My Flight School is trying to sell me this “Cessna Multimedia Training System” kit for $384. Is it cheaper just buy elsewhere? What do I actually need for PPL and beyond?
Posted by Plane_County9646@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 31 comments
elad34@reddit
It’s crazy to me that you’re starting to learn to fly and you are balking at paying the equivalent of, what? Maybe two hours of flight time in materials. You picked a school and an instructor, trust them and the materials they’re recommending.
Students showing up off script and unprepared because “I can get it cheaper elsewhere” does not set the relationship off on the right foot.
LearningT0Fly@reddit
You can do Gold Seal ground school for $229, buy a logbook for $10, an e6b for $40 and foreflight for $125 for pretty much the same price.
Plane_County9646@reddit (OP)
Do I need a Plotter too?
SoManyEmail@reddit
I got a e6b and plotter on Amazon for under $20, I believe. They're not fancy metal or anything, but they work.
Clunk500CM@reddit
There are two kinds of plotters: "fixed" and "rotating". Do yourself a big, fat favor and get the rotating plotter, it looks like this:
https://asa2fly.com/ultimate-rotating-plotter/
LearningT0Fly@reddit
Oh yeah and a plotter - you can get one for like $12
Plane_County9646@reddit (OP)
Would you recommend buying the items you listed instead of the kit?
LearningT0Fly@reddit
Yeah I’d recommend that. You’d save more money by going with Garmin Pilot instead of Foreflight but I can’t speak to which one is better as I’ve only ever used FF.
acegard@reddit
But then you wouldnt get the Cessna Pilot Center bag, thats essential.
TxAggieMike@reddit
Isn’t this Cessna program just Kings with a different label?
Brilliant_Trifle5301@reddit
They have been teamed up together since 1998. I have the original Cessna Pilot Program CD 💿 with floppy disk 💾 (for storage of your practice tests and quizzes after each lesson). PPL: Cleared for Takeoff INST: Cleared for Approach CPL: Cleared For Hire ME: Cleared for Multi-Engines ($369 each back in the day) I don’t know what they sell for now.
Brilliant_Trifle5301@reddit
I have the original Cessna Pilot Course (CD with floppy) from back in 1998. No floppy today. It was great, I thought. The school I used was a Cessna Pilot Center. I was well prepared prior to each flight lesson. But I don’t know how they are now as things do change.
federalvermicelli@reddit
Money. Lots and lots of money.
skydiveguy@reddit
My flight school was a Cessna Pilot Center and this was the program I was forced to use.
Its good content done by the King's and its on par with the cost of other courses.
If your school says you need to do this for their program, you need to use this or find another school.
I think this program was a very well structured program, though.
TxAggieMike@reddit
If your school is Part 141, you’re required to use their course material they want you to use.
If the school is Part 61, you’re allowed to use what you want. But discuss with your instructor so you don’t purchase something that works against you.
Plane_County9646@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the answer. My school is Part 141 and it offers Part 61. I’m enrolling with part 61
TxAggieMike@reddit
Be aware that even enrolled as Part 61, expect them to use the Part 141 syllabus. And resources.
Also read the contracts closely… make sure you full understand what it is your agreeing to.
fhfm@reddit
I think I know one person that uses garmin pilot, and I’m pretty sure he got a free sub somehow. ForeFlight is pretty much the standard… for now at least. Just got sold so time will tell
chriscicc@reddit
Cessna Pilot Centers are structured schools, you can't just swap out the curriculum for anything you want.
Plane_County9646@reddit (OP)
I’m doing a Part 61. Will it still be structured?
chriscicc@reddit
CPC courses integrated the flight lessons with the ground lessons, so you shouldn't be front loading and you shouldn't be jumping around the Curriculum. It's really just a rebranded and lightly modified version of the King Private Pilot course, you can learn more about it by looking at the King version..
nolalacrosse@reddit
Is the school part 141?
bae125@reddit
If it’s 141 you’re stuck with the approved course, if it’s 61 you can use whatever you like
Wonderful-Life-2208@reddit
I’ve used Garmin and ForeFlight both. For VFR flying, save the money and go with Garmin pilot. A vast majority of pilots could fly with out any sectional charts or EFBs by just using their on board GPS or pilotage, but everyone wants to feel big league so they buy the EFBs
Knockoutpie1@reddit
Logbook $15, e6b $12, plotter, $12, 1 month of sporty $60 ($99)
One month is enough to watch all the videos and pass the written.
NoConcentrate9116@reddit
This kit plus instrument, commercial, and multi was provided at the 141 school I attended. The ground schools are all through Kings School, which is fine but a little goofy, especially coming in already as a trained pilot.
Realistically I’d go with a competitor’s ground school and get a foreflight subscription. Foreflight is the standard, I didn’t even use the Garmin subscription because I’ve been using Foreflight for years.
Plane_County9646@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the info. Which ground school do you recommend?
NoConcentrate9116@reddit
I’ve heard good things about Gold Seal and Sheppard. Haven’t used either yet though.
GZUSROX@reddit
I I’m currently working on my CFII… I never did that for my private! Get the Glime book or use Shepherd Air it Kings School.
andrewclarkson@reddit
There are cheaper courses, I’m not familiar with these actual study materials. The FAA handbooks are available for free online.
When I did my private over a decade ago I just got a textbook, read it cover to cover and then started taking practice knowledge tests on an iPad app(I would now recommend Sheppard air). Anything I needed help with I’d ask my CFI or watch a YouTube video or something. There are lots of free resources out there.
What’s best for you probably depends on your learning style and how that flows with your flight school’s program. It doesn’t seem like a total ripoff with some of the extras IMO but you may not need it.
acegard@reddit
For what its worth, Sheppard does not have a PPL prep course. I thought that Psorty's test prep was very good, but im sure there are many other good one out there.