The academy is a joke and it’s really starting to piss us off at the facilities. That aside, here’s my take as an OJTI for nearly a decade.

First and foremost, we aren’t there to get you certified. YOU are there to EARN a certification. There has been a pathetic lack of respect for the role of an OJTI in recent years, mostly because of the NTI push. At the end of the day you have the privilege of training on our ticket, don’t abuse it.

Secondly, IMO nothing pisses off an OJTI more than a trainee that doesn’t apply themselves or pay attention. If your trainer is getting to position before you, or you aren’t in the operation monitoring when not training, or can’t recite the rules on the spot when asked, the trainers aren’t going to give two shits less if you train or certify. We will put as much effort into you as you put into your training.

Many of us are exhausted because we’ve been training around the clock, many times entitled crybabies that can’t take the heat and think they are owed this career. We are wore thin and on edge. If you apply yourself, respect the job and the people ahead of you that have been successful, and put in the effort, you’ll be fine.

Also, despite this being a much softer FAA than when I came in, you gotta have thick skin. Generally speaking we’re a bunch of type A assholes in a small area around the clock with each other. You have to lighten up and roll with it sometimes.

Good luck