Learning To Fly - Where do I start?

Once you've settled in your mind exactly what your goals are for learning to fly, the next step in this process would be to decide when and where you should train. If your schedule and finances will allow, we recommend attending one of our accelerated flight training courses. Why accelerated training? Remember, we talked about MAXIMUM VALUE and MAXIMUM QUALITY. In an accelerated course the student is removed from his/her normal day to day environment and completely immersed in the subject matter of learning to fly an airplane for the duration of the training course. The goal here is not so much drinking from the proverbial fire hose, as much as it is maximizing your learning curve. Concentrating your efforts over a short period of time maximizes the retention of information as well as quickly reinforcing the required motor skills. Quite simply, it is the difference between earning your pilot license in 45 to 50 hours instead of 75 to 80 hours.

We strongly recommend shopping around and checking out all of your options. Right now you are visiting SunState Aviation's web site, but we would encourage you to shop, call, email, browse, take notes and then make an informed choice. To be totally honest; we may not be the flight school that is best suited to your own personal needs and goals, but the only way you would know that for sure is if you have done your homework!

Here are some things you should look for as you are shopping for that perfect place to learn to fly:

• New and late model aircraft that are meticulously maintained to meet or exceed FAA standards.
• A structured training syllabus (ground and flight) that is FAA approved
• Experienced flight instructors who are closely supervised by an experienced Chief Flight Instructor
• All flight instructors consistently follow the training syllabus (no lone rangers doing their own thing. Lone rangers are only out to milk you and build hours. If they are not all following the syllabus, they are not doing you any favors)
• Flight instructors who are completely knowledgeable about the avionics in the training aircraft
• Itemized cost estimates for absolutely everything involved with reaching your goals
• Does this flight school require full payment in advance? (If they do, run, don't walk in the other direction!!!)
• Does the flight school have an FAA approved level III or better flight simulator?
• Does the flight school return your phone calls and/or emails? Is the support staff courteous and helpful?
• Where will you take your FAA Knowledge Exam (written test)? Where will you take your Practical Test?
• Can the school accommodate your scheduling needs, whether an accelerated program or a self-paced program around a busy and demanding work schedule?