PMeyer

I do not agree with this 100%, not that anyone asked me to, I'm just stating my opinion. There is a great deal to be learned from the older instructors, my primary instructor was mostly an older aerobatics pilot who had built his own RV-6, and was a farmer and school superintendent of a small district in central Illinois. Another instructor I flew a good amount of time with was an Italian guy who flew during his off time. Mostly flew in Citabrias and Aztecs with him.

Also, I have learned a great deal hanging around the small local uncontrolled field from many old timers, including one Flying Tiger, Korean War on up vets, retired airline pilots, aviation magazine writers, and mechanics. Volunteering at EAA events and the county air show was good exposure as well.

Having a good foundation like a mom & pop FBO for your private license is great, but I want to make a career out of this, and don't really feel the need to dabble here and there while getting a new rating every year. If someone was done with college or was looking to make a career change then I would think the ATP Private Pilot program would be perfect for them. I personally earned a private license during high school, and now I would like to get my career started and after probably a good 6 months to a year of research and talking about it with family, I decided on ATP's ACPP.

It's very important to understand aviation, and airline history. Be knowledgeable. Operations like GauxJets wouldn't exist if more people cared about standards, and how they lower the bar for everyone when they fly struck work.

PDXflyer

I agree 100%! Preach on brother! Stay away from ERAU.

Uncle Bose

The point becomes less compelling as the speed and complexity of the aircraft in question approaches that of a C-172.

TankerBob

Granted a 172 isnt that complicated, but in more complex training like twins and other high performance a/c, experience wins out and thats where your trying to get to right? I mean you wanna fly faster planes?

Oh and my civilian training wasnt IFT. I went to UPT with my Commercial Mulit Instrument.

Uncle Bose

I don't want to make it sound as if experience isn't preferable. It's great and all, but quick progress with as little time and monetary expenditure as possible is even more preferable, provided it isn't at the expense of safety.

TankerBob

Ok, you and LAFF are making sound as though, those with experience have nothing to offer. I understand that everyone is in a rush to get hired so that they can get their seniority number. Sometimes you need to stop, listen, and learn though, or as we say in the Air Force, Shut up and color.

Sorry but I gotta fight for the old guys, some of them don't know how to use computers. hahah jk

Uncle Bose

If experience means "being better," great. Anything beyond that, like stories about that time me an' ol' Slobberin' Pete done scud runned across 5 states, is a waste of time and money.

PositiveRate

I have had both types of instructors. From being one of their first students,to flying with guys that had over 35,000 hours, flew B-17's in Germany and another 30 years with an ariline. I have learned something from every one. The problem I have with rating mills is the constant PPL to CFII to Moving on to some where else. The circle is never broken and every one passes down the same version of experience. At least that's the way it looks like from the outside. I still believe there is some soul left in flying and it seems these places loose site of that.


Google this years flight instructor of the year. He's got more time doing spins then alot have total time. These are the guys at the mom and pop FBO's.

I bet ALOT more people that are flying professionally went to a local FBO then went to a ratings mill. So the small FBO has been a pretty good bet over the last 75 years or so.

NE_Pilot

I agree here. What I was referring to was an experienced instructor who has been there, teaching you tried and true methods, and passing on some of that experience to you. If all they do is recount their glory days of flying, then it is waste.

I think a nice advantage to the FBO is you have the final say as to who your instructor is. Don't like him, then you can get a new one. Not sure you can do that at a place like ATP, from what I gathered you are assigned an instructor and thats it, you get who you get, no real input on your part. I could be wrong though.

Puppyz

What the hell??? who said anything about bush flying techniques being passed along?? Just because someone in the past was a bush pilot doesn't mean they teach their students how to fly in the bush. I never once paid him to relive his glory days if that's what you are thinking. jeez talk about assumptions.