Brandon Hardin - Flight Instructor
Aurora Flight Training
| Flight Instructor: |
CFI, CFII |
| Certificates Held: |
Commercial Single Engine Land, Instrument Rated |
| Education: |
Oregon State University |
Brandon Hardin is a skilled flight instructor with a deep passion for aviation. Born and raised in a family of aviation enthusiasts, he was exposed to the flying industry from a young age. After completing his education at Oregon State University, where he also played football, Brandon went on to pursue a business career. However, despite his success in this field, he found that his true passion – flying.
Driven by this newfound passion, Brandon decided to embark on a career in aviation. He became a certified flight instructor, leveraging his extensive knowledge and experience to help aspiring pilots achieve their goals. Drawing on his background in sports and coaching, Brandon is able to instill in his students the discipline, focus, and dedication necessary to excel in this challenging field.
Brandon’s approach to flight instruction is characterized by his patience, attention to detail, and commitment to safety. He takes the time to understand each student’s individual strengths and weaknesses, tailoring his instruction to meet their specific needs. By doing so, he is able to help them build the skills and confidence they need to become successful pilots.
Whether he is teaching a beginner how to take off and land, or helping an experienced pilot hone their skills, Brandon is deeply committed to flying with others and looks forward to the chance to share the skies on your next flight.
5 useful questions to ask an instructor:
Why did you become a flight instructor?
Regardless of the answer, the way an instructor talks about why they fly is what is important. Look for
someone that is excited by teaching. They should have a genuine interest in giving others the gift of flight.
How long have you been flight instructing?
Some Instructors have thousands of hours under their belts and have been flight instructing for their entire
careers. Others have a few hundred and are just beginning. A seasoned instructor will have a lot of experience
but may have a set teaching style. A freshly minted instructor has less aircraft time but is able to relate to
common learning obstacles, having undergone their own flight training in the not too distant past. There are
advantages to both types of instructor.
How do you keep track of your student’s progress?
Using a syllabus is essential so that both student and instructor can track progress and milestones so make
sure your instructor uses one. Talk to other students and ask them what kind of reading their doing, what
books they’re using and the type of homework they’re getting. There should ALWAYS have some type of “homework”
assignment at the end of each lesson.
What is your availability?
Some instructors are part-time and work separate jobs during the week. Others are full-time, but may want to
have personal and family time on the weekends. Find an instructor with compatible availability. Flying at least
twice a week is the best way to progress quickly through accomplishments with less effort and less overall costs.
Choosing an instructor that is able to fly on the same schedule helps to keep flight training on a consistent path.
I’ve heard people talk about “stalling an airplane.” Can you tell me what it means?
This is a classic question. Regardless of knowing what an “aircraft stall” is or not, how an instructor explains
this concept will give great insight into how they can explain concepts. Are they patient? Do they use simple
terminology that is easy to understand? Do they ask questions to make sure their student understands, or do they
over simplify to brush off the question? Find an instructor whose instructing style is a good match.
