PearlPilot

I want to start my flight training soon. There are 3 FBO's around a radius of 40 miles. The first one which is only 8 miles away has a C-152 for $85 instruction is $41/hour. The second school is located about 20 miles away and their C-152 costs about the same. The only difference is I don't have to pay for ground school, I have to do it on my own. The 3rd school located about 40 miles away has a C-152 for $64 and instruction is $35/hour. Obviously it looks like school #3 is the best option, even though I will be putting some miles on my car. I did the math, it still saves me a lot of money. School #1 has a really good reputation, it has been in business for more than 50 years. I have yet to visit school #3 so I don't really know about their reputation. I will cut to the chase. I am a college student and I also plan on working full-time through school. Say I have a budget of $200 for a week to put into flight training. If I went to school #3 is it possible for me to squeaze in 2 lessons for a week and obtain my PPL by the summer of next year? Any suggestions are very much appriciated.

CH47-D/FE

consistancy is the Key to success in this business. If you have a limited budget there is plenty of financing options for you. If that is out of the question and you want to do it on your own then try. I have been a flight instructor at the local FBO's for a year now. I have seen very few people that plan to spread this training out over a year continue for very long. Don't get sucked into the minimum requirements that all the FBO's tell you that it will take to get your PPL the National average is 55-65 hours flight training. Again this is all dependent upon your learining curve and CONSISTANT training. GOOD LUCK

rickair7777

Depending on your own comfort level with the materiel it is allowable and not unusual for you to complete home study courses instead of attending ground schools. Explain your plan to your CFI. Several companies offer suitable textbooks, including Cessna and Jeppeson.

1) Buy the textbook and workbook.
2) Read the text, do the workbook, keep a running list of any questions you have.
3) Review your questions with your instructor (expect to pay him for this time).
4) Once you have completed the book, buy the red Gliem written test prep book. Study this book, take the practice test, then take your actual written test.

Your CFI will need to review your knowledge to his satisfaction prior to signing you off for the written test and then the checkride.

You can repeat this process for PVT, IRA, and then COMM.

poor pilot

The best thing you could have done so far is to find this site. Tons of good info. Good luck and fly as much as possible ask questions and always show up early and prepared intructors love that.

LeoSV

Agreed, this site is excellent. I check in 2-3 times a day. If you want to fly for a hobby, then extending your training over a year is fine, because just coming in and getting a lesson is part of the hobby. But if you want to get paid to fly, then you need to take out a loan, buy the time in blocks at the school, just whatever it takes to keep you coming back very soon after the previous lesson. Learning to fly takes lots of time and practice, and there are many things that can intimidate you and make you not want to come back. It's gonna be expensive, no matter where you go. Choose the school that you like best, and an instructor that you think you can get along with best.

PearlPilot

Thanks for your replies. I appriciate it. I want to stay as focused as possible on not borrowing money to complete my PPL. Atleast that. I know at some point I will have to borrow some money. My situation is, that I will already be borrowing for tuition costs (not exceeding 20K). Another problem is, even if I did borrow the money there is no way I can train more than 3 times a week with school and a job. On the contrary it's wise for me to train 2 times a week, which I probably could afford out of my pocket. I want to get paid to fly. I understand that consistant lessons would be a must if I am out of college, have a full-time job, be in a stable position to borrow 40K. Sure. But I am in college, I got 2+ years left. By that time if I could get done with my instrument, don't you think I would be in a pretty good position?

LAfrequentflyer

Finish school first - that should be your top priority. As far as flying - go when you can - hours logged are never a waste. Once school is done then look into flying full-time and get your ratings.

Just don't let your grades / social-life in school suffer because of the flying. <grin>

One last thing - by all means invest in some good training manuals (JEPP makes excellent ones) and read on the side and stay involved w/ sites like this one. Keep the flame burning just take things one at a time.

I'm doing that now - completing my military career, family, and going to be starting a masters degree next year. Once the military career is over its off to fly full time. My reward for 20 years service to myself. <ear to ear grin>



-LAFF

PearlPilot

Thank you! That was my point just a post above you. I think in my situation 2 lessons is more than enough. As long as I stay focused and didn't give up, I should be ok. Thanks, I am glad I posted here.

AirWillie

PearlPilot, may I suggest the 172, unless you've been in a 152 and still like it. If money is the reason why you are going with the 152 then I suggest you wait untill you can afford the 172. Plus most likely the instructors aren't going to want to train in them, I had an instructor who refused to fly the 152. I suggest you fly at least 2 times a week and it is VERY important to find an instructor who is available otherwise that 2 times a week is goint to turn into once every 10 days. You can ask the instructor but another way of knowing is to look at the schedules of instructors, when an instructor is booked from 9am-5pm for days that's the guy you stay away from even if that guys is the best instructor who has a 100% pass rate for all students. Trust me.

Secondly those rates are very overpriced. First the 152 should be around 70 or less not 80+. The instructor should be about 25-30, not more than that. You should be able to find an older 1977-80 model 172 plus the instructor for about 110. So your budget should be about 250 a week because maybe you might want to rent the headsets. I'd say go with that second school with no ground school because frankly you don't need to pay the instructor for that you can just do it on your own. Get that Jep private pilot book and the PPL written study guide and you're all set. If you do it 2 times a week or more you should be able to do it in less than 6 months. And remember to have fun! Sometimes it feels like you are so into learning/procedures that you forget to look at sights outside the plane!

PearlPilot

thanks for the reply. Darn, it looks like I changed my mind on the 2 day per week thing after all. New plan. Hopefully this will work. If my budget is around $200 a week why not save up? Save up till next summer and I will end up with 6-7K. Why not start next summer when I have a stable sum of money. Go every day instead and work on "getting it done!" as soon as possible. (3 months?). I know these prices are way too overpriced. But this 2 schools are my only options. There are schools "out there" for cheaper prices. But I am going to go ahead and be patient till next summer. Cut back on the expenses and fully focus on saving up. If needed, I am sure my parents will help me with a couple of grand. Not more, that's a given!