The VSL Aviation Podcast

In Episode 2 of our CFI ACS series, we work through Area of Operation 1, Task B: The Learning Process. This is the biggest task in the Fundamentals of Instruction — 16 knowledge topics, 3 risk management elements, and 3 skills — all drawn from Chapter 3 of the Aviation Instructor's Handbook.
I walk through every knowledge element, break down the concepts using real-world analogies and examples from my experience as a DPE and 20-year instructor, and then tie it all together with a realistic scenario covering all three skill elements — the kind of scenario you might get on your CFI practical test.
If you're preparing for your CFI checkride, stop memorizing the FOIs. Start learning how to use them. That's what this series is about.
If you haven't seen Episode 1 covering Task A (Human Behavior & Communication), go back and watch that first.
Resources:
Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9), Chapter 3
VSL ACE Guide: https://vsl.aero/aceguide
Join the VSL Aviation Discord: https://discord.gg/4BMChDbbxC
#CFI #FlightInstructor #ACS #FOI #PilotTraining #VSLAviation #ScenarioBasedTraining #FlightTraining #DPE #checkride 
Chapters:
0:00 — Intro & Series Overview
2:07 — ACE Guide Walkthrough & ACS Structure
4:15 — K1: Definitions of Learning
5:01 — K2A: Behaviorism (T-37 Story)
9:02 — K2B: Cognitive Theory (Lego & Car Analogies)
17:02 — K3: Perceptions & Insight (Element of Threat)
23:28 — K4: Acquiring Knowledge (Math Analogy)
30:55 — K5: Laws of Learning
47:19 — K6: Domains of Learning (Cognitive, Affective, Psychomotor)
1:04:21 — K7: Characteristics of Learning
1:14:47 — K8: Scenario-Based Training (D&D Comparison)
1:20:01 — K9: Acquiring Skill Knowledge & Learning Plateaus
1:32:06 — K10: Types of Practice
1:37:04 — K11: Evaluation vs. Critique
1:39:20 — K12: Distractions, Interruptions, Fixation & Inattention
1:42:08 — K13: Errors
1:48:30 — K14: Memory (Penguins on an Iceberg)
1:23:57 — K15: Retention of Learning (Peppermint Story)
1:27:47 — K16: Transfer of Learning
1:31:13 — Risk Management (R1, R2, R3)
1:31:38 — Skills Scenario: The Returning Bonanza Pilot
1:40:04 — Wrap-Up

The 2025 FAA Civil Airmen Statistics just dropped — and the numbers tell a story that contradicts nearly everything you've heard about the pilot shortage. Seth Lake, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and airline pilot, digs into the raw data to show why record pilot production and declining airline hiring opportunity can exist at the same time, what it means for anyone working toward an airline career, and why your checkride record matters more now than it has in years. Interactive tools, the pilot retirement projection spreadsheet, and the raw FAA source data are all available at https://www.vsl.aero — check the numbers yourself.


Chapters
00:00 — Introduction & why this episode is different
01:30 — The DPE wait time complaint: what prompted this research
03:00 — Record pilot production: the data DPEs are actually putting out
04:13 — FAA reform: what's changing with the examiner system
06:03 — The core argument: it's a demand spike, not a DPE shortage
07:10 — Pilot production is unsustainable: the math
07:21 — The retirement & hiring data: 12 major airlines, 2025–2035
10:12 — The three things airlines need to grow (demand, airplanes, infrastructure)
13:00 — Pilot hiring by growth scenario: 0%, 2%, and 5%
14:07 — The underlying issue nobody's talking about: the pilot training gold rush
15:16 — The blog & interactive tools at vsl.aero
16:03 — The 55,000 commercial pilot problem explained
17:08 — Walking through the queue calculator live
19:59 — Running the worst-case scenario: 20,000 pilots/year
21:38 — What the queue looks like by 2035
23:01 — Context: commercial production doubled in 10 years
24:13 — The traffic jam analogy: DPE shortage vs. demand spike
25:46 — What this means for pilots pursuing an airline career
26:14 — The historical norm: 11–12 years was always standard
27:07 — Closing thoughts: the data, not doom and gloom
28:10 — Final advice: clean record, be well-rounded, keep going

This episode focuses specifically on Area of Operation I, Task A of the CFI ACS:
Effects of Human Behavior and Communication on the Learning Process
We're not covering all of the FOIs here. Instead, this is a targeted breakdown of how human behavior and communication directly impact your effectiveness as an instructor—and how examiners expect you to apply this on a checkride.
If you're preparing for a CFI checkride, this is one of the most important areas to understand. It's also one of the most misunderstood.
This episode connects the FOIs to real-world instruction and shows how to actually use them when teaching, not just memorize them.
What we cover:
How human behavior affects learning in aviation training
Barriers to effective communication
Instructor responsibilities in managing student behavior
Why teaching is more than just delivering information
How this task shows up during a CFI checkride
Resources:
Join the VSL Aviation Discord: https://discord.gg/4BMChDbbxC
ACE Guide: https://vsl.aero/aceguide
Podcast available on all major platforms
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:30 – Scope of This Episode (Task A Only)
01:30 – Where Task A Fits in the CFI ACS
03:00 – Why Human Behavior Matters in Training
06:00 – The Instructor's Role in the Learning Process
10:00 – Barriers to Communication
15:00 – Miscommunication in Aviation Training
20:00 – Understanding Student Behavior
26:00 – Building Effective Communication Habits
32:00 – Real-World Instruction Examples
38:00 – Common Mistakes CFI Applicants Make
44:00 – How Examiners Evaluate Task A
50:00 – Key Takeaways

In this episode of the VSL Aviation Podcast, Seth sits down with aviation attorney and pilot Edward A. Hadley of AeroLegal Advocates to talk about the legal traps commercial pilots face—especially around illegal charter, operational control, and holding out.
Edward walks through what actually happens when the FAA starts looking at you or your operation: from that dreaded "call the tower" instruction or ramp check, through the investigation phase, to 709 rides, legal enforcement, ALJ hearings, and NTSB appeals. He explains why you should get an aviation lawyer involved early and why on-the-record statements can come back to haunt you.
For commercial pilots flying Part 91 "pilot services," Seth and Edward dig into:
What operational control really means and why it often overlaps—but isn't identical to—PIC authority
Dry vs. wet leases, 91.501, and how the NBAA small aircraft exemption fits into all of this
How an owner or manager can unknowingly create an illegal transportation package (plane + pilot) even when "everyone at the airport does it this way"
Why "goodwill" and time-building can still count as compensation, even if no money changes hands
How holding out actually works, and why a business card or "I'm a commercial pilot" post is not the problem—the transportation package is
They also cover risk management from the pilot's side:
Using the AOPA Legal Services Plan as "legal insurance"
How PRIA and your employment history interact with being a whistleblower
Red flags with Part 135 operators (falsified records, paper crews, pressure flights) and when it's time to walk away
Practical advice on documenting concerns, using internal reporting channels, and knowing which hills are worth dying on
If you're a commercial pilot, aspiring commercial pilot, or flying Part 91 for a business owner, this episode will help you ask better questions, spot bad structures, and protect your certificate and livelihood.


Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Aviation Law and Pilot Regulations

02:48 Understanding FAA Investigations and Pilot Violations

05:22 Legal Resources for Pilots

08:24 Operational Control in Aviation

11:02 The Importance of Operational Control for Commercial Pilots

13:58 Navigating Dry and Wet Leases

16:44 Understanding Holding Out in Aviation

19:38 Compensation and Goodwill in Aviation Operations

22:07 NTSB Cases and Legal Precedents

24:48 Business Aircraft and Goodwill

39:03 Navigating the NBAA Exemption

40:59 Understanding Entry-Level Aircraft and Pilot Experience

43:52 Compliance and the Role of the FSDO

46:22 Whistleblower Protections in Aviation

49:10 The Importance of Legal Consultation for Pilots

51:39 The PREA and Reporting Obligations for Pilots

54:41 Credibility and Ethical Considerations in Aviation

57:30 Resources for Pilots: AOPA and NBAA
 
AOPA Legal Services Plan https://pilot-protection-services.aopa.org/
NBAA and the small aircraft exemption https://nbaa.org/flight-department-administration/aircraft-operating-ownership-options/nbaas-small-aircraft-exemption/
AC 91-37B https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_91-37B.pdf
AC 61-142 https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-142.pdf
AC 120-116 https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac_120-116.pdf
NTSB Blakely V Murray https://www.ntsb.gov/legal/alj/OnODocuments/Aviation/5061.pdf
NTSB Babbitt V Wallace https://www.ntsb.gov/legal/alj/OnODocuments/Aviation/5461.PDF
AeroLegal Advocates / contact info for Edward Hadley
https://www.aerolegaladvocates.com/

In this episode of The VSL Aviation Podcast, Seth lays the groundwork for understanding one of the most confusing topics in aviation: pilot compensation and illegal charter operations. He breaks down key definitions like operator vs. pilot in command, commercial activity vs. commercial operation, and the meaning of holding out. Seth explains how compensation, contracts, and operational control intersect, clarifying what's legal under Parts 61, 91, 119, and 135. This is the first part of a multi-episode series that every commercial pilot, CFI, and aircraft owner should hear.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Pilot Compensation and Illegal Charter
04:09 Understanding Operational Control and Pilot Responsibilities
10:10 Commercial Activity vs. Commercial Operation
13:47 The Role of Contracts in Aviation
18:37 Private Carriage vs. Common Carriage
24:59 Clarifying Holding Out in Aviation
32:40 Aircraft Size and Legal Operations
37:28 Conclusion and Future Discussions
Links:
https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/1kesimg/what_pilots_get_wrong_about_private_carriage_and/
https://sethlakedpe.substack.com/p/operational-control-where-legal-flights?r=j12c3
https://sethlakedpe.substack.com/p/the-history-and-importance-of-holding?r=j12c3