| So you want to start your flight training. What do you | | | | In general how many hours does it take to get your |
| do first? First, you should research all the local flight | | | | pilots certificate at this school? The national average is |
| schools in your area. By just browsing the local flight | | | | about 60 to 70 hours of flight time. |
| schools website, you can get a good idea of what that | | | | What type of training materials do you use? |
| flight school has to offer. Check out what type of | | | | What am I expected to buy? |
| airplanes they use for flight training. Are the airplanes | | | | Typically how long is a flight lesson? |
| new or old? How many airplanes do they have? It's up | | | | When can I schedule a tour of your flight school and |
| to you if you want to spend the extra cash flying a | | | | aircraft? |
| new airplane. Remember an airplane is an airplane. | | | | Once your done talking to the flight instructors, you |
| They might not look good but they all fly. To make it | | | | should go pay a visit to the schools that best |
| easy for you to locate all the flight schools in your | | | | answered your questions. Try to talk to a couple of |
| area, just go to flight school They have one of the | | | | the flight instructors at the school. Sit down with them |
| largest aviation school lists on the internet. Once you're | | | | and ask them a few questions. |
| done browsing all the flight school websites you're | | | | Here are a few examples: |
| going to want to call and talk to a flight instructor at | | | | How long have you been flying? |
| each flight school. I suggest that you talk to one of the | | | | How many hours do you have? |
| flight instructors at the flight school and not the | | | | Do you like flying? |
| secretary. The flight instructor will be able to answer | | | | How do you like teaching? |
| your questions in detail; the secretary will only have a | | | | How long are you planning on teaching here? |
| general knowledge about flight training. | | | | How many students do you have? |
| What questions do you ask the flight instructor? | | | | Do you want to work for the airlines? |
| How many flight instructors are employed at the | | | | Are you a career flight instructor? |
| school? | | | | As you're asking the flight instructors your questions, |
| How busy is the flight school? How many hours do | | | | see how they react. Are they happy to answer all |
| they fly a month? | | | | your questions or do they look like your bothering |
| Will I be able to schedule a flight instructor and airplane | | | | them? If they act as if you're bothering them you |
| any time I want? Do they have online scheduling? | | | | probably want to stay away from that instructor. |
| Do they have multiple types of the same aircraft? It's | | | | Once you're done with the flight instructors, try to talk |
| nice to have two of the same airplane just in case one | | | | to a few students. Ask the students how they like |
| of them is down for maintenance. | | | | flying at the school. Do they like the flight instructors? |
| How many hours do the flight instructors have? | | | | How hard is it to schedule an airplane and instructor? |
| Remember that hours don't automatically translate into | | | | Check out how the office looks. Is it neat? Are the |
| teaching ability. | | | | airplanes in good shape or are they all beat up? Hang |
| What types of airplanes do you use for training? | | | | around the flight school for a couple hours if you can. |
| What kind of maintenance do you perform on your | | | | You'll be able to see how they run the operation. As |
| rental aircraft? | | | | long as your there ask one of the flight instructors if |
| What are the aircraft rental rates? | | | | you can rid along on a training flight to observe. Ok, |
| Is fuel included in the rental rate? | | | | know your done researching all the schools. Sit down |
| Are there any fuel surcharges? Most flight school will | | | | and decide which one of the flight schools you liked |
| add a fuel surcharge when the fuel rates rise. | | | | best. Which one of the instructors did you like talking |
| What is the flight instructor rate? | | | | to? Who had the cheapest rates? Remember just |
| How much is ground instruction? | | | | with anything, you get what you pay for! Cheap is not |
| Are there any other aircraft rental fees or taxes? | | | | always better. Now call the flight school that you think |
| Do you have any discounts for purchasing a block of | | | | is the best and schedule your first lesson. Remember |
| time? Usually when you purchase a block of time, you | | | | this article is for reference only. There are a thousands |
| purchase it in 10 hour increments or whatever that | | | | of questions you can ask a flight instructor about flight |
| school offers. You put the money down right away | | | | training, I just can't cover them all right know I hope this |
| and you get a certain percentage off per hour of flight | | | | article will help you decide which flight school is right for |
| time. It depends on the flight school, they are all | | | | you. |
| different. | | | | |