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Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 16:48:13 -0600
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: Becoming a private pilot
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Mor2Hug@worldnet.att.net wrote:

> I've become interested in pursuing a Private Pilot license and want 
> some feedback from the NG on how to go about achieving the highest 
> quality training possible in the most economical manner.  

First of all, take charge of your training.  Don't expect to 
present yourself to a CFI saying "here I am, make me a pilot".  
To really learn everything you need to know to fly comfortably
and safely in a reasonable amount of time, you have to work at
it yourself outside of lessons.  If you're not communicating,
you're not comfortable, or you find yourself second-guessing your
CFI, don't lollygag around, change now.

Finding a good CFI is IMO the hardest part of learning to fly.
It's not just someone who can fly, or someone who can teach, but
someone who can teach *YOU* comfortably.  Expect to talk to 10-15
people in order to find a CFI you feel good about working with.
A good CFI is a worthwhile tradeoff for a less convenient airport
IMO.  Number of hours or years as a CFI are IMO less important
than variety of flying experience (particularly taildraggers, gliders,
or acro experience), whether the CFI has flight experience outside of
training for ratings, and how well they communicate with you.  
Willingness to return phone calls (at least briefly) is essential.  
The particular syllabus or order of training is probably not important,
but it IS important that the CFI have some kind of concrete plan for
your training and be able to communicate it to you.

Expect your CFI to spend time before each lesson going over 
what you're going to do, and after each lesson going over how
you did, what you need to think about between now and next
lesson, and what you will be working on next lesson (wx permitting).
The CFI should be paid for this time, especially if they are trying
to make a living flight instructing.  Make clear you are willing to
pay for ground time.  It will save you money in the long run.

You should not pay for time you spend preflighting while your CFI
is in the FBO drinking coffee and chatting with his chums, or time
your CFI spends discussing his charter schedule on the phone while
you're waiting to debrief.

Read up on what you're going to cover each lesson, and show up prepared. 

Read extra material -- aviation books are available through the public
library and interlibrary loan, and there are many good resources
on line.  Ask questions.  I kept a journal where I wrote down what
we did each lesson, what I needed to work on, and questions which
occurred to me during the week.

"Chair fly" between lessons; sit in a chair and mentally visualize
going through each procedure; what controls will you touch, what
will you do with them, what will you look at/think about?

For maximum benefit, fly as often as you can, esp. until solo
(every day is great); schedule to fly at least 2-3 times a week. 

If you can't fly that much, expect learning to take longer.

Try to become friends with pilots, and ask to fly with them on
trips.  It is very helpful to spend time looking at a chart and
trying to relate it to the stuff on the ground when you aren't
also trying to fly the plane and talk on the radios.  It is also
helpful to watch someone else's routine.  

> For example, do you really  need to shell out $450.00 or more for 
> ground school, or do those learn-at-home videos work just as well in 
> preparing you for the FAA written exam? 

It is possible to take ground school yourself by studying one of
several good PPL books, buying a test prep book such as Gleim, and
taking a couple of practice exams (there are several FREE internet
sites which offer this service).  Discuss this with your CFI; IMO
a CFI who has been briefing and debriefing w/ you should have a 
pretty good idea what you know about the time you plan your dual
cross country, and should be willing to sign you off for the written
test on the evidence of a decent score on a practice test and an 
hour or so of questions.  

If you wish to take a class, local community colleges may offer
ground school for a fraction of that price (around here $125 I think).
Since it's accredited, sometimes employers with tuition assistance
will pick up part of the price.

The videos do work.  Opinions on their usefulness varies.  If
you do the King school videos and computer test prep, they will
fax you a signoff to take the written.  But if you want the cheapest
route, they do cost money.

I wrote a post about some of the books available and some of the
FREE material available on the internet.  Cut and paste  
http://x7.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=394393142.1&CONTEXT=912036328.1584136244&hitnum=3 
into your browser should get it if you're interested.

> Does Microsoft Flight Simulator98 really help with
> sharpening hand/eye coordination

IMO no.  It can help with instrument navigation and instrument
procedures.  There is also a great free tool for this on the 
internet at: http://www.visi.com/~mim/nav/index.html

Hope this helps.
Snowbird


