Selling potential student training Q ?

[BoDEAN]

I have an introduction flight with a senior in high school next week. His mother told me today that her brother flys for American, and urged her son to start flying in college opposed to before. I did that route, and feel that he would better benefit in the long run if he started training early, before college (He is enrolling at NW Michigan next fall. I told her that he could get his private before college and be a step ahead of the game, and learn just as much.

What other key issues or points should I bring up to sell him and her on starting training now, opposed to waiting til going to college and flying with the school?

 

[Illini Pilot]

-find out if he likes it
-cheaper?
-more personalized, 1-on-1 training for private
-at his own pace
-learn to fly without the distractions of being an incoming freshman/other classes

 

[mullet]

I went to a flight school my first 2 years of college. Students like me with 0 flights hours opposed to ones with theri PPL still had to complete the same curriculum. Those guys had to pay for the PPL twice and be retaught our flight schools way of flying. I'm sure you would like the extra money/hours, let NWMU teach him the basics, I'm sure they do an excellent job.

 

[msw]

Is he going to take an "Aviation/Pilot Training" Program or curriculum at college, or going for another course of study like Math or Business or Art History, or whatever? If he is taking a formal aviation/pilot training curriculum, he might get "stuck" with some training or classes that would duplicate his prior training/efforts in High School. He needs to check with the college for the specifics on this.

However, if he is NOT planning on a pilot training program in college, then starting in High Scholl is a no-brainer. I don't see any down-side to it. The younger the better. (Assuming he has the interest and it is not just because other family members want him to do it.) I started flying lessons at a local FBO while in High School, soloed at 16, Private at 17 before starting college. Had to give up High School athletics to make room for the two part-time jobs I had after school to pay for the flying lessons, but it paid off as I was making a living flying airplanes long before I would have otherwise: part-time CFI'ing by my sophomore year in college, and flying Part 135 mail, checks and packages (at night after my classes were done) in Aztecs, Navajos and Beech 18's by the time I was 20. If they have the interest and the money, start-em early.

 

[BoDEAN]

Thanks for the tips. He comes in today at 4pm for his introduction flight.