How Should I Communicate with My CFI Between Lessons?
Send your CFI a brief message 24-48 hours before your next lesson with three things: what you've been practicing, what questions came up during your self-study, and what you want to focus on. This respects their time while ensuring you don't waste expensive flight time on questions that could be answered on the ground.
Why This Is Awkward
Students often don't know if their CFI wants to hear from them between lessons. You don't want to seem needy or annoy them with basic questions. But silence creates problems: you might spend days confused about something your CFI could clarify in 30 seconds, or you might show up unprepared for what's planned. Good communication benefits both of you.
The Context
• CFIs are often part-time instructors with other jobs or training themselves
• They typically have multiple students and may not remember your specific progress
• Flight time is expensive; ground questions should be answered on the ground
• Good students make CFIs' jobs easier—they appreciate preparation
What to Do
- 1
Ask their preference early
In your first few lessons, ask: “What's the best way to reach you between lessons if I have questions?”
- 2
Send a pre-lesson message 24-48 hours before
Keep it brief—3-4 sentences max. Include what you practiced and any questions.
- 3
Batch your questions
Don't send multiple messages. Collect questions and send them together.
- 4
Be specific about what you want to focus on
“I want to work on my landings” vs “I want to focus on my flare timing.”
Sample Pre-Lesson Message
Hi [CFI name],
Looking forward to our lesson on [day]. Since last time, I've been chair flying the power-off stall recovery and reviewed the sight picture for the flare.
One question: Should I be looking at the far end of the runway or the threshold during the flare?
I'd like to focus on landings if possible. See you Saturday!
What to Avoid
• Don't send multiple messages per day
• Don't expect immediate responses—they're busy
• Don't ask questions you could easily Google
• Don't apologize for asking questions—that's what they're for
How VectoredOps Helps
VectoredOps can generate a summary of your between-lesson progress to share with your CFI. It includes what you've reviewed, questions that came up, and areas you want to focus on—formatted for quick reading.