Flying lesson suggestions for my 14 year old son

Really? I'm too lazy to search much but 61.109 doesn't seem to apply any exceptions for a 141 school
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/14A11189B72032D6862576C400578B82?OpenDocument

 

duh, guess I need to look at Part 141. Yes there are differences. Seems they place less value on solo experience as a student, which seems somewhat rational.
http://iflycoast.com/differences-between-part-61-and-part-141-flight-schools/
Cost wise you I could see where it would be a wash if airplane and instructor rates are lower at an independent school.

 

Part 141 has some advantages in terms of the structure of the program. However, I would expect to pay more, not less, to get a private at a Part 141 school. The reality is that you probably won't save any flight time, and you'll pay more per hour.

But if there is a decent Part 141 school in your area, I would say go for it-- just don't do it to save money.

 

Just my two cents on some suggestions above...
1. If he's 14 and wants to fly, get him flying...don't waste time with home simulators or just doing ground school stuff for a year.
2. Strongly consider getting him in a glider program...gliders build strong all around airmanship. Transition to powered thereafter will be a cinch.
3. Get him a nice instructional orientation flight...that's all it takes to turn a lot of people off of flying sometimes...it will save a lot of money up front.

My son started flying later, but wanted to fly helos. He started at 17 and got his rating in under 50 hours at 18. I made him pay for all his ground instruction and half his flying costs. That's how I determined how badly he wanted it. He's working on his glider rating now and has so far found it easy. I suspect anything is easy after helos. Now I'm having trouble keeping him in college as he wants to join the Army and fly ASAP...

 

You need to install some type of nanny filter on his computer and hope he never finds this link.



Hooraaah

 

LoL I started flying at age 13, pumping gas and washing/waxing planes at the FBO to pay for my ratings (SEL/MEL). I also flew helos courtesy of the US Army w/o a college degree. Don’t discourage him, let him pursue his dream. He’ll do just fine... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login


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One more thing. You can impress upon him that the FAA doesn't like people flying around who have criminal records or a history of taking psychotropic medications.

 

I’d add alcohol to the list. To this day, I still can’t drink a beer and seldom drink hard alcohol. My instructor pilots (and parents) advised me to avoid peer pressure to drink or do drugs. Pilots can be good role models for your son.


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Dear Al,

You are a superb role model! Thank you for your service and have a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Best regards,

Robert

 

Cool video!

 

I agree with the suggestions to start in gliders. I flew gliders before power, and I think you learn basic airmanship easier and more effectively in a glider. Energy management is foremost in a glider, not so much in a power plane, yet it is so fundamental to being a good pilot.
My son wanted to fly so I put him in gliders and he soloed at 14.

 

I can still remember my first flight like it was yesterday. It was such a great experience.

 

One thing I'll add along the lines of folks talking about gliders teaching airmanship is to learn to fly in a conventional gear, aka tailwheel airplane. They are a bit of a dying breed these days, but they are some of the most interesting airplanes to fly and will make sure your son learns to use his feet. Most tricycle gear aircraft from the venerable Cessna 172 to the Cirrus and so on are more forgiving but a tailwheel airplane like a Citabria or a Cub will require you to use the rudder properly, especially on the runway. Starting with a tailwheel will give him out with good habits that will serve him well whatever he flies. He can learn the video game instrument panels once he has mastered stick and rudder.

 

Most of my pre-solo training was spent doing "rudder exercise deep stalls" and rolling on a point. "Accuracy landings" were a big part of it too. I have never had trouble with a tail dragger.

 

My kids have spent time flying (and taxiing) my Citabria, but I couldn't find a local CFI who was willing and able to do primary instruction in it.

I found one who was able, but she wasn't willing, and one who was willing, but didn't have the tailwheel experience.

 

We are fortunate here in the San Francisco Bay Area to have schools that do primary training in Citabrias.

 

I guess that things have changed and I realize that tail draggers are getting a bit more scarce but I feel that there has to be more training in flying the airplane. Before I soloed I got intensive precise spin training where I had to recover on a point after one, two or two and a half spins. Before my private pilot exam, i had to master rudder exercise stalls where cruise power was retained and the stick was pulled full back to a power on stall and the airplane controlled down through the break in the stall by rudder since no other control was active. A lose of rudder control quickly induced a spin and after recovery you went back to the rudder exercise stalls until you mastered it. 720's left and right with a stop on a point .Then many many accuracy landings at off airport locations. All of this came in handy a couple of times later on , too. I still think that some training in a sailplane is invaluable.

 

meh, who needs piloting skills when we have spin resistant airplanes, chutes, and autopilots that will bring the airplane to S&L from any attitude. Only skill required is mastering the touch screens on the Garmin panel. /sarcasm

 

Congrats on your son starting flying lessons. My only comment is that I would have gone old school - Stearman!

Regards,
Art S.

 

That was me, 72 years ago. I guess that's old enough to be old school. Wonderful memories of the time spent in that great airplane.

 

Cub, Citabria, or O-1 are all great planes to learn on...

 

A friend of mine actually tried to do that for his kids. He couldn't get insurance.

I had no issues with insurance in the Citabria, though.