Flight school ?

One possible route:
Private lessons, then wirtten and flight and oral test. Takes 60+ hours. You have to rent a plane from a flying club--wet cost is what you want to look at. You will pay that plus the instructor's hourly rate.

Or, you can buy a share in a small plane. Then you pay your share of the maintenance costs and all of the fuel costs for the fuel you consume. Plus the instructor's hourly rate.

Add in cost of medical, books, headset, flight bag, maps, exams, AOPA membership, etc., etc.

That will get him to basic private pilot's license. Should cost around 8-12k.

Repeat for Instrument flight certification. Probably 6k or so.

Repeat for multi-engine rating, and a couple of other ratings, certifications. 10 hours each. Couple of thousand each, I would think, but not sure.

Then build hours to 200 or so, and apply for a job. Bigger operations look for 500+ hours, and ratings held. They will usually pay for additional qualifications.

Don't know how it works with flight schools, but I think they would cost more and take longer--I wouldn't advise that route based on what little I know.

 

He needs to live this stuff with a real passion. No more playing around because this is serious stuff, a lot of fun too.

 

Also look at aviation colleges such as EmbryRiddle and North Dakota University.

 

If your kid is looking to make a career of this, and your finances allow it, this is probably the best route. There is a large projected shortage of commercial pilots coming in a few years, when the Viet Nam vet trained pilots leave employment (they managed to stave off the shortage by moving the mandatory retirement to 65 from 60, but those guys are leaving the workforce and soon).

I recommend getting a job with one of the major freight carriers. Steady, and very few layoffs, where in the passenger business, they keep going broke, destroying the pension funds, seniority, etc. My original flight instructor was employed by UPS, and has never been laid off, and he's been there for over 30 days. Very few in the passenger business can say the same.

Art

 

Damn, Art, that's almost a freaking MONTH!!!!!

Staying power or what!

Just kidding, I know you meant seconds. Right?

 

So, what's the advantage of flight school versus private lessons for PPL and Instrument ratings? They are certainly not cheaper...

 

I too would recommend the structure of a flight school. There are also the hiring bennifits from a flight school as employers know the quality of the training where as going just private the employer does not know.

At the same time getting a BS in flight is not readily used outside the industry.

 

Wow, been awhile since I posted, but...

Get private lessons from a GOOD flight instructor. Someone who teaches flying the way it used to be taught, in an airplane that requires some stick and rudder skill. Sometimes these guys work at flight schools (check out some of the smaller flight schools in your area), but often they work for themselves and you might have to ask around at an airport.

I wouldn't go someplace like Embry-Riddle for a flying degree. Get the ratings, and get a degree in something (preferably technical). It'll likely cost the same (or even less) in the end, and you'll have a degree thats useful outside of flying, should the need arise. I went to Riddle (Aerospace Engineering), and had all my ratings before I got there. In all honesty, the pilots they churn out think extremely highly of themselves, but in a lot of cases they can't hold a candle to someone who learned to fly the old fashioned way. I'd highly recommend the engineering program there, though.

 

I agree 100%. Learn to fly in something that you have to fly. Lately around here we have had an instructor and student killed in a C-152 and a private pilot injured in an accident in a C-152. I'm beginning to wonder about the quality of instruction and the lack of flying ability.

 

I feel the new instructors are all about i pads, glass cockpits and computer programs to do all the flight planning for them. The art of hand flying is out the door in most cases.

 

Sorry for the long post!

afwrench,
Flight schools are either Part 61 (think Mom-and-Pop at the country airport), or Part 141 (university, Embry-Riddle, etc.). Having gone through iterations of both over 30 years ago, I can attest that both have advantages.

The small, local flight school can start you now. Today. No waiting for a semester to start. They probably have older equipment, well-worn but maintained to the same standard as the big flight school. A more organic environment, possibly better at tending to student's needs. Lower costs, up to 50% in some cases. Present-day training materials are a big advantage, and DVD's and Internet resources help the students at both schools. The training curriculum under Part 61 may be less standardized than a 141 school's, but the responsibility ultimately rests with the student. If properly motivated, the Part 61 student can get their ratings in less time, and at much less cost.

Part 141 schools have curriculum that's been reviewed by the FAA, and take students generally as groups through their programs. They have generally better-paid staff (not always, so check!), and progress is at a set pace. They have better learning tools and procedures, more staff and better facilities. Students at many can get college degrees in addition to their flying credentials. Per-hour costs are higher for instruction, plus the credit-hour fees are added on. Because their curriculum is more established, switching instructors isn't too big a problem.

This brings us to a key aspect - the instructor. The student should choose the most experienced instructor they get along with, and this point is very important. Flight training is stressful, the aircraft cockpit has been referred to as the worst classroom in the world. Thus, the student should take lessons from a variety of instructors and find one who fits their learning style and personality. In either school, there may be a tendency to 'assign' an instructor. Don't allow this! You're the customer, and can choose whoever you like. This is more likely to be a problem at the larger school, so keep in mind who's paying for the training.

Another point - in aviation, job progression is backwards at first. Those with the lowest level of experience become - instructors! Everyone has to start somewhere, but I wouldn't recommend a newbie instructor. The olde graybeard got there by surviving and learning from mistakes, his and others'. Get someone who has had at least graduated 3 students, and seems sharp.

As for the quality of training at the big versus the small school, I'd give the nod to the small school. The quality of instruction is most imporant, as is the student's aptitude and attitude. Thus, a properly motivated person will do well at either place. The small school, if it has well-seasoned instructors, can really crank out students. They may have an old graybeard or two who can pass on their expertise. Keep this in mind: Once the licenses and ratings are earned, no one (save a shallow few) cares where the training was received. Only the quality counts.

Another note: The aviation world has completely changed since deregulation. Airline jobs have never been more unsure, and pay has spiralled downward. Morale is weak at many carriers, as what was once a great, easy, well-paid and romantic lifestyle has become for most 'just a job'. The US airlines worth considering fit on one hand. The recent comments made by Captain Sullenberger to Congress are most telling. He said he would discourage a family member from an airline career. I'm not trying to dissuade anyone's decision, only pointing out the facts. Good corporate jobs are also more insecure than in the past, partly due to consolidation, the general business climate and encroachment by fractionals. If going corporate, hope for a lot of luck and aim for a Fortune 100 company.

Buying an aircraft, being partners on one, or joining a flying club are excellent ways to cut costs even further. If wholly-owned, the aircraft is available 24/7 and, if bought right, can be resold at close to the purchase price.

Good luck to you and your son! PM me if needed.

Fullagas

 

The future of all aviation is computers. You will see less and less need for pilots. Pilots cost a lot of money.

 

While that is true would you get in a plane flow by a computer rather than a pilot... no matter how "proven" the computer is? Most people wouldn't.

There will be pilots at the front end of aircraft for many years to come!!