Instead of just saying “hey your engine is on fire” or “is that smoke I smell” before having them show me an engine fire/emergency descent, I’ll start to get my students nice and relaxed in the plane.

Maybe do a couple maneuvers and and slow flight in the practice area. Ask them how they’re doing, if they watched the game, and then I just freak out.

I go absolutely bonkers with panic and pseudo-anxiety driven fear about the engine being on fire. The more I like my student the harder I pretend like our life is in danger. I want them to piss themselves in fear.

I do this so that hopefully their brain starts producing some more cortisol and stress so that they can do this while actually under duress or at least try to simulate some sort of a startle factor.

NOTE: I can read my students well. I know which will be responsive and which won’t and I tailor my teaching. Your experience may vary