Quick Overview
RAMS original mission statement recognised the need for training to encourage and assist people interested in our hobby and provide a pathway to becoming a pilot. The updated risk assessment also identified how training was one way to maintain a healthy membership going forward.
MAAA qualified instructors are required to hold a gold wings rating and successfully complete the MAAA instructors course. Currently Cal and Dave are both MAAA qualified instructors and may undertake all aspects of training and testing for bronze, silver and gold ratings. The problem is that with only 2 Instructors who are not always available, visitors and new members who attend flying days in the expectation of an introductory flight, training flight or just ground training are left disappointed when none is available. Additionally, when an instructor is available they are often overwhelmed by the demand to the extent that they have no time to fly their own aircraft and may be left somewhat depleted by the experience. Our instructors are unpaid, volunteering their time and I believe we as a club need to support them as best we can. The risk assessment identified this as a potential problem because we do not want to break our Instructors and it is clear this role can be onerous.
Why become an Assistant Instructor?
As there are many experienced pilots in the club, the role of assistant instructor was created to undertake aspects of training and pass on experience, with the expectation that the instructors would be under less pressure when attending the flying field.
To meet the requirements of the MAAA our decisions are required to be part of a documented system, show due process and clearly set some level of competency for the new role of assistant instructor.
What is required to achieve assistant instructor competency?
- Be a club member with at minimum a bronze wings rating.
- Complete the RAMS Chief Flying Instructors (CFI) basic ground training and safety course.
- Demonstrate a good knowledge of CASA, MAAA, Redlands City Council and RAMS rules and procedures so that accurate information is passed on to new members and trainees. Competency is determined by completing the assistant instructor questionnaire and achieving the required pass mark. The pass mark is reasonably high and you are likely to fail the first attempt. There is no issue with failing, you simply review your answers improve your knowledge and resubmit. The whole idea is that you end up with improved accurate knowledge minus the myths. I am pretty sure most of us are surprised that we end up knowing more than we did at the start of the process and this is a good thing. The answers you provide are confidential and only competency is recorded.
- Optionally, if the prospective assistant instructor feels competent to fly a club aircraft with a buddy system, Cal the CFI may confirm that competency with a trial flight. A Bixler or Apprentice or both.
- The management committee will in due course confirm the appointment of assistant trainer and reserves the right to refuse that appointment.
What can an assistant instructor do?
That depends upon the individual. You may decide actual flight training is not for you, but you would be happy going over the basics with a visitor or a new member. Club facilities, rules, set up of the flying field, procedures, arming and disarming, pre-flight checks, range test etc. This is all important stuff and may suit senior members who no longer fly or new pilots who are just not comfortable flying with a visitor or trainee pilot.
An assistant instructor may assist a trainee pilot solo by standing next to them in the pilot box and provide training, advice and guidance whilst the trainee pilot solo flies their own aircraft to practice for the bronze test.
An assistant instructor may assist a trainee pilot who has not achieved solo status, fly the trainee’s own aircraft provided it is set up with a bubby system.
An assistant pilot may assist a junior family member learn to fly using a family aircraft set up with a buddy system.
Optionally, an assistant instructor who has been deemed competent may fly a club aircraft fitted with a buddy system to provide visitor trial flights and training.
An assistant instructor can provide any level of training
they feel competent and comfortable with.
The only thing an assistant instructor cannot do is undertake MAAA rating tests.
What are the consequences if we don’t get more Assistant Instructors?
More ‘introductory flights’ and training flights will inevitably result in more damage to club aircraft. I think we just need to get over that, get past the finger pointing and remember we all do this for fun and entertainment and our instructors are no different.
Ultimately, if RAMS loses our capacity to provide instructors the alternative is, as a club, we decide in favour that introductory and training flights will no longer be provided. RAMS sell their training aircraft and move on.