Nelson Wolfmeier - American Flight Schools

Nelson Wolfmeier - Flight Instructor

Western Air Flight Academy - KCFO

Flight Instructor:	CFI, CFII, MEI
Certificates Held:	Airline Transport Pilot Single Engine Land, Commercial Single Engine Land, Commercial Multi Engine Land, Instrument Rated
Education:	Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Associates of Applied Sciences in Aviation, Community College of the Air Force

Nelson grew up in Thornton, Colorado before joining the United States Air Force. He served 20 years and was stationed in England, Idaho, Korea, Alaska, and Utah. Nelson is originally from Colorado and learned to fly in Alaska. He has flown survey, cargo, and part 135. He also flew for SkyWest before returning to flight instruction. Currently, he flys for the National Center for Atmospheric Research and serves as the Avaition Safety Officer. In addition to his pilot certificates and ratings, Nelson holds an Airframe and Powerplant certificate with Inspector Authorization. He also enjoys playing golf and baseball.

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.