Definition
The recurring categories of hazard that arise specifically during flight instruction, where the presence of two pilots, the training environment, and the instructional task itself create risks that would not exist on a normal flight. These typically include negative transfer of learning, distractions caused by teaching duties, ambiguity over who is flying the aircraft, delayed instructor intervention, and the additional workload of managing both the lesson and the safety of flight.
Plain English
The kinds of trouble that show up mostly when an instructor and a learner are flying together — things like confusion over who has the controls, the instructor being too busy teaching to notice a problem, or waiting too long to take over. They are the predictable danger zones of the training cockpit.
Context Anchor
Seen in the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook when discussing how instructors should recognize and manage risk during training flights.
Why Pilots Care
Instructors must recognize and mitigate these risks to maintain safety and effective training.
Grounding Statement
A training flight can feel routine, but the same repeated lesson can become risky when attention, altitude, weather, aircraft control, or communication is not managed carefully.
Intuition Check
“Common” does not mean minor or acceptable. “Risk” does not mean something bad will definitely happen; it means there is a chance of harm that needs to be recognized and managed.
Example Sentence 1
During the preflight briefing, the CFI reviewed the common flight instruction risks for the day's lesson, emphasising a clear positive exchange of controls before each maneuver.
Example Sentence 2
Recognizing common flight instruction risks helps new CFIs avoid common pitfalls with students.