So I'm sitting here on the waitlists for Con college and Sault (I would have had a spot at both but applied late like a fool), I've been told I have a good chance to get into Sault (#5 on the waitlist) not as good a chance for Con (somewhere between #15-20). I'm essentially starting from nothing when it comes to formal flight training, a few glider flights with the Air Cadets and around 10 hours puttering about in Cessnas with friends and family.
So my question is what sort of hours should I try and build up over the next three months, if any? If you enter either one of these subsidized programs with previous hours do they dock you training? I've also heard from one person that it's better to enter these programs as a blank slate as your previous training may conflict with the way things are taught at college.
Any advice on how to burn my truck driver cash on this flying nonsense appreciated , thanks.
In a subsidized program they may slightly reduce the number of training hours you get if you already have a PPL, otherwise you should get however many hours you'd get if you showed up with zero experience.
You can fly a bit if you want, giving the From The Ground Up a couple read-throughs would be a solid plan too. Working lots and saving up a bunch to put towards your education is a good idea, and ensuring you're well disciplined and mature will go a long way in a subsidized program. One of the biggest lessons a lot of students learn is the value of prioritizing, unfortunately that lesson usually comes sometime between seeing their exam scores and packing their bags. If possible, have that one locked down before you get there.
Thanks for the reply. I'll order From The Ground Up today. I've got a good chunk of change saved up from work, I should be able to get through without debt. It seems to be a theme from what I've read of people partying their way to failure in these programs, I'm a little older than the kids coming straight from high school so I think that's out of my system by now .
I'm thinking about taking ground school over the summer at the Victoria Flying Club, it costs around $600. Is ground school worth taking beforehand or would a better use of the $600 be on 3 hours of dual?
Save your money. The chances of getting anything fruitful out of it at this point is unlikely. Put the money aside and use it later when you know how best to use it. For example you find your having trouble with nav, now you have the opportunity to go and do some extra work on that subject. Maybe you ace everything so instead you celebrate by going and getting some tail wheel time or a unique checkout etc. As some one mentioned reading is a great educator, FGU is good and I would also recommend TC's Flight Training Manual and Bill Kershner (sp?) Advanced Pilot Handbook.
Nothing but books and work all summer? Where's the fun in that ? I hear what you're saying though, I'm only thinking about getting 4-5 hours of flight time to somewhat soften the blow of everything being thrown at you at once in college, and then put the rest of my effort this summer into the books. The summer is also too damn nice here in Victoria to not take advantage of it and fly around for a day or two.
If you have some extra cash that's truly extra, go flying. Find a good instructor that has done more than just get their licenses at that school then gone to work at that school and you should be in good shape. I'm not saying you need a grizzled old ex-bush/military/airline guy to teach you, just someone who has seen more than one type at more than one airport. That instructor will probably a) be driven by a love of what they do, and/or b) understand that flying isn't a recipe to be repeated ad nauseum. They will understand how to fly an airplane and not just this airplane. The difference is subtle at first glance but enormous to those who understand it. Example: you hold altitude by holding the nose some small amount below the horizon (which varies somewhat with load, speed and altitude) and evaluating whether it works, NOT by holding the nose three fingers below the horizon this time and every other time. I think I started rambling there, I'll stop but hopefully you get my point on instructor selection.
FTGU is an excellent plan, also since you have been out of school for a while, reviewing advanced math and physics is also a great and important prep ! I too will be attending one of the subsidized flight colleges come September. Cheers and goodluck!
Censo wrote:FTGU is an excellent plan, also since you have been out of school for a while, reviewing advanced math and physics is also a great and important prep ! I too will be attending one of the subsidized flight colleges come September. Cheers and goodluck!
, thanks.
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? I hear what you're saying though, I'm only thinking about getting 4-5 hours of flight time to somewhat soften the blow of everything being thrown at you at once in college, and then put the rest of my effort this summer into the books. The summer is also too damn nice here in Victoria to not take advantage of it and fly around for a day or two.
