Flight Training Archives - Page 2 of 10

Should you use different flight instructors or the same one?

A would-be pilot named Sue has recently posted a great question on Ask a Flight Instructor about whether or not it’s a good idea to have multiple flight instructors while learning how to fly or whether its better to try and have the same one for the duration of her flight training. Specifically, Sue wrote:

Is it advisable to have more than one flight instructor especially when one has covered the basics of flight and maneuvers if one is under time constraints

Matthew Waugh responded by writing that the use of more than one flight instructor will have its share of issues but if both are coordinating with each other and a detailed syllabus is being used, its possible. However, Matthew reminded Sue that only one flight instructor can sign off on a student to do a solo and that flight instructor will have to be satisfied that he or she has met all of the important requirements to reach that point. The same goes for a cross country or for the checkride but if time is more important than money, using more than one flight instructor can be done.

Abdel Shabazz also agreed with Matthew that it could be done but he cautioned that “despite regulations, accepted practices and standardization, aviation is a world of differing opinions.” In other words, using more than one flight instructor can lead to confusion that will ultimately make learning how to fly more expensive. Nevertheless and if a student pilot has the personality and ability to be flexible when learning, it should not be a problem.

Finally and something not mentioned by either Matthew or Abdel would be to make sure before you start any flight training with a flight school (or individual flight instructor) is that the CFI teaching you will be available to train you from start to finish. After all and if time is not a consideration or if you found it difficult in school to adapt to teachers with different teaching methods, you will want to make sure you have the same flight instructor for the duration of your flight training.

Tips for keeping flight training costs manageable

Let’s face it, flight training is an expensive passion but John Fiscus, the Chief Pilot of the Flight Academy, recently wrote a short post for the Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association (COPA) website with a few tips about how to keep flight training costs at a manageable level. Specifically, John had been asked on another forum whether or not it would be worth training in small bites whenever money was available or to just save up for a year+ in order to do it all at once.

John recommended that most people can go a week or 2 during the early stages of flight training and not experience a significant recession. However and beyond that, you will likely find yourself working hard to just do the basic things. Hence, John suggested establishing a personal minimum for time between flights because if you see yourself going a week or more between lessons, you will end up spending the entire next lesson attempting to get back to where you should be rather than learning a new skill. Its also important to study the books before even a first flight as filling your own head with knowledge will always be cheaper than paying someone else to do it for you.

Otherwise, saving up prior to training will allow you to pace yourself better with the best way to train being to spend several full days in a row and then a break for a few days in order to study and recuperate. Likewise, several consecutive half days can also work.

However, John advised NOT to let a flight school talk you into doing just an hour or two per session. After all, what’s good for the flight school (either because of scheduling constraints or because they want to earn more money off their students by having them train for a longer period of time) may not be best for you or for your budget.

Finally, John wrote that you should be very picky about your flight instructor. In other words, don’t let the flight school just assign you one without you having interviewed several. After all, there are often two types of flight instructors: Ones who are there to build up their hours and the ones who actually care about teaching you to fly.

What questions should you ask your prospective instrument instructor?

If you plan on pursuing an instrument rating, a VFR pilot named George has posted a great question on the Ask a Flight instructor website about what questions you should ask a prospective instrument flight instructor:

I am a 275 hour vfr pilot and want to pursue my instrument rating. I plan to interview several instructors. What are the key things to ask?

Commenter Andy Neumann posted that he would look for an instrument flight instructor who had plenty of IFR experience outside of the local training area. However, Andy added that real world experience alone will not make a good instrument flight instructor and that you should look for an instructor will emphasize precision aircraft control plus has a good method for teaching it. Andy noted that the most common problem he sees with instrument pilots is centered around basic instrument scan, interpretation and control and that there is a temptation to just start shooting approaches.

Reader Brian then posted a list of questions that should be asked but he also added that it will be critical to find an organized flight instructor who will diligently record your progress and can also present an instrument curriculum with attainable goals. Brian pointed out that he has seen too many flight instructors decide on the day of the student’s flight about what should be done and he then added that he has never seen this habit in “any other form of formal education” in his life. Brian concluded by writing:

Taking them to lunch to discuss these things might save you some money and help to build a friendship with your prospective instructor. We rarely say no to being taken out to eat.

Finally, JamesCFI wrote that you should do an instrument rating in a steam gauge aircraft rather than one with a glass cockpit – unless you plan to fly mostly glass cockpit equipped aircraft. James then added that you don’t want a instrument flight instructor who just teaches and does not do any real hard IFR flying plus you should ask your prospective flight instructor what he or she includes in his or her scan. If the instrument flight instructor responds with the “standard FAA six pack answer,” you should instead find one who answers like someone who flies IFR for a living.

Hence and if you plan on pursuing your instrument rating, the entire thread is well worth reading.

What should be covered in the first flight lesson?

Andy Neumann has posted a great survey question on the Ask a CFI site concerning what CFIs should teach on the first flight lesson:

Ok, this is more of a poll of the instructors than a stumper question. I want to know what instructors teach on the very first flight lesson. (Not an “intro” flight, but an actual student pilot lesson.) This is a poll, so please don’t comment on what other people write–just write what YOU do and why. Also, how long is your usual first flight lesson?

Micah responded by commenting that what he teaches will depend on the student and what he knows about the student. Micah further added that his introduction will usually include things like aircraft vocabulary and flight control use plus a demonstration of some basic flight control principles along with what normal flight maneuvers look like. Depending on how things go, Micah might also introduce some basic maneuvers or even some touch-and-go or they might just fly around the area. Micah concluded that he wants his student’s first flight to be both useful and enjoyable.

Commenter Brian then posted that his first lesson will revolve around making his students feel comfortable and safe in the air. He will fly all aspects of the takeoff, climb, pattern and landing plus do all of the checklists and radio calls. Brian also often that he will focus on the concept of aircraft stability as he believes this concept will often slip through the cracks during flight training.

Meanwhile, James MacGregor CFI commented that he doesn’t get too involved in technical or un-fun stuff as there will be plenty of time for that during actual flight training. His point is that a CFI should not overwhelm a student with too much technical jargon and other stuff so that the adventure and fun factor is lost and the student pilot is left thinking: “I have to learn ALL this!” James concluded by saying that the first flight lesson needs to demonstrate two important flying principles: 1) Its fun and 2) It obtainable.

Hence, we want to ask any CFI readers a simple question: What do you teach on your first flight lesson?

Would being a CFI be a good career option?

Nicole, a student pilot, recently asked on the Ask a Flight Instructor site, about the potential career path for CFIs. Specifically, she asked:

Hi, I’m beginning my path as a student pilot and I would like to know if there’s is anything like a Flight Instructor career. I know most CFIs are only interested in building up hours to go to a better job, but can anyone live from being a flight instructor? Are there any good salaries or benefits?

James MacGregor CFI responded by commenting that one can make a good living by being a flight instructor and he suggested the book, Savy flight instructor, along with taking a few business and marketing classes at a local community college. James also pointed out that his last flight instructor gig paid him $50 a hour and he had an agreement with a few FBOs and private aircraft owners who did not fly that much and allowed him to use their aircraft at a discount. He also did some advertising on Craigslist, a few mailings, gave out 100+ business cards a month and put up posters or flyers in pilot lounges or tourist stops. However, James did point out that it took time to build up a client base.

Meanwhile, commenter Micah pointed out that to be a CFI, you will either end up working for a flight school as an employee or a contract employee or you will be self-employed where all other considerations such as benefits would be the same as if you owned your own business. However, Micah also added:

I don’t think you should expect very much from a CFI career (except to enjoy it) but that doesn’t mean you can’t manage a living from it (even though it will probably be a hard beginning).

Hence, we want to ask any of our readers who are CFIs, especially in the UK or Europe, about their CFI career path. In other words, would you recommend it? Moreover, have you tried to be a self-employed CFI?

If you could do flight training all over again, what would you do different?

Jason Schappert of the MzeroA blog has created a great video where he talked about some of the things he would have done differently if he were to do flight training all over again. Specifically, Jason pointed out that he would have:

Gotten the FAA medical first. He also added that if you are under 40, its now good for 5 years.
Enrolled in some type of ground school so that he would not have wasted both his money and his time (as well as the time of his instructor).
Shopped around for a flight school and a flight instructor rather than sign up at the first flight school he visited.

Hence, we want to ask you our readers, especially any pilots based in the UK or Europe: What would you do differently if you could do flight training all over again?