Pro Or Con regarding Accelerated PPL?

I agree with Rob. Unless there is some overwhelming reason, don't rush it. I am as Type 1 personality as there is, but I found with no REAL flying experience or REAL flying knowledge, that it was alot to absorb.

In the beginning, say for the first 1/3 of the lessons, you think "shucks, this is easy". Then all of a sudden the book learning becomes more intense, and the instructor stops helping you on the landings as much, and you start to wonder if you will ever be able to finish.

I would suggest that you start off with 1 lesson per week for the first half, with lots of ground school. The King School series is great. (I went through the CD series twice, and the book 1½ times) Then ramp up to 2 days a week if you can for the 2nd half.

I am a very eye hand coordinated guy, used to immediately being at least "good" at anything I try. At 50-60 landings, I was very frustrated as I couldn't just seem to "get it", and be consistent. I found I was not even starting to get comfortable till I had in 80 landings, and then by 100 I felt I comfortable and that I could do this. I had a total of 50 odd hours when I got my PPL.


I'll go one step further. I have since gone straight into my IFR training, part 141 (quicker), because the #1 killer of Pilots is VFR into IMC.

I took a poll on how hard the IFR training would be, and the general consensus was at least twice as hard as the PPL. I did not find this to be the case. Maybe most of those guys had waited a while to take the IFR, but the first 1/4 of the ground and flying was everything I'd just learned for my PPL.

IFR will make you a better pilot, and get the insurance break.

 

I did my PPL in about 6 weeks, flying 3-4 times a week. I followed that 3 months later with a full-immersion IFR course in 10 days. I think either can work, but retention depends on what you do after. I.e., if you fly frequently right after for several months, then you will probably do a good job of retention; but if you fly just a few hours a month after, then you will lose your peak quickly.

As far as ease of IFR, I think the two are relatively different skills. IFR is more of a real-time intellectual exercise building on top of basic flying skills, so some people will find IFR harder and some easier.

 

I rushed it and glad I did.

 

This article was in the AOPA E-letter this week..

It's a US Army Captain that did from start to finish in 9 days..

http://polkonline.com/stories/120607/communitynews_student.shtml

But, honestly, how much of that crammed knowledge do you take home with you at the end of two weeks??

**D**

 

I completed my PPL in 11 days, and in retrospect, have no regrets. It was intense but a lot of fun. Prior to engaging in this intensive training, I had started and stopped training twice. Each time I was active I did it in the archetypical "one 2 hour session a weekend" given my work and other commitments so I've seen both sides of the coin.

Part of being a good pilot IMO is learning the are of perfect repetition. Start-up, taxi, communication, nav, plane configurations, etc. The list goes on. The more consistent you are in the task, the less chance there is you forget a critical checklist item. Flying weekends makes it harder to ingratiate this muscle memory. Doing it 2-3 times a day for 11 days in a row, however, makes you very comfortable.

I structured my program so that we flew 4-6 hours a day and had Ground Instruction 4-6 hours a day. This worked for me cause it balanced theory with practicality. I had accumulated 60 hours prior to the course (although the last student instruction was logged three years ago). Flying came back pretty quick, but I did need an endorsement for high-performance aircraft as the SR-22 I trained in had 310 hp!

Overall I found the experience extremely immersive and challenging but a heck of a lot of fun. Being a weekend warrior is a more challening learning proposition, although there may be a happy medium by training 2-3 times a week if your schedule affords it.

I know you have a school identified but if you need another name, check out TheFlightAcademy.com and ask for Tim (although all the CFI's are excellent from what I understand). Tell him Vik sent ya!

Best.

 

Well?

How did it go, and which FBO did you go with?

SF