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Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 22:24:50 -0400
From: John Hartley <jhartle@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: Why do people not finish training?
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I just crossed 80hours in my logbook today.  When I started out, I budgeted for
60hrs, knowing that few people make it in the 35-40 legal minimum.  I've had 4
instructors, they all left me to go work elsewhere, so I'm averaging 20hrs
/instructor.  Instructor # 4 is leaving next week.  All of my required work has
been done for a month now, but #4 isn't ready to sign me off yet.  I'm using up
vacation this week to fly 3-4hrs/day to try & get his signoff before he leaves,
but if he doesn't sign I don't have any money left to go another 20hrs with #5.
I'll bail out, pay off my loan & maybe come back & try to finish up in a year or
two.  Even if I got my ticket next week, I burned up my budget paying for more
lessons than I planned on, so there wouldn't be much flying in the next 6 months
anyhow.

John

rfinden@ibm.net wrote:

> Interesting observation.  I've logged 5 hours, and i have moved from
> ignorant (of the complexities) to knowingly incompetent.  It is somewhat
> overwhelming, but i believe that if i can drive a stickshift car, I can fly
> a plane.
>
> My other observation is that flying is not relaxful and requires constant
> vigilance.  I know this is not a revelation to you all.  And if i wanted a
> relaxing activity, i should get a sail boat.
>
> SteveWlson wrote in message
> <1998091020091700.QAA21318@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
> >>The one thing they seemed to be reluctant to talk about was why
> >>people start and don't finish training.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >I can't give you the answer, but will tell you that in the late '60s I did
> a
> >survey for a large pilot training school to try and determine what was the
> >problem with their students not finishing their training to PPL.
> >
> >What I did find out was that the single most frequent time students quit
> was
> >after the third lesson.  The second most frequent time was just after they
> were
> >signed off for solo x/c.
> >
> >In both cases, I doubt that it was money or schedule.  I think the third
> lesson
> >is where the rubber starts to meet the road and some folks just decide that
> >flying is not for them or that it will be more difficult than they
> originally
> >thought.  I think the getting kicked out of the nest so to speak is the
> problem
> >with solo x/c's.  You draw your own conclusions.



