Hello,
First, a little about me. I’m 45 and actually not all that crazy about flying in passenger jets. That being said, about a year and a half ago, I took a demo flight in a Piper Archer out of Santa Monica airport. Needless to say, it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done! Totally different perspective than being in the back of a jet-having some control over the situation helped. I was all set to take lessons, but hadn’t committed to a flight school. Then the economy went south and I had to put the lessons on hold. But now it’s recovering and I’m saving money again, so I might still have a chance!
My questions are…Am I too old to start flight training? And probably my most important 0nes…What should I look for in a school and instructor? I’ve read a lot about what you look for after you start training, but is there anything I should look for before I sign up, or should I take demo flights at different schools? (What’s $150.00 or so when I might be spending $10,000, right?)
Is there any advantage to having a male or female flight instructor? I actually think I’d work better with a female flight instructor, but then again I haven’t had any lessons yet. It would be really great if there was a website where potential students could see success rates and stuff about flight schools.
Thanks for taking the time to read this!
Am I Cleared For Takeoff, Ma’am?
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Yes, you’re cleared for takeoff and cleared for the option, while we’re at it! But first,
Is 45 TOO OLD to start flight training?!? Absolutely not! I routinely work with people older than you in hot pursuit of pilot certification, and have worked with people who didn’t start their training until their 60’s and 70’s. And were successful, might I add. I presently fly with an 82 year old pilot who’s working patiently on an instrument rating, so you’ve got a ways to go before you hit the old guys’ club here. While there are some obvious disadvantages to not being 16, there are also a few factors in your favor you may not have considered. If you’re doing it right, with age comes focus, dedication, and improved study skills. Don’t underestimate these-you won’t net yourself a private pilot certifcate without them! Maturity is also more likely (though no guarantees, here!) to be one of your attributes, hopefully leading to good judgment and decision making skills which believe you me, you’re going to need. See? You may actually be better prepared for this than you’d have been a few years ago.
In any case, choosing a flight school and a flight instructor can be a very individual thing. Clearly, there are some that won’t be a good fit for anybody, but what you’re largely looking for is a flight school with good equipment, a good location, and reasonable policies, and an instructor who gets YOU and will work with your learning style and on your schedule. Yes, by all means, try a few out. Pay attention to whether or not their way of explaining things makes sense to you. Everyone has a teaching style and your job as a student is to see if that instructor’s teaching style meshes well with your learning style. If the one you settle on turns out to be a disappointment, tell them what you need and why it doesn’t seem to be working out for you. Maybe they need to provide better structure, help you plan ahead, explain things more thoroughly, slow down or back up, or just wear better deodorant;) Your little chat didn’t help? Jump ship and try again. No flight instructor is an ideal match for every student and we know it. A good flight instructor won’t be offended if you decide to finish your training with someone else, and if they aren’t a good one, you REALLY shouldn’t be flying with that person, now should you? One caveat-there will be plateaus in your learning. NO ONE has a linear learning curve all the way through something as complex as learning to fly, so simply feeling stuck for a while does not mean this teacher/student relationship has failed. Talk to the person sharing the cockpit with you. You WERE careful to choose someone you feel comfortable talking to, right? Your instructor should be able to explain where you are in your training, why you feel stuck, and what it will take to get you moving ahead again. This, too, shall pass.
Some people feel that women make more patient instructors. Some do. There are equally patient male instructors out there, too. Some people are of the opinion that female flight instructors are more likely to be compassionate and helpful. Sometimes true, but certainly not always. Skill and knowledge level should be equal, so again, we’re just coming down to a matter of style here. I would say that the attributes of the person in the other seat that you’ll find most valuable are equally as likely to be found in either sex, so I wouldn’t limit your search to one or the other. Who you need depends on who you are. Try a few intro flights, maybe even a few lessons at the same flight school with different instructors, if that’s most convenient. You’ll figure out pretty quickly who you’re best able to learn from.
Enjoy the process, and don’t forget to do your homework!
Mom
Ooh, and by the way, you’re looking for flight school ratings and to hear about the experiences of the students who’ve been there before? Give me about a month. That’s going to be one of the features of the upcoming website redesign. Just wait until you see the rest of what’s coming!
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You’ve got questions? I’ll find you an answer. Email your aviation related question to mom@myskymom.com and check out myskymom.com to read the answers to questions previously posted. Friend My Sky Mom on Facebook and follow @MySkyMom on Twitter for aviation news as it happens. An educated pilot is a safe pilot is a happy pilot. Remember, the only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask! Fly smart, fly safe, fly happy.
