Standard Vs Glass

[speedbird18]

I am looking at flight schools to do my PPL, and several seem to be split between conventional guage cockpit and Garmin glass cockpits. Which should I use? The schools with Glass say that this is now the way to go, is this true, Does it really matter?

Thanks

 

[minitour]

Private - as little instrumentation as possible. It's a VFR rating...LOOK OUTSIDE.

For the instrument, if you've got a G1000 airplane, please learn the basic attitude stuff in a standard 6 pack airplane...learn your partial panel...shoot some approaches. Then pop into the G1000, do the XC and checkride prep...just make sure you get some 6 pack for the instrument.

Commercial - same as private.

-mini

 

[Princedietrich]

You definitely need to get exposed to both glass AND steam gauges during training. Once you get out there into the "real world" you're going to encounter both, and being trained in only one or the other is going to present a handicap eventually.

Definitely learn the basics of instrument flying with a 6 pack of steam gauges, then move on to the fancy glass toys for the XC stuff.

 

[time builder]

Glass is cool, if you can afford it. However, I've only been asked once if I had any "glass" time (in a flight instructor interview). "Does Microsoft count?" I asked. She just laughed. I got the job anyway.

 

[timeoff]

"Glass" time for primary instruction is a complete waste of money. Find the cheapest 150/152 you can and get your private in that. We have two G1000 172's at my school and they seem to never move. The ratty 172's are always booked at least a week out.

 

[Andrew_VT]

I agree, glass is a marketing tool for flight schools to hook uneducated new canidates, or for aircraft companies to have an excuse for charging a half million for a 1000lbs of aluminum.

 

[eagle06]

Private with steam. Do some of both for the instrument.

 

[flyer172r]

With the glass, there's a lot of "gee-whiz" things to distract you while flying. You don't need that when you're just starting out. You gotta crawl before you can walk.

 

[Wiggums]

I think everyone should learn to fly in an olive green 1973 C-172 with 12,000 hours and TKM radios. Bonus if it still has original Cessna ADF. Man up.

If you learn in a new glass airplane you will look back and feel you missed something.

 

[svcta]

Ever wonder why so many SR-___s have fallen out of the sky this year alone? Train in something that will develope your skills as an AIRMAN not a systems manager. I am going to go so far as to say this is not only my opinion, but something I think will save lives.

 

[unreal]

I think everyone should learn to fly in an olive green 1973 C-172 with 12,000 hours and TKM radios. Bonus if it still has original Cessna ADF. Man up.

If you learn in a new glass airplane you will look back and feel you missed something.

Agreed. My school is getting G1000 C172s next summer, and all I can think is how ridiculous it'll be trying to teach someone pilotage and basic "look outside the damn cockpit" skills. We need to invent MFD sized instrument covers.

 

[Princedietrich]

I think everyone should learn to fly in an olive green 1973 C-172 with 12,000 hours and TKM radios. Bonus if it still has original Cessna ADF. Man up.

If you learn in a new glass airplane you will look back and feel you missed something.

You just perfectly described the plane I took my private ride in.

 

[eagle06]

svcta - agree 100%. When i fly with my primary student in a SR20 i usually turn off the PFD for half of the manuvers. really screws em up but they need the practice.

 

[FLYHY]

Go to the school that has the better reputation and the better maintained aircraft.

 

[YourPilotFriend]

6 pack it for all your training, use microsoft flight sim for glass exposure. Every airline has training on their aircraft built in that is specific to its avionics. Your not going to get any help from any of the current single engine flight displays. You never unlearn how to fly a six pack, but you're going to have to unlearn the G1000. Total waste of time and money.