Five Valuable Questions to Ask Your Potential Flight School

Searching for a flight school? There is a veritable profusion of choices that can make

the task seem a bit overwhelming at first. It’s important to remember that flight schools

typically specialize in one thing: providing flight training so that you can earn the

certifications to help you reach your aviation goals, beginning with a student pilot rating

and onward to sport, private, recreational, instrument, commercial, multi-engine and/or

CFI (certified flight instructor).

Flight training consists of two basic elements. Ground school is classroom instruction in

basic subjects such as navigation, weather forecasting, aircraft systems and

aerodynamics. Ground school also covers the Federal Aviation Regulations, the rules

and safety standards established by the Federal Aviation Administration in place for all

civil aviation activities in the U.S.

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations

The second component to flight training is the time actually spent in an aircraft acquiring

hands-on instruction in how to operations including takeoffs, landings and maneuvers.

Emergency procedures are also a core subject that is covered extensively while

learning to fly. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-

01/Emergency%20Procedures%20Training.pdf

Flight schools have much to offer potential students in both ground school and airtime.

Read the promotional literature, look at websites, visit in person and be sure to allow

plenty of time for one-on-one discussions with a flight school’s representatives. Think of

this process as a search to narrow your choices down to those programs that align with

your own goals, finances, timeframe and learning style.

When interviewing potential flight schools, ask the following questions:

(1) What are the basic costs and how do you invoice your students? Many types of

payment plans and billing schedules exist. Make sure you are comfortable with how the

flight school operates in this respect. The payment plan must feel manageable for you.

If you are seeking a loan, some flight schools partner with aviation financing companies

such as Stratus Financial, or can direct you to additional financing sources if needed.

https://stratus.finance/.

(2) Do your CFIs follow a syllabus and, if so, do they have the option to deviate from

it if necessary? A common syllabus used throughout the flight school can make it easier

to move between its flight instructors. But an option to deviate can be equally important,

as it allows an instructor to try something different when the syllabus is not lining up with

a student’s learning style or pace in a certain area. This flexibility can ensure a more

personalized educational experience that will help you advance most effectively.

(3) What is the range of your CFIs’ experience? This allows you to understand

whether there are CFIs with a higher number of flight hours under their belts at the flight

school that can offer guidance and mentorship to newer CFIs. A successful program will

have a mix that allows CFIs with varying flight hours to consult with one another about

the best methods and procedures for teaching students what they need to know.

(4) Do your CFIs debrief with a routine meeting amongst themselves? If these

meetings are happening, you know that the CFIs are committed to helping one another

and learning from each other’s experiences, which translates into a more quality

education for you.

(5) Is there an action plan to address areas where a student may struggle? If so, this

provides the extra structure and support to help students tackle issues that come up

during training where they may need additional assistance to master a certain concept

or skill. You’ll be able to see how the flight school will overcome training difficulties and

access whether its plan feels comfortable to you.

The time you devote to learning about and comparing different flight schools is time well

spent. It’s much better to understand all you can about the programs you are

considering before you begin your aviation journey so that you can avoid

misunderstandings or unhappy surprises once you have committed.

Joining a quality flight school will help you achieve your aviation objectives efficiently

and safely. Research, ask questions and give yourself the best opportunity to find your

perfect fit.

A few resources include the AOPA’s Flight School Finder https://www.aopa.org/training-

and-safety/learn-to-fly/flight-

schools#t=tagFlightSchools&sort=%40aopaufbusinessname%20ascending and the

FAA’s Pilot Schools Information page

https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/training/pilot_schools

www.LimaFlight.com.

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