LaunchpdMcQuack

Good morning. I am now ready to start a career transition to aviation. I do not know the particular end route I will take to CTP/ATP but plan to take my three weeks of available vacation to do an intensive PPL training, perhaps not to completion, but at least well on way and with a good understanding that I want to commit to stepping away from my current job.

I am looking for recommendations on flight schools with dependable planes and good instructor availabliliy make the most of the time available. I am in central Miami but am willing to travel if there is a significantly better option for reasonable rates.

I'm also open to your other insights and recommendations.

Thank you all,

Eric

atpwannabe

Eric:

I would suggest that first you make a decision where you want to train...be it NE, NW, SW or SE Florida. From that point, it'll be a matter how much time & money you have at your disposal. Do the research...thoroughly. I've been interested in becoming a pilot all my life and am finding out just how much I DON'T know about the flight training process. It's all good though. I'm curently getting ready to start studying for my PP written and then IR. I always thought that one could study for the written and go to a local FSDO or FBO/Designated examiner and take the written. I had not clue that i would have to be "endorsed" by an instructor to take the written. So, this is why I strongly encourage you to go over everything in fine detail before investing any monies!

jmo.


atp

JohnBurke

Eric,

The hardest part of learning to fly is paying for it. Before you pay for it, however, and before you take time off work, get your ground training and knowledge ("written") exam out of the way.

Three weeks is a tight time schedule to get the private done. The fastest I've had a student do it is one month; it can be hammered out, but there's something to be said for taking your time, and absorbing and internalizing what you're learning, as you go. I wouldn't rush it too much.

I'd also consider doing your training outside the Miami area; in congested areas, you'll spend valuable training, rental, and instructor time getting in and out of the controlled airspace, to an area where you can practice and train. You will be dollars ahead to train at a less congested location. While there's something to be said for exposure to busy locations, you can get that exposure later, after you're soloed.