Pilot Training – Three Key Issues Before You Start

By Author: Vikram Kuamr
Total Articles: 2912
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Many of us have thought about embarking on a pilot training course, and never got around to doing it. Sometimes it’s the thought of the cost—not just the training itself, but also the expense of keeping up the flying hours once you’ve got your license. Sometimes it’s the number of hours required to get to the point of actually taking the test, or learning enough to pass the written exam. Lots of things can put people off the idea… but it’s probably not as difficult to get your pilot’s license as most people think.

The first issue to be dealt with is the cost. Prices for flight training courses can vary quite a bit, but you should be able to find one that suits you. You can take more or less time to do the various stages as you think you need, but you may find you are restricted more in this if you buy a package deal. Shop around a few flying schools before you decide, and make sure that you pick the course that suits you. Paying up front will almost certainly save you money over paying as you go, but it might be easier to make your payments in stages and have the option of taking a break in your instruction ...
... if you need to for any reason, such as illness or lack of funds. Most good pilot training schools will be prepared to be flexible in such cases.

The second issue in most people’s minds is the time involved. In fact, it only takes 45 hours of flight training, though of course if you feel you need more you can take extra lessons and practice flights. The theory side of things is more variable. You will have to spend time learning and revising for your exam, and it’s usually best to do the theory in as short a space of time as you can manage, just because, as with any learning process, it’s easy to forget what you learnt at the beginning by the time you get to the end! If you work hard on the theory, you should be able to pass the exam first time, then there’s only the practical side of things to worry about—and that should come naturally after a while, as long as you have a good instructor.

Which brings us to the third issue—choosing your instructor. This is, of course, a very personal matter. We all have different preferences as to how we learn, and the best way to learn is to recognize what does and does not work for you. Visit the training school or schools you favor before you decide which one to pick, and meet as many as you can of the instructors. If you like the sergeant-major approach, with clear and sometimes forceful instructions, it is best to look for a sergeant-major-like instructor! Most flying schools will be happy to allocate you to a particular instructor you think will be suitable for you, and if they won’t, you can always look at another flying school!

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If you’re still unsure as to whether Pilot training is for you, take a look at the Flight Learnings website. It will help you learn what Flight Training involves, and see how enjoyable the whole process can be!