I've been reading these threads about extreme accelerated courses that
get you passed the written and through the check ride on these groups
now for six years. I've been involved in flight instruction for over
fifty years. I've seen a lot of pilots in that time; taught literally
hundreds, and , checked out many more in all kinds of airplanes . I have
no idea what the experience of other CFI's has been concerning this
issue, but I'm absolutely certain that the result of my personal
experience on this issue has been more than conclusive to me.
I should state that I consider the subject of accelerated courses for
advanced tests and ratings such as multi, instrument, and ATP to be a
separate issue. In my opinion, an argument can be made for accelerated
courses dealing with higher ratings and written test prep when the
insertion point for these programs assumes a certain existing level of
experience and demonstrated performance.
But for the novice, entering into the initial learning curve with little
or no experience, the issue in my opinion takes on an entirely different
light.
Learning to fly an airplane PROPERLY, is a process that begins at point
A and never ends. This learning process goes on to infinity. The
licensing process is merely a designed spot along the learning curve
where demonstrated performance gains the person demonstrating a legal
recognition that a specific level has been achieved. Right here you have
a problem if you are attempting to view the entire process as a whole.
The system rewards demonstrated performance and rewards that
demonstrated performance, but REALITY dictates an ACTUAL level of
performance. Now, where does that leave us in discussing accelerated
courses for new pilots?
First of all, if the ACTUAL performance level can be consistently
matched with the DEMONSTRATED performance level at the time of testing,
we have no problem and the issue is moot, but I can tell you that from
my personal experience, viewing the accelerated course for the beginning
pilot, NOT the case at all!!
To put it bluntly, I can't remember a situation where I have checked out
a new pilot coming out of an accelerated course for Private Pilots where
the performance level was such that I felt no remedial work was
required....not ONE case!!!!
Now, is this indicative of the fact that I might be conservative in what
I expect from a new pilot I'm checking out in an airplane? It could be,
and I am indeed quite thorough in my checkout requirements, but this
really isn't the issue with me. It goes a bit deeper than that.
What I was finding in these pilots coming out of accelerated courses was
a common trait that deeply disturbed me...a common denominator.
A great many of these pilots could demonstrate on command, but when
taken deeper into the problem, had little ACTUAL understanding.
This, I believe is the crux of the issue on accelerated courses for
beginning pilots. Let's face it, the purpose of the course isn't to make
you into a safe pilot. It's to get you though the process safely in a
minimum amount of time. In other words, you are cramming what you need
to know in order to satisfy the legal requirement.
What ACTUALLY happens to you when taking these courses is that when you
finish, you can DEMONSTRATE what has to be demonstrated all right, and
at that point, if you are a normal person with normal intelligence and
abilities, you then go forth and BEGIN the catching up process that will
eventually lead you to the meeting between your ability to demonstrate
something and your understanding. Somewhere down that long unending
learning curve, your understanding catches up to you. THIS is the way
accelerated training works.
Is this a good way to do things in flying? Who knows! Most pilots who go
through these "courses" go on to catch up on the comprehension issues
and do just fine. Some don't! Some never make it to that all important
comprehension level that is so important to a SUSTAINED career as a
pilot....pleasure or professional.
My experience with pilots coming out of accelerated courses hasn't been
that good. In my opinion, the ability to demonstrate without complete
understanding is a real potential problem for a new pilot.
As I've said, the pilots I've checked coming out of these "crash courses
for the Private" were safe enough, but lacked the overall abilities of
pilots who had gone through a normal process of the learning curve.
Now....what exactly constitutes the "normal process" in the flying
learning curve is another subject altogether :-))))
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
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