Posted: 3/7/2013 4:40:07 PM EDT
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I have a few questions about starting flight lessons. I have been wanting to for a long time but have been shy and lack of funds but I am probably making more excuses than anything. I already have my AP.
The major question I have had lately is about fight insturctors. I know it will vary between them. I was wondering how the process goes. Do they positvely make sure your ready before you move to next stage? Checkride? I know they have to study with you the areas you have failed. I am afraid of getting thrown to the wolves. I want a flight insturctor that is methodical and positive that I am ready. I can care less about the final cost. Well relatively speaking. The only thing that keeps me going is looking at Cherokees and Barrons. I would love to eventually buy my own. |
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You'll find that you and your instructor will mututally know when you are ready for the next level. He is looking out for himself liability-wise and you are concerned about your survival...a great formula!
Get your ground school and knowledge test done first then dive in.... |
| A good CFI will take care of you but remember that it is your money and you are the customer. Not sure if you're going to a school or just a local instructor but If you don't mesh well with your instructor ask for a different one. I had students and CFI's that I just wasn't a great match for. It's not personal or at least it shouldn't be. You will learn best with someone you are comfortable with. This will also help you learn faster. You'll know when you're ready for solo, check ride etc. it's intimidating and overwhelming at the start but keep your head up and keep working and it all starts to click. |
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Not sure where you are going to get your training, but heres how mine went.
I started on a whim about 2 years ago after helping our helicopter pilot with spraying crops, he got me interested in aviation. I had never even flown in a commercial airplane. So I went to my local municipal airport and found a little more info on it. My instructor (a female) said to come in for a brief flight just to make sure it was something I was comfortable with. We took a 30 min flight (costing around 50 dollars). She gave me all the controls (with hers still planted on her controls) Best thing to do is just set a date and get going. During the spring/summer/fall I am busy with work, so I didnt get to fly much. Mainly winter flying for me. My instructor was very accomodating for when I was able to fly, and often only needed an hour notice or so. I believe 40 hours are required, but It took me right around 55 hours to actually get my PPL. If you have time, it would be best to do it within a couple months. There was time where I would have to wait 2 months inbetween trainings. Most my ground intstruction I was able to do at home, but she did sit me down and go over things I was struggling in. Your instructor will know when you are ready, although they probably wont say much, they will make you keep working on areas where you are struggling without knowing it. Not sure I accomplished anything writing this, but do it and have fun! |
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It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done. Many here would agree with this. Walking is to bicycling, as bicycling is to driving as driving is to flying. Taking the bus is to driving your own car as flying on an airline is to flying your own plane, if those analogies make sense. It's cheaper to take the bus, but it's worth the money to have your own car for the convenience and freedom.
You will know if your instructor sucks. Do not put up with a shitty instructor. The fact that you have your AP may be a tradable asset. There are highly experienced aircraft owners that have their CFI ratings that may be willing to exchange services with you in the form of owner-assisted repairs. You should try to surface that you're looking for a CFI whenever you're talking to an owner; bring up that you have your AP in the conversation. |
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When I was a CFI/CFII back in the late 70's early 80's I would always tell prospective students to have their financing in hand to avoid running out of money and having long periods between lessons. This will cost you more money to get your license because you will have to get back up to speed after a long
layoff. Also, if you can, fly at least 3 times per week. If you can't, two days a week is o.k.. One day a week, forget about it. If possible, find an older CFI that is not building hours to move up to the regionals. Having to change instructors because yours left for the "big time" will cost you extra money because your new instructor will have to evaluate you to see where you are in your flight training. You might have to pay for extra flight training to meet his standards. So, get an older instructor who is not going anywhere. And lastly, if you plan to fly commercially, see if you can pass a first class medical on the first go around. If you don't pass the first class medical, you need to change your plans. 
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Ask pilots around your local airport who they like. Then get your training in as short a period as you can fit into your schedule. I soloed in 8 hours, got my private in 42 hours in a Cessna 150. It would have been 40 but I had to take a week off and took another 1 hour lesson and 1 hour solo before my check ride. Every time you take a break you take a step back and have to take two steps forward to get 1 step ahead. You can literally get your Private in 3 or 4 weeks if you go every day. I kept going and got my Instrument at about 125 hours and Multi Commercial in a Piper Seminole at exactly 250 hrs. Then I went back a few week later and got my Single Commercial. It saved money because I didn't have to rent a complex single. I had my own single for Instrument training, and the Single commercial.
If you only take a lesson a couple of times a month it will take you for ever. Not just calender time but hours. 40 is required but the average is 55 hours because so many people have to relearn what they were taught last month. Info on requirements 
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^ I guess that's your Cheetah. Are you based out of ORL with Sheltair? How do you like those guys?
+1 on the older experienced guy that's training for whatever reason. There are lots of experienced pilots that act as (informal) ambassadors for aviation. I had somewhere between 80 and 100 hours when I finished my private. My instrument took me less than 45 hours afterwards. I went through four flight schools for my private. The one I ended up with had three instructors with over 2500 hours each and had me solo on day #3 and I passed my check ride with just a few lessons with them. I went on and got my instrument rating with them after fearing that I would run into the same thing again. |
| I got my private at the cheapest place I could find, Scan Am out of New Hibiscus air-park and then when I got my Grumman I went over to VRB and Sun Aviation because it had a tower and an instrument approach and if I took my Multi training there I could rent the Seminole afterwards. I haven't flown in 20 years because I got divorced , had to sell the plane and give her 1/2. I'm moving in a couple of months to a community with it's own 3000' grass lighted rwy. I plan on putting up a 3x5 card offering my company in the right seat. I know when I was building hours I always took company along if I could. My current wife isn't too keen on the idea but she'll get over it. |
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Quoted:
The average number of hours for a Pvt. license is between 70-80 hours. It can be done in less but keep that number in mind for planning purposes. Study for the written before you start flying and you will be far ahead of the curve. Good luck!  I really hope not. Most helicopter students were 55hrs and fixed wing should be less than that.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
The average number of hours for a Pvt. license is between 70-80 hours. It can be done in less but keep that number in mind for planning purposes. Study for the written before you start flying and you will be far ahead of the curve. Good luck! I really hope not. Most helicopter students were 55hrs and fixed wing should be less than that.Maybe he's thinking of a Private rating plus IFR? 
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