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Permalink Reply by Frank Hicinbothem on August 7, 2011 at 6:49am

AOPA probably explains the difference between the two flight schools best.
Visit this web link to learn more about the differences. http://www.aopa.org/learntofly/startfly/chooseschool.html

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Permalink Reply by Pam Landis on August 11, 2011 at 10:18am

I have to agree with Deepak, most of your training will be based on your instructors ability to train you and if they do not use a syllabus it can be difficult to know what you are going to be doing from flight lesson to flight lesson.  But on the part about a flight instructor with 800-1000 hours and staying away, I must disagree with Deepak....those CFII's that have just graduated or have been teaching for a short time you will find are more upto date with regulations, will work harder for you as they are not "burned-out" like someone who has been teaching for longer..so you get someone who has excitment for the profession still... I have had CFII's that had 2000 hours and they are great people and have been great instructors, but they spend more time looking for the next job than reading the new reg's!  Find a school with a mixture of instructors and find someone who you feel comfortable with and has the spark of passion for flying.....Good Luck!!

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Permalink Reply by Rosemary Leone on August 16, 2011 at 1:37pm

My recommendation is to find an instructor who teaches the way you learn.  If you learn best with a highly structured approach - where you have specific goals you must meet to move forward - then a 141 may be better.  If you want more flexibility then part 61 may be better.  The big thing is to see what works best for you then move forward.

My number one suggestion is don't lock yourself in with the first lesson.  If you are offered a "great deal" if you pay all up front don't do it - pay a bit more for a lesson or two to make sure it's a good fit before you plunk down your life's savings.  Unfortunately there are schools out there that will be more than happy to take your money up front and then not deliver on their promises.

If you're flying with an instructor with whom you're not comfortable then go fly with another instructor.  Any good instructor's first concern will be that you learn to fly - if they aren't the right instructor for you then they will help you find someone who is.  Remember, you're shelling out a lot of money to learn to fly - you are the customer. 

Don't forget to check out the aircraft being used for instruction.  You'll hear from many people that it doesn't matter whether they're old planes or new planes - you'll get the same license in the end.  That's correct - however you certainly want to make sure that the aircraft are safe.  Have the school show you the log books for the planes and walk you through the inspections that are done.  If they refuse to do this then run - don't walk - out of the school.  Good schools and instructors will take the time to explain how they maintain their planes.

Last bit of advice - when you are quoted the costs to learn to fly if you are told it takes 40 hours to learn to fly (minimum required by the FAA) then ask a simple question "how many of your students get their licenses with just 40 hours?"  (The average number of hours needed to get a license is closer to 60)  Ask to speak to the last person in their school who received a license - and see how many hours they took and how much they spent. 

All of this being said - learning to fly is a great experience and when you find the right instructor it's terrific!

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Permalink Reply by Michael Foster on August 22, 2011 at 5:10pm

The right instructor for you is more important than if it's 61 or 141.  Don't just settle for the first instructor you run across or the one a flight school assigns to you.  Remember... you are the customer.  It's important the instructor has experience, the more the better... but it's far more important that he/she can teach and that your personalities are compatible.  And yes, as someone else suggested, it would be a good idea to ask around and talk to some of their recent students.  I could go on & on, but there is lots of good info/discussions out there on the internet on this very subject you can easily find.  Picking the right instructor will save you both time & money in the long run.   

And one other thing, when you start the lessons fly at least twice a week if not three times.... that will save you money in the long run also.

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