Comments on: Students Control Flight Training’s Costs

By: Controlling your flight training costs — Golf Hotel Whiskey

Controlling your flight training costs — Golf Hotel Whiskey — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:01:24 +0000

[...] Scott Spangler writes on Jetwhine that there is some good news in a sense that students can always control their training costs by [...]

By: Patrick Flannigan

Patrick Flannigan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:06:22 +0000

Bill is right about flight simulators. For a relatively small investment, they can really pay off in the air.

I would practice my private pilot maneuvers on Microsoft Flight Simulator until they were perfect before showing my face at the airport. As a result, I got it right the first time and managed to pass every checkride at the minimum flight time requirements. That adds up to a lot of saved cash. I feel that using sims for instrument training and proficiency is even more valuable and time saving.

By: Stephen Ruby

Stephen Ruby — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:33:44 +0000

In contrast to these costs are the commitment of flight instructors who are there to only build time to enhance their opportunities to
pursue airline careers.

The commitment of Flight Instructors has dramatically reduced the prospective student from furthering their certificate because of cases where a they seem to be left out. The student who starts flight training and becomes comfortable with his instructor, then shows up the next day only to find another who took his place has to wonder if their investment was properly secured. Part 141 Flight Schools who have a commitment to teach flying skills need to be aware of who they hire to teach students the art of flying.

Insurance for these flight schools is also at a premium.

I would also liketo point out that not everyone who has a desire to fly can physically or mentally do so. I found out back in the sixties that furloughed airline pilots who reverted back to flight instruction were only available on a temporary basis. Commitment must be met with both the student and the instructor..

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:41:20 +0000

Well said.
But like any learning experience, you need to do your homework too (whether it was assigned or not). Like learning to play an instrument, you can’t just show up at your lesson every (week, two days, whatever) and expect it all to be handed to you. You have to practice, continue learning about it, etc.

With the fantastic simulator programs available for a home computer, a lot can be done to master navigation, procedures, instrument scan, etc. All of that will pay off, and will make the difference in the dollars, the airplane hours spent to earn the ticket, and the sense of accomplishment for a job well done.

I recall my fellow instructors and I joking that some students, having not put for the the inter-lesson effort, had the attitude of “teach me, I dare ya.”

The same applies whether you’re learning to fly a Cessna or a Boeing.

Additionally, we should all recognize that as we age, we no longer have the juicy brain of an 18 year old. Learning new things can take longer. If you keep your brain exercised by constantly learning new things the effect is lessened.

While working for a major airline checking out long -time airline pilots in the new glass cockpit aircraft (a LOT to learn in a little time). The ones that had trouble were over 50, been flying the same thing for 20 years, and hadn’t been in the learning mode for any of that time. While they performed well in their previous aircraft. Their brains were not flexible enough to be ready to absorb the quantity of new information even with great effort on their part. Some took two or three times the normal course footprint to complete, some were never able to. They weren’t stupid. Their brains were stiff.

So, my point is, it’s not just how many lessons per week you take, but what you do before you even start them (keeping the brain in the learning mode) and what you do between them (study, practice, etc) that plays an equally large part.

Bill