a banked configuration which will be much more visible to someone at my same altitude. To show you what I mean, here are my typical calls:

(After an initial call 5 miles or so from the field, much farther out if I'm in something fast);

"Smithville traffic, Bugsmasher 123 entering midfield left downwind runway 9, Smithville".

"Smithville traffic, BS123 left downwind turning base, runway 9, Smithville".

"Smithville traffic, BS123 left base turning final, runway 9, Smithville".

If I'm flying something larger with a commensurately larger pattern I will often add a final call; "Smithville traffic, BS123 1/2 mile final (or short final) runway 9, Smithville".

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Just to continue the "pattern radio calls" discussion a little bit, I like to make my calls at the "corners" of the pattern. Doing so gives a more precise location of where the other traffic should look to find me. It usually makes my aircraft more visible to others because I am, or soon will be, in a banked configuration which will be much more visible to someone at my same altitude. To show you what I mean, here are my typical calls:

(After an initial call 5 miles or so from the field, much farther out if I'm in something fast);

"Smithville traffic, Bugsmasher 123 entering midfield left downwind runway 9, Smithville".

"Smithville traffic, BS123 left downwind turning base, runway 9, Smithville".

"Smithville traffic, BS123 left base turning final, runway 9, Smithville".

If I'm flying something larger with a commensurately larger pattern I will often add a final call; "Smithville traffic, BS123 1/2 mile final (or short final) runway 9, Smithville".

I do the same thing.... call the corners.

[FlyingNole]

On another note; Out of almost being killed everyday, Ive started a "kill count" for my students... So at the end of the flight I give them the tally. This way they have a goal of NOT trying to kill us.

[SteveC]

Now there's some positive reinforcement.

[moxiepilot]

Originally Posted by FlyingNole

On another note; Out of almost being killed everyday, Ive started a "kill count" for my students... So at the end of the flight I give them the tally. This way they have a goal of NOT trying to kill us.

hmmm.