Sport Pilot Talk

Airman · Joined: 09 Jan 2011 Posts: 4

I made a post in the "introduce yourself" section. After going over the forum i relies this is the place to post for me. I am looking to get my private pilots license. I would rather have a private instructor then go to a school. The main reasons are 1. it will be cheaper, 2. my time restraints. I work a lot and don't have time to fly everyday. I am in clearwater FL. I have already had a warm welcome and hope that someone here can point me in the right direction. Thanks.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1387 Location: Lock Haven PA

Airman wrote: I would rather have a private instructor then go to a school.

Bear in mind that, unless you have your own airplane, you will need to rent both an instructor and a plane. Any flight instructor who rents out his or her own plane for instruction is, by definition, a flight school (whether he or she uses the term or not). So, you're still shopping for a flight school (albeit a small one).

If you are in a position to take three weeks off in the Spring, and take a vacation in rural Central PA, you are welcome to consider the intensive training program at AvSport. See the website for details.

Good luck with your flight training.

Paul Hamilton · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 351 Location: Reno/Tahoe Nevada

Airman,
I have most of the independent flight instructors and schools that train in LSA listed on a map at:
http://lsapilot.beasportpilot.com/sport-pilot-locator/

This is limited to services that have a LSA to train in, many of which teach private pilot also.

designrs · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 144

This reply is in reference to finding a flight school re comments posted in Airman's introduce yourself section...

A few thoughts:
It should not be a problem to simply call or email a flight school and setup an intro flight... they might want to know a little about you, but you don't have to get into the "can I afford the whole flight training package" discussion. Go fly, try the plane, meet the instructor and go from there. You should FEEL like you WANT to fly more with them. If you liked the flight book another one.

Realize that you don't have to plan your whole training budget. Fly when you can afford to. As your desire and passion grows you will find ways to pay for it.

Changing instructors or flight schools might cost you a little time to transition, but it is not a bad thing. You start knowing * nothing * about planes and flying. Then as you learn you may find your desires and needs are different... perhaps you want to try a different plane, etc. Also no instructor is all things... each has something different to offer in terms of teaching style, strengths, personality, etc.

Overbook. In most areas on the country you are not going to get every flight that you book due to weather. Figure you will only get 60 to 70 percent of the flights that you book.

Intro flights and beginning lessons are easy to find instructors for, but when you are seriously moving forward to being a pilot you really need to have the right instructor that you feel can take you all the way to your check ride & beyond. Look for schools that regularly MAKE PILOTS.

Look for after licensing support. Realize that once you pass your check ride and have you new license in hand you still have a lot to learn. It is good to have a flight school renting you the plane, keeping an eye on you, and being there to assist. Also plan to get further instruction to make you a stronger and safer pilot... take an instructor along on a windy day, have them teach you to land on smaller and more challenging runways, etc.

Paul Hamilton · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 351 Location: Reno/Tahoe Nevada

Yes how to find an instructor is a task in itself. I also think a number of instructors is OK to get an overall view.
I do have a good "find a flight instructor" technique that is helpful at:
http://beasportpilot.com/start-flying/

bryancobb · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for training

Airman wrote: I made a post in the "introduce yourself" section. After going over the forum i relies this is the place to post for me. I am looking to get my private pilots license. I would rather have a private instructor then go to a school. The main reasons are 1. it will be cheaper, 2. my time restraints. I work a lot and don't have time to fly everyday. I am in clearwater FL. I have already had a warm welcome and hope that someone here can point me in the right direction. Thanks.

I got my Private in 1986 at Peter O'Knight airport, on Davis Island, in Tampa.
It is an uncontrolled field that is just outside Tampa's Class C Airspace. Albert Whitted field in St. Pete is a towered field and has a little more red-tape when LEARNING there.

Peter-O has gorgeous approaches over water and very little traffic. I suggest you go see them for an intro flight.

Hidden River near Sarasota may be an option but I am not familiar.

Bryan

bryancobb · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:49 am Post subject: Re: Looking for training

bryancobb wrote: Airman wrote: I made a post in the "introduce yourself" section. After going over the forum i relies this is the place to post for me. I am looking to get my private pilots license. I would rather have a private instructor then go to a school. The main reasons are 1. it will be cheaper, 2. my time restraints. I work a lot and don't have time to fly everyday. I am in clearwater FL. I have already had a warm welcome and hope that someone here can point me in the right direction. Thanks.

I got my Private in 1986 at Peter O'Knight airport, on Davis Island, in Tampa.
It is an uncontrolled field that is just outside Tampa's Class C Airspace. Albert Whitted field in St. Pete is a towered field and has a little more red-tape when LEARNING there.

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT PETER O'KNIGHT IN TAMPA AND ALBERT WHITTED FIELD IN ST. PETE, BOTH HAVE CESSNA 162 SKYCATCHERS FOR RENT AND HAVE AN ACTIVE AND THRIVING SPORT PILOT PROGRAM USING A KING / CESSNA SYLLABUS.

I WILL DEFINITELY BE CHECKING THAT OUT!!!!!!!
Peter-O has gorgeous approaches over water and very little traffic. I suggest you go see them for an intro flight.

Hidden River near Sarasota may be an option but I am not familiar.

Bryan

bryancobb · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:56 am Post subject: lOOKS lIKE $119 PER HR WET

eidolon45 · Joined: 25 Dec 2010 Posts: 56 Location: fairfax, va

You can also try SportPlanesFlorida.com at Sarasota airport. Jim Julius is the owner and they have a Remos GX trainer I flew back in Novemebr with a CFI named Larry. See how their prices compare.