In this episode of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive deep into the essential soft skills that set exceptional flight instructors apart from the rest. They explore why teaching ability often outweighs raw flying proficiency when it comes to developing great CFIs, emphasizing the need to hire teachers rather than just pilots. The discussion highlights how emotional intelligence plays a critical role in the cockpit, helping instructors connect with students of all ages and backgrounds while adapting to individual learning styles.

Bobby and Wally share insights on managing student progress, fostering accountability, and maintaining clear communication under pressure. They stress the value of effective debriefs and how these moments build trust and accelerate learning. Real stories from their experiences illustrate the shift from demonstrating skills to creating environments where students can learn through guided practice and even mistakes.

The conversation also covers professionalism and leadership, reminding instructors that they serve as role models who shape the next generation of pilots. Listeners will walk away with practical strategies to improve their teaching approach, from using lesson plans and objectives to balancing knowledge with empathy. Whether you're a new CFI or a seasoned instructor, this episode offers valuable takeaways for elevating flight training.

Bobby and Wally kick off this episode by posing a tough question to all pilots: could you handle an emergency tonight? They stress that you don't rise to the occasion but fall to the level of your training, sharing examples of how complacency creeps in during checkrides and real flights. The hosts dive into memory items every pilot should know cold, like engine fire during start procedures, glide speeds, and oil pressure emergencies, while advocating for scenario-based training and chair flying to build reflexive habits.

They explore real-world case studies, including a pilot in Australia who executed a calm gear-up landing after hours of troubleshooting and fuel burn-off. Wally recounts a medical emergency on a 737 where staying calm and breathing first made all the difference. The conversation turns to proactive strategies for night flying, such as following freeways, flying higher for more options, and using tools like ForeFlight's emergency glide mode to improve odds during engine failures or electrical issues.

In the lightning round, they challenge listeners with scenarios like engine roughness at night over a city, comms failure into Class C airspace, and night VFR with lowering ceilings. The takeaway is clear: build habits through deliberate practice with instructors or solo, know your airplane's POH inside out, and prepare your brain for the day you hope never comes so you can fly safely and confidently anytime.

Episode Overview

This episode of Behind the Prop, hosted by Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn, dives into the hidden costs associated with rushing through flight training. Bobby shares a real-life story from United Flight Systems about a student who paused training due to lack of preparation and motivation, only to return years later with a renewed drive. The hosts explore why accelerated training programs can backfire, how students can better prepare before starting, and the importance of setting realistic expectations for the journey to becoming a pilot.

Key Discussion Topics

The Cost of Unpreparedness: Bobby recounts a conversation with a mother and son at the flight school, where the student had previously quit due to immaturity and lack of study habits. He explains how unprepared students waste money on lessons they can't fully utilize, turning what should be productive flights into expensive review sessions.

Accelerated Programs and Marketing Hype: The hosts critique the misleading marketing of fast-track pilot programs, noting that while the FAA minimum for a private pilot is 40 hours, the national average is around 60-80 hours. They discuss how promises of quick certifications often lead to burnout, failed check rides, and additional costs.

Maturity and Motivation: Bobby emphasizes that a student's readiness isn't just about age but about having the discipline and motivation to study outside of lessons. He shares how a student who returned after a break was far more successful because of personal growth and a genuine passion for flying.

Practical Tips for Efficiency: Wally and Bobby discuss strategies like chair flying, consistent scheduling, and self-study to make training more cost-effective. They stress that flying two to three times a week with proper preparation is far more efficient than cramming lessons without study.

Avoiding External Pressure: The hosts warn against letting friends, family, or online advice push students into rushing their training. They argue that each student's journey is unique, and comparing progress to others can lead to poor decisions and unnecessary expenses.

Notable Quotes

"He took a couple years off, grew up, and came back as a different person. And his training was much more efficient because of it." - Bobby Doss

"Don't try to be the minimum. The minimum is not the standard you want to aim for." - Bobby Doss

"Chair flying costs you nothing and can save you thousands in the long run." - Wally Mulhearn

Takeaways

Rushing flight training often leads to higher costs from repeated lessons, failed check rides, and burnout. Students should focus on preparation, including studying ground material and chair flying, to maximize the value of each lesson. Accelerated programs may work for some, but most students benefit from a steady, consistent pace that fits their lifestyle. Finding the right flight school and instructor who support your individual learning pace is crucial to a successful and enjoyable training experience.

Show Notes for Episode: When FINE Isn't FINE

Introduction to Weather Discussion: Bobby and Wally kick off the episode by sharing their experiences with poor weather in Houston, Texas, highlighting how a seemingly "fine" day can quickly turn dangerous. They discuss the impact of weather on flight training and general aviation operations.

Personal Stories of Weather Mishaps: Bobby recounts a flight where he underestimated clouds during a trip to Brenham, Texas, leading to a necessary turnaround. Wally shares his encounter with rime icing in the Saratoga and how it affected his flight decisions, stressing the importance of early recognition of risks.

Historical Aviation Accidents: The hosts review key incidents, including Delta Flight 191 (microburst crash), Southern Airways Flight 242 (hail encounter), and Braniff Flight 352 (thunderstorm entry). These examples illustrate how poor weather planning can lead to tragic outcomes and underscore the evolution of weather information availability since the 1980s.

Weather Tools and Resources: They recommend the Windy app for visualizing wind patterns and forecasts, originally designed for sailors. Other concepts covered include monitoring pressure changes, temperature-dew point spreads for predicting fog or clouds, and using ADS-B data for real-time weather updates.

Subtle Signs and Decision-Making: Bobby and Wally discuss overlooked indicators like altimeter settings (low pressure signals bad weather), wind gradients, and temperature inversions. They advise pilots to check weather from broader areas and avoid locking into a single source like a METAR.

Personal Minimums for Safer Flying: The episode emphasizes establishing and adhering to personal limits, such as wind speeds, icing altitudes, and fuel reserves. Wally suggests limits for new pilots, including wind restrictions, ceiling/visibility minimums, and landing with ample fuel.

Advice for New Pilots: For those who just passed their private pilot checkride, the hosts recommend focusing on wind, ceilings/visibility, and fuel as core personal minimums. They encourage using tools like the FAA's lapse rate for cloud base calculations and always prioritizing safety over ego.

Key Resources and Concepts Mentioned:

• Windy App: A free app for wind and weather visualization
• FAA Weather Resources: Including METARs, ATIS, and understanding lapse rates
• Personal Minimums: Custom rules for safer flying
• General Advice: Monitor pressure drops, temperature-dew point spreads, and always have a turn-back plan

NFL wide receiver Brandin Cooks isn’t just known for his speed on the field—he’s also building a reputation in the cockpit.

In this episode of Behind the Prop, Brandin joins us to share his aviation journey, from earning his private pilot certificate to advancing through instrument training and flying his own Cirrus SR22. What started as a curiosity quickly turned into a serious commitment to learning and mastering the craft of flying.

We explore the parallels between football and aviation, including how Brandin approaches high-pressure situations, learns complex systems, and maintains discipline across two demanding environments. He also shares why he considers himself a cautious pilot, how he sets personal minimums, and what he’s learned about risk management through aviation.

Beyond performance, Brandin opens up about how flying has impacted his personal life—giving him a new way to connect with his family and experience freedom outside of the NFL schedule. He also discusses his passion for increasing access to aviation and why representation matters in the industry.

Whether you’re a pilot, athlete, or someone chasing excellence in any field, this conversation delivers valuable insight into what it truly takes to perform at a high level.

In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby Doss, Wally Mulhearn, and guest Jay Robinson tackle one of the most stressful moments in a pilot’s journey—receiving an FAA checkride disapproval—and, more importantly, how to recover from it. The conversation starts by normalizing the experience, emphasizing that disapprovals happen at every level of aviation and do not define a pilot’s ability or future.

Wally provides insight from the examiner’s perspective, explaining that a disapproval simply means a standard was not met on that day—not that the pilot is incapable. The group highlights that anxiety, small mistakes, or even external life factors can contribute to an unsatisfactory outcome.

The episode then shifts to actionable recovery steps. First, pilots must fully understand the debrief and letter of disapproval, ensuring they know exactly what needs to be corrected. Next comes ownership—accepting responsibility as pilot in command—followed by focused retraining that targets specific deficiencies rather than starting from scratch.

The hosts emphasize the importance of confidence, smart preparation, and even taking time to decompress before a retest. They also reinforce that most pilots successfully pass on the next attempt. Ultimately, the episode reframes disapproval as a powerful learning opportunity—one that can produce safer, more self-aware, and more resilient pilots.

Tammy Barlette

Former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and instructor with experience flying the A-10 Warthog, MQ-1 Predator, and MQ-9 Reaper. She now teaches mental performance training specifically designed for aviators through her company Crosscheck Mental Performance.

Tammy combines lessons from aviation, elite athletics, and performance psychology to help pilots improve focus, confidence, and decision-making under pressure.

Key Topics Discussed

Mental Performance Training for Pilots

Why many pilots struggle with performance rather than knowledge

How stress affects access to information in high-pressure situations

Techniques used by elite athletes that translate directly to aviation

Perfectionism in Aviation

Why perfectionism can hurt pilot performance

Learning to use mistakes as feedback instead of defining moments

Confidence and Internal Dialogue

How self-talk influences pilot performance

Why confidence must be intentionally built—not assumed

Process vs Outcome Goals

Why focusing only on checkrides or certificates can hurt motivation

Using process-based goals to build long-term success in flight training

Practical Techniques

The “What now?” reset technique to stay present in flight

Building confidence through small wins and self-recognition

Staying mentally focused during checkride preparation

Resources Tammy Shared

Crosscheck Online Community
https://www.skool.com/crosscheck/

Crosscheck Mental Performance Website
https://www.crosscheckmentalperformance.com/

Tammy Barlette on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybarlette/

In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern are joined by United Flight Systems Vice President Jay Robinson to break down one of the most debated topics in flight training: Part 61 vs. Part 141. If you’ve spent any time researching flight schools, you’ve likely heard strong opinions—141 is faster, cheaper, more structured… or maybe rigid and bureaucratic. So what’s actually true?

The answer: it depends on the student, not just the regulation.

This episode dives deep into the biggest misconceptions surrounding both training paths. The team explains that while Part 141 offers structure and FAA oversight, that structure doesn’t automatically mean better outcomes. Likewise, Part 61 isn’t inherently more flexible, faster, or cheaper. What really drives success is the quality of the school, the instructors, and how well the program supports each individual student.

They also tackle common myths like:

• Is Part 141 actually faster—or just marketed that way?
• Are stage checks something to fear?
• Does failing a stage check hurt your future career?
• Can you switch between Part 61 and 141 without losing progress?

Along the way, Wally brings an airline pilot’s perspective, reinforcing that hiring departments don’t care whether you trained under Part 61 or 141—they care about your skills, consistency, and professionalism.

Whether you’re just getting started or evaluating your next rating, this episode will help you cut through the noise and make a smarter, more confident training decision.

Bottom line: It’s not about the regulation—it’s about the people and the process behind your training.