Search found 87 matches

by scottj
Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:23 pm
Forum: Instructors' Corner
Topic: flight school annual report
Replies: 52
Views: 78920

The Business of Being a Flight Instructor

Paul: That is an excellent and comprehensive report. Have you thought about writing a book ~ Opening a Flight School for Dummies? We have added that very topic, The Business of Being a Flight Instructor to our Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) and new CFI courses. Most people are not aware o...
by scottj
Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:43 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Am I doing something wrong?...
Replies: 13
Views: 6909

Teenagers learning to fly

I suggest that you, and your parents, telephone the local flight schools and then visit a few of them. Each will be different than the last and have their own specialty. For some reason, lately, emails are getting lost... perhaps because we are sending/receiving a few hundred per day. Use the old fa...
by scottj
Sun May 08, 2011 8:00 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: What should I do?
Replies: 56
Views: 20816

CFI does not know Sport

As I understand the question, the "customer" wants to get his Sport Pilot license, not a Private Pilot license. He also wants to train in a Light Sport Aircraft, not a larger C-172. Right there he needs to stop, do some more research and find a flight school that teaches in LSA and underst...
by scottj
Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:55 am
Forum: Instructors' Corner
Topic: Setting up a simple LSA training business
Replies: 29
Views: 25416

Tough Ones

I hesitate to endorse any of them. Do your own research... look up the top sellers on www.bydanjohnson.com Then check the NTSB reports. Then actually get demo rides and fly five or ten different ones. Do some web searching and email flight schools and ask what they are using. It's your business...ha...
by scottj
Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:55 am
Forum: Instructors' Corner
Topic: Setting up a simple LSA training business
Replies: 29
Views: 25416

No Insurance for a CFI or Flight School?

Someone mentioned keeping it simple and not buying insurance. You may be able to fix the airplane with your own two hands. But one "simple" off runway landing can cost over $ 400,000 in medical and liability bills. Can you self-fund that liability? Trust me... I know. I am not just a CFI w...
by scottj
Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:44 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Another Question About Solo Cross-Country Requirement
Replies: 18
Views: 11546

Cross Country Length

I agree with the idea to fly longer solo cross countries. Once airborne, how long does it take to fly an extra 25 miles? About 10 minutes or so... by not doing it now you have to repeat the entire, longer, flight at a later date. Save yourself some training dollars and do it sooner rather than later...
by scottj
Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:01 pm
Forum: Instructors' Corner
Topic: Setting up a simple LSA training business
Replies: 29
Views: 25416

Starting an LSA School

Hambone: There are a lot of good, and some really bad, comments here. As you can see, you really need to do your due diligence before opening your school. Have you considered getting a job as a CFI and learning the ropes at an existing school? Have you looked into other manufacturers airplanes? I wo...
by scottj
Sun Nov 14, 2010 7:08 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Using Flight simulators for LSA flight training
Replies: 57
Views: 45025

Simulators

I firmly believe that "flight training begins on the ground, not in the air" (TM). Given that most new S-LSA have glass panels and qualify as a TAA... where would you rather start learning buttonology? The truth is, there is just way too much to learn for new pilots "today" vs. a...
by scottj
Mon Aug 09, 2010 12:36 am
Forum: Introduce Yourself!
Topic: Hello all! From Phoenix AZ
Replies: 9
Views: 7382

Which Kit

I am saying... you need both... books and a school. BUT ask your CFI first which book he wants you to use. Nothing worse than when a student brings me his choice of books and asks me to teach him. Then I have to spend my time adapting my course syllabus to his OUTDATED book that he bought off Craigs...
by scottj
Mon Aug 09, 2010 12:16 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Training Materials
Replies: 9
Views: 5697

Ground Training

Paul pretty well covered the textbook options. I firmly believe that in addition to, not instead of, you also need to attend a quality ground school. When you study, and train, with other student pilots (whether it be for Sport, Private, Instrument, Commercial, or CFI) you learn a lot more than doin...
by scottj
Mon Aug 09, 2010 12:00 am
Forum: Training
Topic: Condensed training
Replies: 8
Views: 5134

Training Plans

I did not see the words "PTS" Practical Test Standards in anyone's reply. The objective is to create a pilot who meets, and exceeds, the PTS. Not how many hours he has... some people take 20, 40, 100+ hours to be ready. Pull out the PTS and ask yourself if you can perform each item. When t...
by scottj
Sun Aug 08, 2010 11:22 pm
Forum: Introduce Yourself!
Topic: Hello all! From Phoenix AZ
Replies: 9
Views: 7382

Ground Training

Many student pilots think that they can skip "ground school" or learn all they need to learn by reading a book. This will teach you how to pass the FAA multiple choice Knowledge Exam, but it will not teach you how to be, think, act, and fly like a safe aviator. A good ground school is the ...
by scottj
Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:23 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Stick or Yoke
Replies: 10
Views: 6194

Left or Right

Left or Right... you should be able to fly the stick from either seat using your outboard hand on the stick and inboard on the throttle. Never switch hands in mid flight, especially on landing. If it is that big of a problem, ask your instructor to change seats. There is no law the student has to si...
by scottj
Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:16 pm
Forum: Partnerships
Topic: Looking for partnership or club - Fergus Falls, MN
Replies: 2
Views: 16119

Aircraft Partnerships

Try www.TheAPA.com to find an airplane partner.
by scottj
Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:20 pm
Forum: Training
Topic: Magazine Article
Replies: 49
Views: 17363

windows

Now there is a topic in itself... how to clean an airplane window. I never thought of the difference from Minnesota bugs to Nevada desert dust. But a very important lesson, as anyone who has flown a "halo" window into the setting sun will attest. 1) Hose it down with water first if dusty 2...