Training

The Around the Pattern blog recently noted in a two part post (see Part 1 and Part 2) an informal survey by the AOPA on their eBrief newsletter asked individuals why they had quit their flight training before getting their pilot’s licenses and the results were not surprising: Nearly 80% of respondents cited the expense of renting an aircraft and receiving flying lessons as the primary reason they quit.

However, it was also noted that the AOPA contracted market research firm APCO Insight to to conduct a more formal survey and their results were somewhat contradictory and different:

The research also made the important distinction that cost was not a statistically significant reason people drop out of training. While cost is a factor, Benson found that value, and a student’s perception of a school’s ability to be fair and honest, were more important. Student pilots are more concerned about getting good value with the money they spend than about the actual dollars and cents amount. They want to know that the flight school and instructors put the students’ interests first and look for ways to minimize cost and maximize the effectiveness of every dollar spent. Factors like flight simulators and well-maintained aircraft that are available to fit the student’s schedule affect this perception. quote source

Hence, we want to ask any of our readers, especially those in the UK and Europe in general, who may have started but never completed their flying lessons a simple question: Why did you quit learning how to fly? Moreover, was cost a major factor or was it something else? Finally, what changes or improvements would you suggest when it comes to flight training that may help other pilots complete their flight training?

We all know that men and women learn in different ways and this is especially true when learning how to fly. Hence, a recent post by Max Trescott about female pilots and barriers to completing flight training is well worth reading as he wrote about the results of a survey he did of 55 women who were either receiving, or had received and completed or had not completed flight training.

Max’s survey showed that the most significant factor that determined whether one of his female survey respondents completed flight training was the age at which they started their training. On average, women who completed their training had started it at age 35 (with a standard deviation of 10 years). However, the average starting age for women who discontinued their flight training was around 46 years old, with a standard deviation of 16 years. Moreover, Max also quoted one female respondent who started her training at age 54 as saying:

“Biggest challenge was having the confidence that my middle-age reflexes and brain would be able to master a difficult new skill!”

In addition, Max also asked his survey respondents to comment about their flight instructors and the results were telling:

Male CFIs were more likely to be rated:

• Chronically unprepared
• Dull
• Egocentric
• Macho
• Difficult to Schedule

Female CFIs were more likely to be rated:

• Empathetic
• Accepting of me and others

All flight instructors were rated highly for being:

• Personable
• Courteous
• Professional
• Sincere
• Calm
• Neatly Dressed

Max concluded his post by saying that his survey results suggests that Flight Schools should provide extra attention and support to female students pilots who are 50 years and older. He also concluded that they should consider matching female student pilots with female flight instructors when possible.

However, we also want to ask any female pilot readers out there about your experiences and what, if any, barriers did you encounter while learning how to fly? Moreover, how would you rate the training and attention you received from your flight instructor and would you have any suggestions for how flight schools could improve training for other would-be female pilots? Feel free to write about your own personal experiences (good and/or bad) or the experiences of other female pilot who you may know.