"Destination based training"

[Zak Boca]

I've been wanting to fly for years, but with work, I just never find the time. I often fly commercial, and charter flights somewhat regularly. I'm working with a flight school on destination based training, where basically instead of commercial/chartering, I'll log hours flying to/from a destination. It isn't cost-effective, I know that, and I know that I'll also need to work on ground school, and will need some time outside of these flights to work on a variety of other issues that I wont get with cross country flights. FYI, these trips are typically 400-500 miles, so not terribly long.

Do other people do this as well? Just curious to get some thoughts/downsides/etc. Thanks

 

[jordane93]

I’ve never heard of destination based training. Can you explain a little more? Sounds like you’re doing a bunch of cross countries and not much training such as maneuvers or landings?

 

[John221us]

That probably won’t even cover half of it. You will need lots of landings and maneuvers (turns around a point, steep turns, stalls, etc.). I did take my instructor on a long cross country once, for a wedding i had to attend. I did all the planning and logged dual. But there are only so many cross countries required.

 

[denverpilot]

If you’re learning you’re usually overloaded at first. You won’t be overloaded by anyone teaching you much in cruise flight.

Most instructors can beat you up just fine ten miles from the airport in the practice area. Or just in the pattern at first.

Anyone wanting you to ride along in cruise who says they’re teaching the whole way, is lying. You’re just defraying their flight costs.

My opinion, anyway.

You want to learn stuff, or just cruise along between “destinations”?

Nothing wrong with going along on cross countries and seeing different weather, airports, etc... once you need cross country time. But I would question heavily what a new primary student will get out of it.

Hire a teacher. Not a charter pilot. Primary training will be the stuff that keeps you alive and safe for decades to come.

 

[Zak Boca]

That probably won’t even cover half of it. You will need lots of landings and maneuvers (turns around a point, steep turns, stalls, etc.). I did take my instructor on a long cross country once, for a wedding i had to attend. I did all the planning and logged dual. But there are only so many cross countries required.

That's what I was thinking.. The FS said that they have a couple of folks that have done this, and have gotten their license well in to their 200 hour mark, so it definitely won't be cost-efficient. Hopefully I can get some hours this way, familiarity, and then find open time that I have to get the other aspects in. Thanks for the comments

 

[RyanB]

The FS said that they have a couple of folks that have done this, and have gotten their license well in to their 200 hour mark, so it definitely won't be cost-efficient.

200hrs to get PP certificate? You need to rethink this. If you’re trying to get a private certificate, this isn’t the track you want to be on. I’m sure the flight school loves it!

 

[James331]

I think you'd be a pretty good pilot for it, however you would still need to take time to do local area airwork, stalls, takeoff and landings, steep turns, etc.

As long as you can also fit that in, plus maybe get the king videos, sure!

 

[mscard88]

 

[Jumpmaster]

I've been wanting to fly for years, but with work, I just never find the time. I often fly commercial, and charter flights somewhat regularly. I'm working with a flight school on destination based training, where basically instead of commercial/chartering, I'll log hours flying to/from a destination. It isn't cost-effective, I know that, and I know that I'll also need to work on ground school, and will need some time outside of these flights to work on a variety of other issues that I wont get with cross country flights. FYI, these trips are typically 400-500 miles, so not terribly long.

Do other people do this as well? Just curious to get some thoughts/downsides/etc. Thanks

The only time this idea would make any practical sense would be if you were to purchase an airplane and fly it back with a ferry pilot who is also a CFI/CFII. i did that last year and was able to log 10 hours of instrument dual instruction since we were in IMC a lot. It was a great “real world” training experience. Flying in a “milk bottle” was particularly interesting and you learned very quickly about vertigo and other forms of disorientation.