"Flying once a month" syndrome

[Savate]

I'm working towards my PPL at a snail's pace...I only get to fly about once a month. This is all I can afford in my current situation..not to mention that at times my scheduled lesson is canceled due to weather.

At times the end seems decades away and can be discouraging, but at least I'm doing a ground school once a week to keep my up on stuff. In some ways, the time between my lessons gives me time to read and re-read stuff on the the lesson and come prepeared for the next one, but the downside is I lose the "feel" of the flying (and the practice of course).

My ground school instructor tells us that it took her 8 years (training on-and-off) to get her PPL about 15 year ago.

I wondered if there were other folks who have had a similiar experience...flying so infrequently and still sticking to it till the end.

What is your advice to help it move along and not have it take an additional 30hrs, etc.?

 

[midlifeflyer]

At least you have a CFI who understands.

You sound like most of my students, although a little more extreme.

Because of other commitments (full time non-aviation career), I only teach part time. Once a week on the weekend with the odd weekday evening. If my students can do more, I send them to another CFI.

Once a week is tough. Once a month is pushing the edges. The problem, as you are learning, is that learning a new skill efficiently really requires timely reinforcement. Think about how long it would have taken to learn to drive with lessons once a week or once a month - and that's a familiar activity that you'd seen done thousands of times before you ever sat in the "left seat."

Couple of things that you can do that seem to work for my students.

1. Chair fly. Make suer that you have the basics down pat. Do a session with a CFI in which you chair fly so she can critique and get a good procedures manual for backup - I like the Gleim Practical Test book. I had a student who broke his leg and was out for more than a month and I used this technique - he flew better the first day back than he had the last day out.

2. Get one of the flight training videos/ CD/ DVD sets. Not knowledge test prep but a set like the Sporty's, which goes through a =flight= training syllabus lesson by lesson and maneuver by maneuver along with the associated knowledge. It can help to keep your mind working on flying even when your body can't get to the airport.

 

[C172gal05]

That is tough...I thought I was bad cause it has taken me almost a year...They say the best is to fly as much as possible to retain all the information. But if you can't help the situation it is hard to change.. But you might spend more money taking longer because you will have to repeat some lessons..my suggestion is to be in the books if your not in the plane...it could help to keep you fresh and also see about doing some simulator time. Best of luck!

 

[sydeseet]

I agree. Take a year off. I know that sounds like a really bad idea but hear me out. Stash away the funds necessary to support flying at least once per week. Twice per week is three times better than once but you can knock out a PPL in a little over a year if you maintain a weekly flying lesson.

I used to tell my students that they need to think of flying lessons as a long term investment of money and time. You have to do what it takes to maximize that investment so waiting until you have the funds necessary to make the best use of your brain, time, and bank account may be the best long term plan.

This doesn't mean that you have to stop going to the airport though. Stay invovled any you can.

Go get 'em!!!!!

 

[hangar7guy]

I hear ya...I remember what it was like when I was a student.

I would echo what gkrangers and sydeseet have told you...give it a rest and build up some $$$ so that you can fly at a more consistent pace. This is what has worked best for my students over the years.

Follow midlifeflyer's suggestions for staying immersed in mental flying, create a "flight training fund" and then you'll (hopefully) be able to fly at least once a week without fail. You'll undoubtedly see much more progress that way.

Good luck.

 

[Goose Egg]

Here's another thought...

Although it has been largely boo-hooed by certain members of this forum, I can tell you what allowed me to obtain the funding necessary to complete my ratings. Prepare yourself. Are you ready? It is called "going to college." Since I was a full-time student working on a BS degree, I was able to qualify for pell grants and stafford loans. And since I was attending a state school, tuition was ultra cheap, and flight costs were at a minimum. This allowed me to progress from my private to CFI with basically no interruption. I did take out some loans--I owed around $18k at graduation. And hey, I even got a degree out of it.

Don't know if this is something that will work for your situation, but it's worth a thought.

-Goose

 

[Immelman]

Goose Egg, your story sounds so much like mine its trippy. I surf a lot too, maybe that has something to do with it.

Anyways, my story: I took a few lessons - 7-8 hours worth at a snail's pace, on my parents' dime (they wanted to encourage me but couldn't afford it) and I had to stop for a while until I had the funds to attempt going once a week. A year later, as I was starting college full-time, with the pell + stafford funding covering my tuition books, and living at home, I had the cash to pay for lessons once a week. Even then it took a year to get my license.

After my PPL I was given the opportunity to work at the flight school part-time as the last kid like me left for ERAU, and in the process I was mentored by some excellent people, and got some free flight time out of the deal.

You might also consider that once you get the PPL, it is of little value if you cannot fly -- I am going to go out on a limb and say once every couple weeks -- otherwise your skills and judgement may not fare too well.

 

[urflyingme?!]

I had a similiar problem when I started out. I would recommend shelving it for a while and saving up the cash. Talk to the FBO as well, and see if you can trade work for time. Some ideas:
Help clean planes hand the A&P wrenches etc.
I was paying a lot of cash on my PPL because I was flying a new plane with shiny GPS and HSI. Check out the humble 152 with 2 navs and a DG(You could cut costs by 35%) Also consider a flying club(WAAAYY cheaper)

 

[Goose Egg]

Goose Egg, your story sounds so much like mine its trippy. I surf a lot too, maybe that has something to do with it.

Cool, whatcha ridin'?

(No hi-jack attempt...)

-Goose

 

[Immelman]

Goose: 9' 4" longboard for those mellow days. I learned on it. It is undergoing some ding repair in the garage now from the last time I loaned it to a beginner. I usually ride either a 7' 4" hybrid shape in larger surf, or my 6' 6" shortboard, the only one of the bunch I've had shaped just for me.. love the shortboard but if I don't ride it very often I forget how and have to spend a couple weeks getting my takeoffs back in order...

 

[Goose Egg]

Cool. 9' longboard myself. I'm still a bit of a gremmie so I picked it up used with some fixed dings, but I love it just the same. Got a pretty good deal on it too. I've always been more interested in the longboarding side of things, so we'll see how it goes--my next board might be another longboard.

-Goose

 

[Savate]

Thanks for all the advice.

I think my plan for now is to fly when I can but continue to put money aside for a future marathon summer of flying. I don't want to just shelve my training for now because I'm not getting any younger (I'm 40) and hope to be able to work towards my CFI and maybe commercial.

The college scenario doesn't work for me since I already have enough student loans to finance a 3rd world country (2 BA's and an MA). I am taking a ground school now at the local college though.

I have considered financing my PPL but like some have said, then I'll be so broke paying back the loan that I won't have any money to continue flying post-PPL.

 

[dabandermac]

save $

ya bro, save your money till' you can pay for ppl practically up front. training once a month can be compared to paying the minimum on your credit card. those interest payments that are building up is exactly like the extra time (and when i say time, understand time = money in flight training) it is taking you earn your ppl. if i was in your situation i would save, and study for your written in the meantime so once you have saved you can take the written and focus solely on flying.

 

[414Flyer]

I agree...flying once a month is just going to be spinning your wheels, all you will be doing each time is just review the last flight.

Save up until you have a lot more money to knock the rest of it out, or get pretty close. It will save you money and you can actually get your certificate

 

[B767Inst]

If you don't count the two flights I had in 1978 (I don't, my wife does), it took me nearly 4 years to get my PPL. From Nov 99 - Aug 03. Like you, I flew when I could afford it/find time. My total logbook time was 55 hrs when I took the check. I stopped in 1978 because I couldn't afford to finish. Thinking at the time I'd save the money and do it all at once. So, I'm going to go against the grain and say keep flying! It may take you longer, but every flight is a learning opportunity. Personally, I'd rather keep plugging away and stay in the game versus standing on the sidelines.

 

[Goose Egg]

Yeah, I think I'm with B76 on this one. Since the college thing isn't going to work out for you, I'd just do what you could lesson wise. It gives you something in your life to look forward to. Sure, it may turn out to be a little more expensive this way, but we should all know by now that saving money isn't what flying is all about!

-Goose

 

[comander]

I was like that 1 or 2 a month then sold my motorcycle and got a cheaper car,also my dad helped me at the end so then I got like 1 hour a week , but some instructors get scared to let u solo if u only fly once a month even if u are ready , better save some cash and then get it on ,so that they will feel ok and give u permition to fly solo. I got my ppl almost 3 years after I started. and was so pi$$sed off, with some of my instructor cause they wouldnt let me go solo cause the last time I had flown well, but like a month ago.