The Flights Instructor

T-34C CONTACT

CHAPTER ONE

The standard flight procedures and techniques employed in the training syllabus are universal to

all Navy aircraft, except when slight deviations have been adapted in the interest of flight safety.

Maximum utilization of instructor/aircraft time demands a thorough knowledge of the flight

training instructions and referenced publications by both the flight student and instructor. The

time designated for the pre-flight briefing is equally limited and demands that both student and

instructor have a complete knowledge of the material to be covered in preparation for the flight.

Briefing time should be applied to review of previous difficulties, clarification of

misunderstandings, and immediate flight planning. It is essential that the instructor and the

student have a common understanding of the maneuvers to be flown and employ the same

nomenclature in order to take full advantage of the time afforded.

2. GRADES. The adage is that if you worry about learning, the grades take care of

themselves. The truth is that one should be trying to perform to the best of his or her ability at all

times. Grades are designed to do two things: compare performance to a set standard or criterion;

and contrast performance of individuals within the same curriculum.

There is little to be gained by sweating over grades. There is much to learn by focusing on the

learning objectives for a course. The nature of flight training is such that if one misses a step, it

is very difficult to catch up. The syllabus is designed to give the average student sufficient time

and opportunity to complete the objectives. When it becomes apparent to an instructor that

objectives are not being met, or the student is having difficulty, the student's grades will reflect

this. The student should not take grades as a personal affront. The instructor should make every

effort not only to critique the student, but also to give the student the information required to

perform the exercise or maneuver in an acceptable manner. The best instructors are not those

who give the best grades, but those who best prepare the students for their next flight. Students

should simply concentrate on correctly performing the maneuvers of the next hop, and meeting

the stage and phase objectives. Students who are able to do this are successful in the Naval Air

Training Command.

CHECK FLIGHTS. The student should place no special significance on designated

check flights and should not anticipate failure if a superlative performance is not demonstrated.

The designated check flight is merely a validation by another instructor of the evaluations other

instructors have given the student. If a student fails to meet the accepted standards of progress,

the instructor will grade the student's performance unsatisfactory rather than allow him to

continue ahead in the syllabus. The check pilot is obligated to judge the student fairly in

comparison with accepted standards.

106.

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

The flight instructor is an experienced aviator, trained to provide the student with a sound

foundation in the operation of the aircraft. He has undergone a training course similar to the

student's, which familiarizes him with the curriculum maneuvers and teaches an effective means

of presenting them. This training comes under the heading of standardization. The intent of

standardization is to provide the instructor with a logical, effective, and consistent foundation

upon which to present any maneuver. This in turn ensures that all students can be judged on the

INTRODUCTION TO T-34C CONTACT 1-5