UNSATISFACTORY STUDENT PROGRESS POLICY


Although the Chief Flight Instructor (CFI) and/or the Assistant Chief Flight Instructor (ACFI) are directly responsible for monitoring the progress of all students enrolled in an integrated program, the CFI or ACFI will delegate the direct, day-to-day monitoring of student performance to the trainee’s primary flight instructor.  The following outlines the process to be used to monitor trainee progress, identify trainee performance that falls short of the rate of progress demanded by the program, help trainees get back on track and, if necessary, the steps to be followed to remove a trainee from the program.

It must be emphasized that every reasonable effort will be made to assist students in completing their course successfully.  This is definitely a cooperative effort between the Diamond Flight Centre London and the student. 

Diamond Flight Centre London has a mentorship program in place designed to facilitate the identification and rectification of student problems.  In this program, a senior Class 1 or 2 flight instructor meets with the primary trainer regularly – once every week or two depending on the primary instructor’s workload.  Each student’s progress is discussed and any issues are identified and solutions are sought.  These solutions are implemented and the outcome is monitored accordingly.  If a mentor can’t rectify an issue, the mentor reports to the CFI or ACFI and the process begins anew.

There is also an onus on the student to self-identify any issues they may be having and speak to their instructor.  If the student is having a problem with the instructor, the student should report that directly to the CFI or ACFI.  Again, the emphasis is on identification and betterment.  At all levels, information relating to any such issue will be recorded and students will be apprised of their progress.

At the end of each flight, the primary instructor always debriefs the student as to their performance.  There should never be a time where the student is not fully aware of their performance status.  Students can also log into ePTR at any time to read their instructor’s comments regarding their performance.

Initial student actions or omissions that might lead to the initiation of a review or performance meeting could be, but are not limited to:

  • Two flight cards that must be repeated in any one stage or multiple exercises are repeated in an attempt to achieve the required standard

  • Failure of any stage check or flight test

  • Failure of any written examination

  • Consistent lack of preparedness by the trainee to learn

  • Disciplinary action has been initiated

  • The student is genuinely trying, but is unable to meet the standard for whatever reason

  • Other reasons may include: financial difficulties, airsickness or medical issues


The overarching theme to this policy is the timely identification of progress difficulties, intervention aimed at supporting the student and rectification of any progress difficulties.  This is absolutely a cooperative effort between the student and Diamond Flight Centre London.  It should be noted that mentors meet regularly with the CFI or ACFI and report student progress.  Any issues that they cannot resolve are referred to the CFI or ACFI for possible resolution.  Written records are kept at each level for continuity.

Diamond also recognizes the strong value of family support.  Although every student has the absolute right to privacy, we encourage students to share successes and challenges with family members.  If students wish to have family members involved in possible resolution of any issues that may arise, Diamond welcomes this involvement with the student’s permission.

If a progress issue is identified that, after all reasonable attempts to rectify, persists such that student progress is so severely affected that successful completion of the course is deemed unlikely, the student may be expelled from the program.  The decision to expel a student is not taken lightly and is a last resort.  The decision to expel a student is in the sole purview of the CFI.  If expulsion must occur, the student is offered an exit interview with the CFI or ACFI.

If a student is expelled for any reason, Diamond Flight Centre London will assist the student in any reasonable way possible to assist them in enrollment at a different flight school.