1. Time of year
Summer flying gives longer days but does not provide the most
desirable range of experience. Aircraft are more available in
the late fall and winter. Darkness in early morning and early
evening is a problem. Learning to fly during the worst weather
periods is the best way to maintain your attention to the vagaries
that affect flying. Learn in the fall or winter; enjoy in the
summer.
2. Schedule
You should not even consider learning to fly unless you can allocate
at least two or three flying periods a week. Each period should
include travel time and two scheduled flight hours. Actual engine
time will be about one hour + 15 minutes. Two hours of study time
must be planned for every hour of flying.
3. Finances
Do not begin flying until money is set aside just for flying.
The first twenty hours of learning to fly will be the most concentrated
cash-outflow you will face unless you buy an airplane.
4. Weight
If our weight requires the use of a C-172 as a trainer the cost
per flight hour will be more. The increased cost is somewhat offset
by the time saved meeting cross-country requirements and enroute
time to local airports.
5. Ground School
There is no reason that a person should not be able to self-study
ground school with about 3-5 hours of tutoring. I do not charge
for such time.
6. Preparation
Don't fly if you are not prepared for a lesson. You will get the
most bang for your bucks by being prepared. Even the best instruction
cannot fully compensate for lack of preparation.
