PRS Guitars

What do you do now? How much do you make?

mikey1029

Thanks for the recommendations! Cyndy's videos are very clear for me to understand.
Im just really nervous about starting training in the coming months. Ive scoured this forum for a very long time but only to realize how much i dont know. The terms and knowhow is far beyond what i can comprehend. I even checked out the written exam and i wasnt even able to answer one question even using the internet as an open book.
I feel like im a smart guy and good with my hands but this flying business is really technical.

Stoked27

It can definitely feel overwhelming at times and you're not alone. AOPA put out a study from 2011 that indicated 57% of flight students sought information from a personal source (face-to-face friend, local flight school, etc). While those stats are 7 years old and almost unusable, it still highlights how there's no go-to source to start training. The training industry is very fragmented, so if you don't have someone mentoring you through the process you might benefit from a purchased ground school online program (if you're trying to study before you officially start flight training). That way it sort of holds your hand through each topic to focus on each day/week. I don't have any specific purchased ones to recommend though since I don't have much experience with them.

I've tried reading books on completely new topics, but it's very daunting and very little information 'sinks in.' I've found that the videos first, followed by a book have helped me. I'd recommend staying away from written exam stuff until you have a baseline of understanding for your PPL. At least get through some ground school and a few flight lessons so the terminology will make sense. Once you start working on your further ratings like Instrument or Commercial you can probably start studying for the written exams earlier in your training.

I'm sure you'll do fine, but if you don't already have a flight school picked out try to find one that treats you as more than a number (some schools will suck the life out of you and make flying not fun). WHEN you have bad days, not IF, it's nice to be surrounded by people who are there because they enjoy flying every day. I've experienced flight instructors that make me feel like I never should have pursued flying, but I've come to find that my bad instructors all had an arrogant God-complex in common. My best instructors were the ones who were willing to talk about their (many) mistakes.

42jeff

Once you do get your private, take every opportunity you can to fly even if it's along in the right seat while someone else is doing circuits in the pattern.

One thing I learned in CAP in non pilot roles and especially when instated instructing, is how well you can see what's goijng in when you aren't instructing. It all goes jnto your mental repository of things to do and not to do that will help in the long run.

I'll beat the drum for Civil Air Patrol one more time as an opportunity to put some hours in your book while gainijng valuable flying experience. I did it for seven years...aside from the community assistance it provides, you will be flying very well maintained aircrsft.....most of them very up to date, and once you get checked out ...MOST OF your flying will be funded by CAP or USAF.

mikey1029

Ive heard about civil air patrol. So you can get hours doing that? I really wouldnt mind joining CAP. But i thought it was for teens.

42jeff

There is the cadet side...but the senior member side has a variety of jobs.
I just checked my logbook, I had 135 hours of actual mission time. And another 100 of training or exercise time. And that's just as PIC...I didn't track my right seat or back seat time.

There is some financial investment when you join CAP in membership and uniforms etc but for me it was quite worth it.

TurboWill

-Do the private 61 in a c152.
-instrument 141
-commercial ASEL 61. Head over to american flyers to do your cfi/cfii.
-Do your multi add-on after you are working as a CFI. I think you can knock it all out for 50k.