I had a student recently ask me, "If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself before starting flight school?" I never thought about it until I had been asked. While there are several things I would advise, I would certainly have recommended that I finish ground training and written exam before starting my flight time. It can be hard to do both at the same time. I'd love to hear what you wish you knew before starting your flight training.
"See if you can have your paycheck direct deposited to the flight school, then let them give you a small weekly allowance for meals. It will be simpler that way and will keep you committed."
I started training in 1982 but had to stop when my wife seriously injured herself skiing keeping her off work for 6-mos or so. down to one income we had to make cuts and there went the flight training. life kept getting in the way until I resumed in 2012. if I could go back in time I'd tell myself to get 'er done as soon as the wife went back to work.
I started while in college in 1990. Got my PPL then did ground school through CFI but didn't have the money to fly. If I could go back, I would drop my ex-wife and commit myself to finishing the flying utilizing any means possible (loans, work more hours, etc). I could have been done in 2 years but instead, here I am 29 years later still trying to get my IFR. Do it when you can because life will get in the way and you'll never finish until you retire.
Purchase your own airplane after you get your medical & solo. Much cheaper in the long run and you will fly more hours plus learn more!
My advice to students is always the same. Hang around the airport and get involved. They'll learn far more from that and get far more opportunities than when they lock themselves up at home and only show their face at the airport when it is time for a lesson.
or have access to a good partnership. I feel like many people stop flying after getting their license because the whole 50nm hamburger run gets boring after awhile and most clubs have very onerous rental agreements and difficult scheduling.. so you can't really use the club plane for anything cool.. like going away on a ski vacation, etc
Depends on the student's goals. But if it were someone of a similar age to me with similar goals to me I'd just say "have fun and enjoy the ride". Now if it's someone looking to become a professional pilot or looking to use the plane for travelling, I don't know what advice I'd give. I've never been interested in that sort of flying.
Id have trained in a tailwheel, then you would have learned to keep it straight like a baby learns to walk very naturally as you are a blank slate and the first, deepest muscle memmory and thought train would never get the idea an airplane desires to go straight on the ground...
I agree with #tawood, # Briar Rabit, and #Tantalum... When I got my license I got into a great club 12 guys with a nice 180hp 172, Buy in was $3000, dues are $60 a month and we rent it from ourselves for $80 a wet tach hour, far less expensive than renting and it had more of a feeling of "mine". The rental rules are very easy and scheduling is not a big issue with this particular club, no rules about minimum hours per day taken or whatnot. You can very much use it like its your own. If you can buy, buy your own, after med and solo. There are a great number of options that are quite reasonable really. I ended up buying a Cessna 140, you can get these old gals for $15-$30k or so with a vast majority I see around 20-25 with plenty of life left in the engine and in good but not necessary "show" shape. They have a reputation for easy maintenance as far as planes go, etc... There are plenty of other similar models the 140 is by far not the only plane in that affordable entry level... I find the combo of 2 place ownership and a 4 person plane club the most reasonably priced way to fly. For under $25k I have two airplanes to use! One that drinks a whole 5gph if I push her, so it doesn't hurt to fill her up and go! And another if I need to take a few folks and go... So if you are on a budget it still can be done! Flying is my passion so even though I took a career hit a while back, am getting back to good now, but I cut corners in terms of the house I live in and cars I drive, I bargain hunted for both house and cars to keep my budgetary needs low so I can "blow" the "extra" on flying... I'd rather fly than have the newer bigger house and a car with the new car smell... But I think we would all agree that planning on renting for long term is a recipe for loosing interest after a bit. Hobbs hours are pricey, you have to schedule around lessons, you can't take it for very long or have to pay a bunch for daily minimums, etc.
