a student pilot's logbook

How to choose a suitable flight school

2008-08-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

I found my flight school through an article in a Dutch flight magazine. This for me was a first clue for the quality of the school. If it would be some shabby school on an airfield in the middle of nowhere then why would they write about it, right? Then I contacted the writer of the article and he told me some stuff about the school. He also gave me the name and phone number of a Dutch instructor who taught there. So I called him and he gave me a insight view of the place.

Obviously another good way to find a flight school is via the internet. But be aware! Nice flashy ads don’t mean good quality.

The options in choosing a school are seemingly endless. But let that not overwhelm you. There is a good way to make your pick. First narrow your list down to a few schools that offer what you want. Then get as much information as you can about those schools.
For example what I have done is ask the school for references. I have asked for email addresses of former students so I could send them an email to ask what they thought of the school. You can use Google to search for any articles on the web about for example accidents that happened with planes of the school. The timeliness in which they reply on requests for information is also a pretty good indicator for the quality of the school. It would be odd for them to never answer any emails wouldn’t it? Still, it does happen and it has also happened to me.

There are some forums on the web which can give you a pretty good indication. Do a search on the forums to learn what other people’s experiences with the school are. If not all the information you need is available, then start asking questions yourself. Most forums are free to join and other members will be glad to help you in any way they can. This way you get first hand honest info.
A really good forum is for example http://www.pprune.org.

I finally decided on Orlando Flight Training in Kissimmee, Florida. They have plenty of experience with foreign students, the comments I got form former student were mostly positive and I could start when I wanted to.

Type rating

2008-07-03T03:09:00.000-07:00

A type rating is an approval to fly a certain type of aircraft. Usually they are turbine propeller airplanes or jet engined planes. You need one to be able to fly the “bigger” planes the airlines use. They are also very expensive because usually there is actual flying involved. Can you imagine what it costs to do some training, like touch and goes, on a real Boeing 737 or an Airbus 320? And they are only the smaller airliners. Imagine the cost of something with 4 engines, like a 747 or an Airbus 340!

Ways to reach your goal

2008-07-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

There are more than one ways to get your pilot training. Actually, there are two. You can take what is called the modular route, or you can do the integrated route. The integrated route is where you do the complete training at one school only. It usually takes about 18 – 24 months to complete. Certain licences, like the PPL (Private Pilots Licence) are skipped because you will be working towards the one licence you need to fly airliners, the ATPL. (Air Transport Pilot’s Licence). Once you have that you would have had to give up the private licence anyway, so why bother even getting it?

The Modular route is where the individual student builds his or her training from the “blocks” that are mandatory to get towards the final licence, the ATPL. He or she is free to choose his or her school for every block. The blocks basically consist of the following:

PPL (Private Pilot’s Licence) – theory

PPL – practical

ATPL (Air Transport Pilot Licence) – theory

(in the meantime gather 150 hours flight time from which at least 100 must be Pilot in Command (PIC))

CPL (Commercial Pilot’s Licence)

IR (Instrument Rating)

ME (Multi Engine rating)

ME/IR (Multi Engine with Instrument Rating)

Usually, or almost always I might say, the PPL training is done on a simple single engine piston airplane. The licence then automatically comes with a Rating, namely the Single Engine Piston (or SEP) rating. It allows you to fly single piston engine aircraft. If you want to fly something else, like an aircraft with a turbine engine (a Jet or Turboprop), you need to get a separate rating for it.

Once you have done all of the above you can start applying for a job at the airlines.

But still you are in no way finished with your training. Usually, at least in the JAA system you need to do a MCC (Multi Crew Course). Because up till now you have only flown as a captain in your own little aeroplane. An MCC prepares you for flying with two crewmembers. It’s all about captaincy, initiative, cooperation on the flight deck etc.

Then, IF you are very lucky, you will be hired by an airline which will pay for the next step in your career, the Typerating (TR).

Pilot training

2008-07-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

A lot of people have asked me what pilot training is all about. What is it exactly that you have to learn? Once you know how to fly the airplane, what more is there? Also, people tend to ask about the different phases in the training. “Once you have done this, can you fly a Boeing?” “Uhm, no sorry, I first have to complete this and that.” “Ok, so then you can fly a Boeing?” “Well no, not really, I also need to do this and that and so forth.” People tend to not understand anymore and stop asking. That’s why I started this blog, to explain what pilot training is all about. And to give you an insight view in pilot training.

Also for the wannabee pilots this blog gives a very nice description of what awaits them. Some of my experiences might turn you off. But don’t let them. You also will meet the challenges and problems I have faced… and overcome. It can be done, loads of pilots have before me and will after me. It takes a strong will and a mind set for the goal you want to achieve: becoming a pilot.

I chose not to use people’s full names. This is for the privacy of those involved. It would be very easy to identify some of the people in my blog, since the world of aviators is only very small, so I will only use their first initial. Also my blog is sort of a backlog. Although I’m still in training some of the stuff I write about happened a few years ago. I hope you all enjoy my blog. Please don’t hesitate to respond if you have any questions or comments.