The text message was familiar: "Have to cancel today's lesson." The accompanying sad-face emoji didn't mitigate the fact that too many flying lessons never get off the ground, stalled by self-imposed realities of alleged real-world issues. Over a quarter-century of instructing, I estimate about half of all appointments cancel and not simply because the student suddenly remembers a parole hearing or spots his name in the obituaries. Cancellations can be due to illness, job demands—boss demands you show up—poor weather or even good weather that might lure a student to the beach rather than into the sky. Flight instructing in old airplanes is no way to make a living, but it is a great life, provided you …
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/guest-blog-cfi-navel-gazing