Advice From Pilots Please

[StearmanR985 0]

I love to fly but up until now I have really not done much about it, as far as training that is. Though I have flown with friends in a variety of aircraft (including rountrip rides in the jump plane for fun) I am finally taking my first actual flight lesson this Saturday.
Being a DZ pilot, whether part time of full time, is appealing to me and has been since even before I began skydiving almost two years ago. There are other carreers in aviation that appeal to me as well but flying for the DZ is most interesting to me for now.
One thing I have been attempting to do is compare the cost and advantages of joining a flight club vs. using a private instructor vs. forking over the bucks for a 'package course' at one of the avaition schools that are somewhat nearby.
Anyhow, in my attempt to get my ratings/certificates and build time I am hoping to avoid some pitfalls and any advice from experienced pilots would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff

[2fat2fly 0]

I recommend getting a job in the aviation industry and getting the company to pick up the tab
Works for me
I know, not valid advise-I don't know what you're best bet will be but there's enough pilots and student pilots around here that you should get an answer. There was a thread about this a while back but I'm too lazy to search. Good luck, though.

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[Beerlight 0]

Like the other guy said, there's a thread around here somewhere with the same question you have...

some good links for info though are:

www.aopa.org
www.avweb.com

I personally vote for using a club with a Full-time flight instructor....

Good luck....

[2fat2fly 0]

One bit of hard earned knowledge. When your CFI asks for a right hand turn to 160, she does not want the view through the windshield to look like you're spiraling your canopy. The instructors make squeaky noises and grab the controls when you do that

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[ViperPilot 0]

You can either do 141 or not. If you do 141, it's much more structured, and can be good for some people. However, if you don't do it, then it's more at your own pace, using your instructor's discretion. This can be good if you're a "natural" and progress much faster then the average student. I think the national average for getting your license is somewhere around 70 hrs. Some people do it in 40, some in 50, some in 100. It just depends on the person. 141's probably a good way to go if you think you might be the guy towards 100, but if after flying w/ your friends and a few lessons you think you might be more like the 50-70 range guy, then I personally wouldn't do 141.

For clarification, 141 = Flight School, 61 = Instructor's discretion (for the most part).

As far as cost, just compare the schools in your area. Some clubs charge dues, some don't. However, the ones that don't charge dues may be appealing at first, but might have really high rental costs. Also, DO NOT rent anything "dry" if you can help it. "Wet" rental is much better and will save you money. Paying dues for a good club is worth it IMO if you fly enough. If you only fly once or twice a month, then it might be better to find a club w/o dues...even if their rates are a little higher. So, how much you fly is also a big factor.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Here Jeff, I asked some of the same questions a while back. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1675644#1675644

For what it's worth, I went with the pricey school down the road, and I've had 12 hours...and I still don't know anything. I spent thousands of $$'s and learned jack. Make sure you INSIST on picking your own instructor. I told the dean that's what I wanted to do, he agreed, but somehow I always got put on the schedule with this one instructor...

Now I'm out of money and have to just settle for simulator time at the college until I can get some more mula and change schools. Oh yeah, and they want me to come back down to the airport and sign some 'disenrollment' documents. I'm digging around for my contract, I swear there weren't any fees listed to leave before getting licensed, but you know how it goes...

My instructor wasn't a bad person or a bad insturctor (I don't think), just disorganized in flight lessons and did not teach in a method I could learn, as well as being brand new to the flight school and the state.

Rental prices: depends on what you are flying, too. I was paying for the school's newer (2001) fleet of Pipers, and the cost was eating me alive...

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[kallend 2,150]

I made my own "package deal". I bought a Cherokee 140, found a freelance instructor, got my ticket in 41 hours and had a plane to fly right off the bat.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[StearmanR985 0]

Thanks for the advice people. And thanks for the link to your thread Jaye.

I think for now I will use a personal instructor for the private and instrument tickets. Then after building some time I may use the ATP school in Sac for the commercial and multi commercial.

Any recomendations for instructors in the Lodi/Stockton/Sacramento area?