Originally Posted by
JohnBurke
You know your son best. I have several children; some were ready to learn to drive when the arrived at that age, others not. Each was unique.
I've taught teens to fly, and I began flying when I was fifteen. I soloed when I was sixteen, did my private at seventeen, commericl at eighteen, and began flying commercially at eighteen. I'm not a spring chicken any more, and have been doing this my teen and entire adult life. In the early years, there were a number of times that passengers or clients asked to see my drivers license for an age check (sadly, no one ever asks now...).
There was no computer simulation when I was learning to fly. I think there's merit in the use of computer games (microsoft pesonal computer uses aren't simulators; they're games), but not to learn to fly. They can be used to reinforce lessons after the fact, but can cause bad habits and false learning to be carried into a lesson if used improperly. Take the lesson, learn a move, maneuver, or technique, then repeat it on the "simulation." Don't try to learn something on the home computer, then bring it to the cockpit.
Simulation is a very well recognized part of training, particularly in advanced aircraft where cost and capability limit what can really be done in the airplane. There's a big difference between a real simulator, which does simulate every aspect of the aircraft from sounds to actual instruments and cockpit to visuals to motion...and a computer game which uses cartoon graphics to make a two dimensional picture on a laptop screen.
A very simple tool for capitalizing on flight instruction is to sit in a chair after the lesson, or in the cockpit of the airplane on the ramp, and close one's eyes, and visualize everything that has been done. Repeat it, over and over. I used to have students come to the airport and sit in the airplane, grasp the controls, and "fly" in their mind. If they couldn't come to the airport, sit in a rocking chair and do it, put something in their hand to replicate the control, and visualize. A laptop game or "simulation" can have a similar effect of enhancing what's been learned and transferring the understanding and learning from the actual airplane.
Teens tend to suffer from judgement issues; they lack it, and it's up to the adult supervision to watch very closely to ensure that they're taught and exercising adequate judgement and restraint in their flying. There's no reason why a teenager can't fly, and youth isn't a barrier to flight. Know the student, know the student's habits and limitations, and work closely with those to help the student say safe, enthused, and to progress.
Some wise words here and I concur. I've given thousands of hours of dual instruction to young and old. Younger kids tend to learn faster (like anything else) but sometimes lack maturity in decision making. I tell people I can teach anyone how to fly but judgement comes with time and experience. A private pilot license is a "license to learn" and nothing more. A new pilot learns "just enough" not to kill himself and hopefully his/her own limitations. The problem with younger kids is they have "no fear". Sometimes this is a positive compared to older students who let fear hold them back.
As far as MS flight sim, I think it creates more problems for primary training. Aside from learning how the instruments work, it teaches people to look inside the cockpit rather than outside. When you first learn how to fly you need to spend the majority of your time looking outside, developing a sight picture, looking at the horizon, etc.
I teach people to fly by engaging their senses. They learn to judge how fast a plane is moving not by a gauge but rather by the sound of the engine, the sound of the rushing wind, etc. When they are having trouble landing or with steep turns and looking inside too much, I cover up their instruments with a piece of paper. A computer doesn't help a student develop his senses, the feel of the yoke, etc.
That being said, simulators are excellent for more advanced training such as instrument flying. However, you need to develop real "raw" flying skills first.