For the Record: Documenting Flight Training Helps Student Pilots

More and more often I am coming across pilots who are making audio or video copies of their flight training lessons. When I was learning to fly, I would come home after every lesson and write a post about it. Doing so allowed me, rather, forced me to review that lesson while it was still fresh in my mind. Taking the time to translate my experiences from something retained internally to a written description sometimes required me to think through the lesson in greater depth then I would have had I not by documenting my experiences.

This process was extremely valuable for me as I believe it helped with my ability to retain and ingrain the information in my head. Additionally, it helped me to prepare for my next lesson. I would often review my blog post and my notes before heading out for my next lesson. I believe the combination of the benefits of blogging my experiences and dedicating enough time and funds to fly two to three times per week are some of the key reasons I was able to complete my flight training in just 47.2 hours.

More and more frequently I am coming across student pilots who are not just writing or podcasting about their experiences but actually recording and sharing their actual lesson through audio or video channels. This way they can go back and actually relive the specific advice their instructor gave about maneuvers or flight concepts. From a pilot's standpoint it seems to me this could only aid the learning process and help produce better pilots. However, I wanted to get the take of a flight instructor as well.

I reached out to Paul from AskACFI.com to get his thoughts. I asked Paul how he would feel about a student recording a lesson, "As a CFI, I think it is great." He commented that John and Martha King found their success after taping one of their lessons. He went on to make a great point that, "the practice is really nothing new at all just in a different format for a different generation". The latest technology allows someone like me who did not tape my lessons to at least re-experience what it was like to learn about a specific maneuver by listening to someone like Bill at Student Pilot Cast when he publishes a podcast about a lesson including audio of him and his instructor discussing a flight maneuver.

When listening to Bill's excellent podcast I wondered how his instructors felt about being recorded. He told me that none of them have seemed to care. Oddly enough most of his instructors, although intrigued by the podcast, especially after he was mentioned in AOPA Flight Training Magazine, have still not listened. Paul said, "I could see where some 'old school' instructors have issue with that. I'm not one of those instructors. I have no problem with someone distributing my lesson". In fact he mentioned he recently purchased a mic and may start playing around with his lessons and possibly produce a podcast. I look forward to hearing more about an AsktheCFI Podcast.

Speaking of podcasts, Peter, my AOPA Project Pilot Mentee who will be kicking off his flight training this Tuesday, is planning on podcasting his flight training experiences so be sure to check out his website.