Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM Factors in Successful Learning 1. Time of year Summer flying gives longer days but does not provide the most desirable range of experience. Aircraft are more available in the late fall and winter. Darkness in early morning and early evening is a problem. Learning to fly during the worst weather periods is the best way to maintain your attention to the vagaries that affect flying. Learn in the fall or winter; enjoy in the summer. 2. Schedule You should not even consider learning to fly unless you can allocate at least two or three flying periods a week. Each period should include travel time and two scheduled flight hours. Actual engine time will be about one hour + 15 minutes. Two hours of study time must be planned for every hour of flying. 3. Finances Do not begin flying until money is set aside just for flying. The first twenty hours of learning to fly will be the most concentrated cash-outflow you will face unless you buy an airplane. 4. Weight If our weight requires the use of a C-172 as a trainer the cost per flight hour will be more. The increased cost is somewhat offset by the time saved meeting cross-country requirements and enroute time to local airports. 5. Ground School There is no reason that a person should not be able to self-study ground school with about 3-5 hours of tutoring. I do not charge for such time. 6. Preparation Don't fly if you are not prepared for a lesson. You will get the most bang for your bucks by being prepared. Even the best instruction cannot fully compensate for lack of preparation. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM