Originally Posted by
PearlPilot
You bring up a very interesting point that ran across me, but I never questioned it. It has to do with the quality time that you mentioned... I wondered how experiencing different airports would enable me to gain a good amount of experience during those 50 hours. I guess it would not make a difference if I used the GPS or VOR, pilotage, dead reckoning, or all of the above. What is, in your opinion qualifies as quality time? I am looking forward to taking some passengers to $100 hamburgers and to experience nice airports.
As far as the training goes, I don't have much of a choice. This is the only FBO (within driving distance) for me and it happens to be a part 61 school only. The other part 141 school that was close to me ran out of business...So I am really leaning towards staying here...
Experiencing all of the above mentioned things. Getting out and flying OUTSIDE of the training environment is good experience - period. The comments about getting that experience after your Instrument rating is solid too. Experiencing true IMC and accomplishing the flights safely is a great way to build confidence and experience. Fly out of different airports, go to places or shoot approaches at different airports than you train at, talk to different controllers that don't know that you're a student pilot (or newly minted Private pilot) and work in with other aircraft that you might not see on a regular basis. All of that flying adds experience to your tool bag. I mentioned it to my boss the other day when we were flying into Fresno. I made a comment that our students get really good at flying to/from the working areas; but that I think they should experience actually fly to and seeing one of our two major divert fields. With the visibility in the central valley during certain times of the year - even having an idea of where the airport is located is a step in the right direction IMO.
USMCFLYR