Comments on: The cost of flying lessons http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/ Making the most of your private pilots license. Sat, 06 Nov 2010 15:08:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Chuckl http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-8872 Chuckl Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:35:48 +0000 http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/#comment-8872 Patch, I'm with you. I've been flying since 1967 and this guy with the 90 hours and two years is way behind the curve. I've found that if students don't maintain a MINIMUM pace of at least 2 hours per week, they are accomplishing the equivalent of "one step forward, two steps back." A new student can only absorb about one hour of training per day MAX, until he/she gets about 10 hours or a first solo under their belt. Until that time, they are too busy trying to figure out just the basic airplane stuff and going into "brain overload." Once they become comfortable in the airplane, the retention rate starts to increase and the lesson can be longer or introduce more new information. Factor in some time for practice, before you are ready to advance to the next plateau. A weekly minimum of at least two hours per week is required just to retain the stuff you learned the week before. I know, when I first started thinking about learning to fly, I thought, "Piece of cake...40 hours, I can get a license in two weeks." Of course, it didn't work out quite that way, but I have seen students gone from nothing to a private ticket in just a couple of months. An awful lot depends on weather and ability, but it can be done. Patch, I’m with you. I’ve been flying since 1967 and this guy with the 90 hours and two years is way behind the curve. I’ve found that if students don’t maintain a MINIMUM pace of at least 2 hours per week, they are accomplishing the equivalent of “one step forward, two steps back.”

A new student can only absorb about one hour of training per day MAX, until he/she gets about 10 hours or a first solo under their belt. Until that time, they are too busy trying to figure out just the basic airplane stuff and going into “brain overload.” Once they become comfortable in the airplane, the retention rate starts to increase and the lesson can be longer or introduce more new information. Factor in some time for practice, before you are ready to advance to the next plateau. A weekly minimum of at least two hours per week is required just to retain the stuff you learned the week before.

I know, when I first started thinking about learning to fly, I thought, “Piece of cake…40 hours, I can get a license in two weeks.” Of course, it didn’t work out quite that way, but I have seen students gone from nothing to a private ticket in just a couple of months. An awful lot depends on weather and ability, but it can be done.

]]> By: Trevor http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-7986 Trevor Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:05:54 +0000 http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/#comment-7986 Patch's estimates for the cost of each component of training are reasonable, the big variable is how much flight time you'll need to become proficient. There are a lot of variables to consider when working out the total cost of learning to fly, and factors like how frequently you take lessons, and how quickly you develop the required skills and knowledge will not become clear until you start training. If you want to run some "what if "scenarios based on the cost of airplane rental and instructors in your area, and assuming different ammounts of flight time, try the learn to fly cost calculator at http://www.firstflight.com/features/costCalculator.htm Patch’s estimates for the cost of each component of training are reasonable, the big variable is how much flight time you’ll need to become proficient. There are a lot of variables to consider when working out the total cost of learning to fly, and factors like how frequently you take lessons, and how quickly you develop the required skills and knowledge will not become clear until you start training.

If you want to run some “what if “scenarios based on the cost of airplane rental and instructors in your area, and assuming different ammounts of flight time, try the learn to fly cost calculator at http://www.firstflight.com/features/costCalculator.htm

]]> By: Edward http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-7227 Edward Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:24:05 +0000 http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/#comment-7227 2 years and 20k means its time to reevaluate who you're training with, or keeping in mind that things like 'ground school tutoring' are just not a reality for most people. I'd also respectfully point out that statistically speaking, at 2 lousy instructor changes you might be onto something, at 4? The numbers start to swing over to perhaps a more student related issue. My two cents. 2 years and 20k means its time to reevaluate who you’re training with, or keeping in mind that things like ‘ground school tutoring’ are just not a reality for most people. I’d also respectfully point out that statistically speaking, at 2 lousy instructor changes you might be onto something, at 4? The numbers start to swing over to perhaps a more student related issue. My two cents.

]]> By: Patch http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-6532 Patch Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:35:25 +0000 http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/#comment-6532 I don't know if I'm totally off on the time. I based it on the AVERAGE time it takes someone. There are things you can do to accelerate your learning and things that happen which slow you down. I think if the beginning student goes into this with $5000 in the bank, they will be able to get it down much faster. If you can take as many lessons as possible in each week, you WILL complete your training quicker than most. You have less remedial training each time you fly. So, you're right, it can take up to and even over 100 hours to complete, but that's the exception rather than the rule. The same goes for people who complete their training in 40 hours. I'd be curious to know how many hours each week you fly. Based on your statement that it's taken over 2 years (104 weeks) and about 90 hours, that comes to an average of .8 hours per week. The typical lesson will last 1.5 hours, so that means you're doing 1 lesson every 2 weeks... on AVERAGE. This example makes my point perfectly, the slower you go, the longer it will take and the more it will cost. Increase your lessons to 3 a week and you probably would have been ready much sooner. I don’t know if I’m totally off on the time. I based it on the AVERAGE time it takes someone. There are things you can do to accelerate your learning and things that happen which slow you down.

I think if the beginning student goes into this with $5000 in the bank, they will be able to get it down much faster. If you can take as many lessons as possible in each week, you WILL complete your training quicker than most. You have less remedial training each time you fly.

So, you’re right, it can take up to and even over 100 hours to complete, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. The same goes for people who complete their training in 40 hours.

I’d be curious to know how many hours each week you fly. Based on your statement that it’s taken over 2 years (104 weeks) and about 90 hours, that comes to an average of .8 hours per week. The typical lesson will last 1.5 hours, so that means you’re doing 1 lesson every 2 weeks… on AVERAGE.

This example makes my point perfectly, the slower you go, the longer it will take and the more it will cost. Increase your lessons to 3 a week and you probably would have been ready much sooner.

]]> By: bmain http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-6246 bmain Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:18:01 +0000 http://flypatchfly.com/the-cost-of-flying-lessons/#comment-6246 Your total cost of flight training as well as time is TOTALLY off. I have about 90 hours and it has taken over 2 years and by the time I finish it will probably cost me about $20,000. Not included in your article is the cost of renters insurance which is required for solo time (around $300-400 per year), FAA physicals ($80.00), extra ground school tutoring time for items you need extra help on ($40.00 per hour), changing planes (I have gone from a 172 to a 150) so that requires extra time in flying and with an instructor to get used to a different plane (same thing if you go from a dial cockpit to a glass one), changing instructors (I got rid of 3 lousy ones and am on my 4th), the written test ($100.00) and the checkride ($300.00). I think one of the reasons so many people drop out is they have unreasonable expectations of time required as well as cost. They should budget for at least 3 years (weather being a large factor in this part of the country) and about $20,000. So unless they have a damn good job or a 2nd mortgage it is indeed only for the rich. I happen to have both. Your total cost of flight training as well as time is TOTALLY off. I have about 90 hours and it has taken over 2 years and by the time I finish it will probably cost me about $20,000. Not included in your article is the cost of renters insurance which is required for solo time (around $300-400 per year), FAA physicals ($80.00), extra ground school tutoring time for items you need extra help on ($40.00 per hour), changing planes (I have gone from a 172 to a 150) so that requires extra time in flying and with an instructor to get used to a different plane (same thing if you go from a dial cockpit to a glass one), changing instructors (I got rid of 3 lousy ones and am on my 4th), the written test ($100.00) and the checkride ($300.00).

I think one of the reasons so many people drop out is they have unreasonable expectations of time required as well as cost. They should budget for at least 3 years (weather being a large factor in this part of the country) and about $20,000. So unless they have a damn good job or a 2nd mortgage it is indeed only for the rich. I happen to have both.

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