| erated flight training is a very popular way for many | | | | hamburgers! The average for my students is closer to |
| to accomplish the FAA required flight training and gain | | | | 40 hours only because the FAA won’t let my |
| the skills and knowledge required to pass any pilot | | | | students take the final test earlier! This is mainly due to |
| certificate or rating that exists. However, the title of | | | | flight schools that jump on the accelerated band |
| accelerated pilot training or flight training is | | | | wagon for some easy cash drawing in students, giving |
| misleading in some ways that can lead to an unhappy | | | | them to instructors that may be good but improperly |
| student pilot and a loss of time and money! As an | | | | trained to handle an efficient Accelerated Flight |
| FAA certified flight instructor of more than 13 years | | | | Training course, the student doesn’t finish in the |
| with most of that time dedicated to the | | | | time allowed/paid for, and extending time and money |
| accelerated method of teaching I have learned | | | | to complete training. This drives the average time up to |
| what works and what does not work. I hope this | | | | the 50s. There are very few reasons why a properly |
| article can help those seeking a pilot certificate or | | | | screened and prepared student cannot finish by the |
| rating achieve their goals in the most efficient and cost | | | | FAA mandatory 40 hour mark with a well designed |
| effective manner possible. | | | | and well executed accelerated flight training course. |
| Accelerated Flight Training Myth: "accelerated flight | | | | Learning and retention of skills and knowledge can |
| training is faster" | | | | be greatly enhanced with Accelerated Flight Training. |
| Not necessarily! Just because a flight school offers an | | | | Many with a bad experience (students and instructors) |
| accelerated flight training course does NOT | | | | argue otherwise however I have first hand experience |
| mean you will finish in less time. Fact: The FAA | | | | of teaching many students both traditional (2-3 |
| requires minimum flight training, flight experience, and | | | | days/week) and accelerated (focused and |
| ground theory training before a person is eligible to | | | | efficient) and I can attest that there is much less flight |
| attempt the required final testing for a pilot certificate | | | | and ground review necessary just before final test |
| or rating. For example, The FAA requires 40 hours of | | | | time for the accelerated students in every case. |
| total flight and training experience before attempting | | | | Retention for the long term depends solely on the pilot |
| the final test. However, the national average flight | | | | to keep learning and keeping skills sharp regardless of |
| training time to earn a private pilot is closer to 70 hours! | | | | what kind of flight training they used to achieve their |
| Why?!? Here are a few reasons. | | | | goals. |
| Too much time between training flights and ground | | | | Accelerated flight training forces the student to |
| school. Skills and knowledge degrade with time. I | | | | focus solely on the task at hand. It is critical to leave |
| recommend flight training at least three days per week | | | | the worries of every day life and work behind while |
| to avoid disuse loss of learning in between | | | | training or learning will degrade quickly. As long as you |
| lessons. | | | | can schedule a time away from the world while you |
| Bad weather can stop training all together for days | | | | train the learning and retention skyrockets contributing |
| or even weeks affecting your training goals in the | | | | to a safer pilot. |
| same way listed above. | | | | What to look for in Accelerated Flight Training: |
| Poorly planned or executed course. This could be | | | | An experienced instructor experienced with |
| from a school that only wants your money or an | | | | accelerated flight training. Also, make sure the school |
| inexperienced flight instructor that is only there to build | | | | does not intend to switch instructors on you except |
| time and get into an airline. | | | | when absolutely necessary! Finding experienced |
| No or little study before training begins. This is | | | | instructors is not easy these days let alone |
| mainly for accelerated courses because the more you | | | | experienced in accelerated flight instruction. |
| can learn before hand will let you concentrate on | | | | A time of the year or physical location with good |
| learning to fly. I do not recommend nor do I begin any | | | | weather that will not interrupt your training! |
| accelerated flight training until any required written tests | | | | A school that offers a pre-training course and |
| and medical exams are completed first. I also have my | | | | materials AND makes it mandatory to complete any |
| students pre-study the flight training syllabus sequence | | | | required written tests and medical checkouts BEFORE |
| of events and read through all study materials first | | | | lessons begin! |
| before the first day of training. Using a computer | | | | Make sure the flight school has more than one |
| based flight simulator is also a great way to prepare | | | | aircraft of the same make and model that you will be |
| before flight training begins just by flying around and | | | | training in so that routine or unexpected maintenance |
| having fun. I also recommend a series of self taught | | | | does not extend your schedule. The school only needs |
| lessons using computer based simulation before | | | | two aircraft to minimize this potential slow down. |
| training. Preparation is the biggest time and money | | | | Make sure the flight school has some kind of flight |
| saver by far! | | | | simulation capability in case there are no fly days. |
| There are many more reasons but these are the | | | | Simulators do not have to be state of the art full |
| biggest by far. | | | | cockpit sims. Simple desktop computer simulators all |
| Benefits of a good Accelerated Flight Training course: | | | | work great when used properly with an experienced |
| Accelerated flight training can let you reach your | | | | instructor. Communications, procedures, and |
| goals in less time! The average training time an | | | | aeronautical decision making are just a few things that |
| accelerated student is closer to 50 hours. 20 | | | | can be learned and re-enforced using simulation. |
| hours of training at $200/hr will buy a lot of | | | | |