Looking to start flight training soon. How can I get a jump start?
Posted by Boredomis_real@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 15 comments
I have been working as a DoorDash driver to help save up for flight training. I’ll be starting soon and luckily it is a pay as I go program so I pay what I can when I can (and of course I’ll get the amount of training that matches the price).
But I still have a little bit to go before I’m behind the controls. What can I purchase/read/learn now (I have allocated the budget for this and planned to do this first) so I’m prepared for flight?
I’m really looking forward to being in the skies
Ok_Worldliness3854@reddit
If you want to be a professional pilot, get your first class medical before you do anything else.
elcid1s5@reddit
A basic ForeFlight subscription will give you all the learning material and regulation documents you’ll need for a PPL. You can access it on a smartphone but a small iPad is better.
You can get a 3rd class medical very easily as long as you’re in decent health.
You can save the written test for later once you’ve committed yourself but it’s easy enough and there’s lots of study methods that are sure bets for it (Sheppard air is free for the PPL written if I remember correctly).
All that’s left is to actually fly and learn the basics and get signed off by the instructor on a few things.
Feckmumblerap@reddit
Go read the phak and afh. I wish I went into my training having read these books, would’ve been so far ahead. Maybe get a sim setup and familiarize yourself that way. Its not the same of course but its great for familiarization. You can save some SERIOUS time if you do this.
Mazer1415@reddit
PHAK. AFH. Aviation Weather. All free from FAA. Get a copy of the PTS and under what is required of you. Be the one in charge of your training.
PP4life@reddit
They'll want a copy of the ACS (Airman Certification Standards) for Private Pilot. Most PTS (Pilot Training Standards) have been replaced with ACS documents.
Mazer1415@reddit
Of course they’ve changed it. Some administrator needed to leave their mark.
JonathanO96@reddit
I will add, “pay what you can, when you can” is a little concerning. The longer the gaps between flights, the more you’ll have to re-learn each flight which leads to slower progress. Save up ahead of time, and try to fly at a minimum twice a week. More if possible. From everything I’ve read, 2x/week is about the minimum to keep muscle memory fresh to reduce the learning curve. Good luck!
soliminal@reddit
Get your medical. Pass your PPL written, study using online ground school. Then take a discovery flight and continue from there. Consider taking the discovery first before going through the effort of studying for your written. Who knows you might find out up there that you don't actually like flying. I'm not a pilot, just a prospective student like you. You can google all this info my guy, there are plenty of threads here asking this exact question.
Boredomis_real@reddit (OP)
What online ground school do you recommend?
JonathanO96@reddit
Sporty’s, pilot institute, kings, part time pilot
They’re all super popular. I’m just waiting for Black Friday sales to start next week and will choose between sporty’s and pilot institute based on who has a better deal. Both seem to have excellent training programs.
Big_Beginning7725@reddit
But sometimes you can get a detailed response from someone currently doing the same or has already that could be more detailed than one could find elsewhere. There’s no harm in asking.
ltcterry@reddit
Paying what you can when you can is not saving for flight training.
80% of people who start drop out. Mostly for financial reasons or shitty instructors. One of these is easily within your control. So control it.
Pay as you go doesn’t mean spend it as you make it.
A Private Pilot Certificate is going to cost $18k. Pay as you go means you keep your $18k in your bank and pay out $400 a lesson from your savings. Some places want you to prepay a full $17,999.99 to “get a discount.” This is a bad idea.
If you don’t have the funds you can finish. If you don’t finish then you wasted a lot of money you obviously couldn’t afford. That’s bad.
Save enough first. Get money smart. And be sure you’ll be able to get a medical before spending money on flight training. There are issues there if you’ve been diagnosed with any of a large alphabet soup of disorders and diseases.
Direct-Knowledge-260@reddit
Honestly,
At least in my experience, the book reading did not make sense to me until I got behind the controls.
But like others have said. The PHAK and Airplane Flying handbook for the written knowledge.
I think the biggest thing to help you out is to look YouTube videos from “kings school” or MZEROA on
“Orlando Ground, Cessna N1234, at FBO, ready to taxi”
Understanding these 3 things will really give you a good start and confidence boost allowing you to learn and observe more information from your instructor.
Good luck!
dmspilot00@reddit
Airplane Flying Handbook. Free FAA download or buy a paper copy for <$20.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I have been working as a DoorDash driver to help save up for flight training. I’ll be starting soon and luckily it is a pay as I go program so I pay what I can when I can (and of course I’ll get the amount of training that matches the price).
But I still have a little bit to go before I’m behind the controls. What can I purchase/read/learn now (I have allocated the budget for this and planned to do this first) so I’m prepared for flight?
I’m really looking forward to being in the skies
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