Let’s Have Fun

Through the years, I have flown with many pilots. I made fewer mistakes and was less stressed when flying with fun pilots. Think about your friends. Why do you prefer to spend more time with some rather than others? Fun people make you laugh and smile. The same is true when training with a flight instructor. This reminds me of a quote by Dr. Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

On an airliner, the captain sets the tone for the entire crew. If the captain is a stick-in-the-mud, their crew will respond in kind. I see a difference in my crew when I am in a “less-than-ideal” mood. The tendency to perform your best is also true with flight instructors and students. If you are not enjoying the teaching, your students will not enjoy the learning. Students are already stressed, and not enjoying themselves will increase that stress and dampen their learning.

An enjoyable environment fosters better attention, motivation, and information retention. A CFI who uses humor and enthusiasm makes the lesson more relatable and memorable, breaking down the natural barriers of intimidation and stress accompanying learning to fly.

Fun CFIs create a positive atmosphere where students feel more comfortable and open to participating. This openness increases student engagement, as they are more likely to ask questions, contribute to discussions, and take risks in their learning when they don’t fear judgment. Additionally, a fun approach to teaching makes complex concepts easier to grasp.

Humor can enhance cognitive function by reducing stress and anxiety, common obstacles to effective learning. When students relax and enjoy themselves, their brains are more receptive to new information. Moreover, positive emotions associated with fun experiences help reinforce memory, making it easier for students to recall what they’ve learned.

A fun instructor doesn’t just create an enjoyable experience, but also fosters a love of learning that can lead to deeper understanding. By having fun, CFIs can ignite curiosity and enthusiasm in their students and create excellent pilots. If you are a student reading this, please remember that you choose (and pay) your instructor. Don’t give up your money and waste your time with someone you do not enjoy. I encourage students to seek out instructors who inspire them and make their learning enjoyable and rewarding.

Next time, I will offer techniques that make learning to fly more fun, which is the trick to making it easier.