New Videos for the Initial CFI Online Course

We just finished new videos for the course. They should be uploaded by the end of August. Some of the videos are replacements, and some are new.  The videos conform to the latest Flight Instructor Airplane ACS.

Here is a list.

1. Student pilot regulations and endorsements

2. Recreational pilot regulations and endorsements

3. Recreational pilot scenarios

4. Private pilot regulations and endorsements

5. Private pilot scenarios

6. Commercial pilot regulations and endorsements

7. Commercial pilot scenarios

8. Sport pilot regulations and endorsements

9. Sport pilot flight instructor regulations

10. Flight instructor regulations and endorsements

11. Flight instructor scenarios

12. Runway incursion avoidance

13. Airspace

14. Using AC 61-65H

15. Using the ACS Companion guide

16. Flight instructor airplane ACS

The videos are being reviewed for a final time and will be published once that is finished. These new videos update content and use a more studio look and feel. The project took months to complete, but the end product will be even better than before. There are 11 additional videos in the works that include

• How to create a lesson plan

• How to make and use preflight briefings

• How to use a Syllabus

• How to teach normal landings

• And videos on selected commercial Maneuvers

We expect this project to be completed by the end of this year.

How to use ForeFlight and Zoom Together to Teach remotely

During the last Power Hour, Mike gave detailed instructions on how to set up ForeFlight and Zoom for teaching remotely. The live power hour was on July 27. Mike created a PDF of this presentation so that participants could use this information right away.

Using Zoom and ForeFlight can reduce the costs of driving to the airport, getting meals away, finding space, and more. Without guidance, however, the experience can be less than desired. Most people can log into a Zoom; however, not many people can actually use all of the features of the presenter themselves in meetings. Being a participant doesn’t fully translate to being a presenter. There’s quite a bit to know and set up. Fortunately, the PDF can serve as a guide to steer you through this process.

ForeFlight, as a teaching platform, is a very good tool for both the learner and the teacher. Most pilots use ForeFlight for navigation, airport info, weather, and so on, but most don’t know how to use it to teach. You can import documents, sync cloud folders, animate weather, annotate on PDFs, and more. Mike shows you how to set everything up for a great teaching experience.

Mike also covers projecting the iPad onto a smart TV and using a virtual whiteboard.

He even flies through microphone and headset choices.

If you are currently or considering teaching some

If you’re conducting lessons or a ground school remotely, you’ll want a copy of this PDF. If you are a Bootcamp+ subscriber, you can also watch the Power Hour recorded presentation.

The Power Hour is a weekly hour-long show that takes topics in pilot training and flying in general and dives into it. It’s well attended and is free when it’s live. The shows are every Saturday from Noon to 1 PM Eastern time. You need to register to get access, but it’s a one-time thing, and you get an email during the week describing the show, another one an hour before the show, and one last one just before the show starts. There have been 194 power hours over the years.

To register to see the Power Hour live go to Power Hour Registration

Outlines and handouts are available at CFIbootcamp.com. Seeing the sessions online can be done at our membership site at Bootcamp+.com

Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke - What’s the difference?

It’s that time of year. Summer. In many places, that means it’s going to be hot. Most training airplanes do not have air conditioning, so we are going to fly with warm-to-hot cockpits.

If you live in a hot climate, you need to know a few things before getting into an airplane. Dehydration is a real thing here in South Florida and Las Vegas. Symptoms include dizziness, loss of muscle control, trouble standing, thirst, and disorientation,

The good news is that it can be corrected quickly if it isn’t severe. Drinking fluids that contain electrolytes, like Gatorade, can restore the right body chemistry. Water is fine, but Gatorade and water work well together.

A lot of dehydration cases also have heat exhaustion as their cause. This means that you’ll have the symptoms of dehydration, and you’ll be physically hot and sweating. Sweating is your body’s response to lower your internal temperature. This works for a while. If you stay dehydrated and in hot temperatures, this can eventually lead to heat stroke. It’s important to say upfront that heat stroke is a medical emergency. There is only a minimum amount of first aid you can perform. The person needs to get to a hospital ER right away.

Heat stroke occurs when the person is no longer sweating but still dehydrated and hot. The internal temperature of the person rises and, if untreated, leads to death. An ice bath is the first course of treatment at the hospital to try to lower the internal temperature. Most flight schools aren’t equipped with much more than water and Gatorade, so quickly getting the person to a hospital is the only real solution.

To avoid all this, stay hydrated and get out of the heat. We also fly in the early mornings to avoid the hottest temperatures of the day.

CFI ProTips

1. Ask your student to show you how they will perform the maneuver(s) you just covered in your preflight briefing using a model airplane.  This lets you see if they fully understand what to do before the flight.

2. Use the profile view in ForeFlight to teach airspace along a route. It brings the airspace into the pilots reality and is super visual and useful.

3. Make sure to review the two tasks in the slow flight section of the Flight Instructor Airplane Single Engine ACS. The recovery procedure is very different than before.