Training and Safety Tip: The click
There is nothing more satisfying to a flight instructor than "hearing" that metaphorical "click" that signals that a student has begun to think like a pilot.
This is the moment when the student stops being confused, disoriented, and drowning in procedures and minutiae. One moment, they are struggling—not focused or in charge—and the next, they have "clicked" into a pilot state of mind.
The click is loudly perceived when an instrument student’s first thought after figuring out a missed approach hold is about how much fuel is left to continue flying up to and beyond the expected further clearance time.
Instructors hear it when they notice that their students' shoulders are no longer tense, and their demeanor is relaxed yet alert. Once the click occurs, they surmount the point-by-point learning items on the syllabus and recognize the big picture.
Instructors who reintroduce pilots back into flying love to hear the almost audible click when their clients, who returned to training as rusty control manipulators, morph once again into functioning, living, breathing pilots.
What does the click mean?
As instructors, it is gratifying to see our students begin thinking and acting like pilots, but we have a few responsibilities to make sure the click does not become a clunk.
First, once your student reaches this point, it is essential not to spend too much time teaching what they clearly already know. After they master a maneuver or procedure, it is time to move on to something more complex, treating them like pilots and not rote learners.
When students click, they can hear and feel it, too, and it gives them a tremendous sense of confidence.
Remind your students and clients that just because they have achieved the mindset of steely-eyed aviators does not mean they are fully trained or fully competent.
There may be miles between the click and the certificate or proficiency signoff. Use their newfound confidence and direct them into tougher scenarios in preparation for their long-anticipated checkride or proficiency check.
There is nothing more gratifying in the life of a flight instructor than leading a human being into their new existence as a fully functional pilot. Listen for the click and let them know when you hear it.
