Flight lessons

[BrownieFlys]

I have started flight lessons with a seasoned/ well respected instructor. However, this is her part time job so scheduling has been a problem And there is only one plane that she has access to, so it makes availability and scheduling tough.

There is a local flight school with 2 to 3 instructors with 3-4 planes. Availability and scheduling seems not to be a problem. My concern is the instructors are young with limited experience.

Should I stick it out with the seasoned instructor or go with the flight school.
Cost per hour is equal. This is strictly hobby flying for me.

 

[TCABM]

Only you can make the right decision, but in primary training, frequency of instruction and practice plays a huge role in how long it will take to achieve acceptable performance.

 

[Greg Bockelman]

Do both.

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

Worth repeating: do both. Fly a lot with the easy scheduling and then with the more experienced CFI when you can. Your experience as a student is currently 1 instructor deep.

Also as stated above, frequency of flight is an important factor. 2-3 times a week is ideal.

 

[Larry in TN]

There are good young instructors. There are bad old instructors. The trick is finding a good one with whom you are compatible.

Compatibility goes beyond being a good instructor. You need an instructor who explains things in a way that is easy for you to learn. The best instructors will change how they teach to best align with the way their student learns.

Talk to your current instructor about your availability concerns and see what she recommends. A good instructor will help you find solutions.

Talk to other instructors to get a feel for how interested they really are in teaching, as apposed to just building time. See with whom you have a good rapport. When you find an instructor who seems like a good choice, try a lesson with them and see how it feels.

In all of this, remember that you are the customer. You are interviewing schools and instructors to decide who you will hire. Do not hide the fact that you're looking for the best match. If a school or instructor is offended by this then they aren't focusing on what's best for their customers.

 

[farangutan]

With tight schedules, I have found it worthwhile to spend a good 15-20 minutes at the end of a lesson and schedule the next 12 flights.

 

[rhkennerly]

Rapport is important. If you are clicking with your current instructor, you could maximize her availability by flying in 2-hr blocks. Or even twice a day with a nap in between. Have her work you in before and after another student. OTOH, the school could provide a good deal of social interaction in the flying community with fellow students. When I was working on my BFR I had a couple of young instructors, clearly on their way to the Bigs. I wasn’t impressed. Rigid. Head down tracking your deviation from the runway centerline on the iPad. No feel for instructing. But I’m sure there are good ones out there. I settled on a lone guy with a couple of planes. We flew 3 times a weekend for a month to get me back up to speed after decades of inactivity.

 

[RussR]

With tight schedules, I have found it worthwhile to spend a good 15-20 minutes at the end of a lesson and schedule the next 12 flights.

I agree with this. Don't just schedule your next lesson when you're done with today's. Schedule out the whole month or two. Basically, beat the others to the scheduling blocks.

There is a local flight school with 2 to 3 instructors with 3-4 planes. Availability and scheduling seems not to be a problem. My concern is the instructors are young with limited experience.

2-3 instructors with 3-4 planes seems like a strangely low ratio. Those planes must sit idle a lot. Any chance she could get approved to fly that school's airplanes? It could be a win-win for you, her, and the school if those planes really are sitting idle a lot.

 

[Gilbert Buettner]

If you are clicking with your current instructor, you could maximize her availability by flying in 2-hr blocks.

One lesson is normally two hours. A half hour to 45 minutes to review homework and brief the lesson. An hour to preflight and fly the lesson. Fifteen to 30 minutes to debrief and schedule the next lesson. The local school offers a discount on instruction if you schedule two lessons in four hours.