Upgrade

Not the type of upgrade you are accustomed to with the airlines but I have been given an upgrade in the organization at UND. Since I started instructing I've had a stretch of very good pilots come through seeking some help from me. I give the majority of my successes in teaching to the students ability/desire to learn difficult ideas. With the help of these students I've had a very impressive pass rate on stage checks. A stage check is basically a test, given by another instructor, to evaluate how a student is progressing through each course. Each course has at least one stage check and more then not two or three. The stage check consists of both an oral portion and a flight portion. To pass the stage check students need to perform to certain standards, usually the PTS standards for the given course they are enrolled in.

Because of the success my students have had I was selected to become a stage pilot. This is an awesome opportunity and something that I've wanted since I started flying here at UND. Becoming a stage pilot gives me an opportunity to also help other students. I will now be evaluating students directly, and their instructors indirectly.

During the stage check I will evaluate students knowledge and piloting ability through questions, mostly scenario based questions to prevent students from memorizing answers. During the flight I evaluate their mastery, smoothness and accuracy, and aeronautical decision making on the required maneuvers for that certain test.

I'm very happy to start doing this. I've already completed the extra required training and am just waiting approval from the FAA(hopefully this week!). I also have some great news about an adventure I get to take in December, more on that later.

Siouxpilot