Ralph McLaughlin - Flight Instructor
Bay Area Flying Club
| Flight Instructor: |
CFI |
| Certificates Held: |
Commercial Single Engine Land, Instrument Rated |
| Education: |
B.S. in Geography from the University of Arizona and a PhD in Public Policy from the University of California, Irvine |
Ralph McLaughlin is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) with a passion for aviation education and instruction. He has logged extensive time in aircraft such as the Cessna 172, Piper PA-28 and PA-32, and Mooney M20J, and is well-versed in both analog and glass cockpit environments, mountain flying, and navigation through congested airspace. With a background in academia, his students appreciate his calm demeanor, clear communication style, and ability to adapt lessons to different learning styles. Whether he’s teaching VFR fundamentals to a student pilot or guiding a commercial student through more advanced procedures, Ralph is committed to building safe, confident, and competent aviators. He’s also an advocate for lifelong learning in aviation and regularly updates his own skills to reflect the latest technology and regulations in the industry.
Ralph holds a B.S. in Geography from the University of Arizona and a PhD from the University of California, and has worked as a full-time professor as well as a professional economist for nearly two decades. When not instructing, Ralph can be found flying his 1978 Mooney M20J-TN around the country.
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.
