Flight Training at 15?

"Jay Honeck" wrote

We've talked it over, and he's decided to wait until Summer '07 to start
his "real" flight training, just so he can go straight through till his
check-ride. I think it's the best decision he can make at this time -- I
just hope his interest doesn't wane.

I think that is a good choice. In the meantime, you can always let him get
in some right seat time. Fly some, navigate, even a bit of radio time.

Things like that keep the newness, and excitement in flying, in a kid that
age, the newness is what you need to keep shooting for. He has seen it, now
teach him how to have the responsibility for doing it.

When go, no-go situations come up, ask him what he would do, and how he came
to that decision. Then explain what you would do, and how you came to that
decision. That will teach decision making, and develop the judgment skills,
that so many kids his age are lacking.

How to think for yourself is the hardest of all skills to teach. I think
you can do it, though.
--
Jim in NC

Peter Duniho wrote:

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:5w0jg.27259$No1.21289@attbi_s71...

How many guys do you know that tell you "I soloed a plane back in 19xx" --
but never got their ticket?

I have met a whole bunch of them. I don't want my son to solo, get
"stuck" in a rut waiting, and then never finish up.


Get over it. There's nothing wrong with him deciding he doesn't want to
pursue aviation, and it's pointless for you to attempt to arrange things to
"ensure" that he does.

You can't ensure that he does. He will finish because he wants to. A
friend of mine bought a 150 for his high school kid to learn to fly in.
The kid got his private but basically showed no interest in flying.
The kid joined the Air Force and was stationed at the AFB in Dover, DE.
My friend flew the plane out there so the kid could fly anytime he
wanted for the price of gas. It's been just over a year since the plane
was delivered to him. He never once untied it from the ramp. Since he
just got deployed to Iraq for a while another friend went over there to
bring it back. The kid has no interest in flying and dad is the only
one who can't see it because he wants it so bad.
My oldest is going to be a junior in high school next fall and
already knows he wants to go to UND to be an airline pilot. We have all
the brochures and will no doubt be applying when a junior would normally
apply. I show him all the negative articles I can find about how being
an airline pilot ain't like it used to be, but he is determined. My
kids have known since day one that they will be going to college.
Graduating from high school merely means you will be changing schools.
So once there they can do what they want.

Stefan wrote:
And would you be comfortable letting a kid
fly off in your precious airplane IF you could even find a way to insure it?

Interesting that you seem more concerned about your precious plane than
about your kids.




Well, you can always have more kids. Airplanes are expensive.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

I think that you've got a unique situation. Your son is able to see first
hand the doors that aviation can open for people. You and your family have
jumped into GA with both feet and Joe is exposed to the fruits of that labor
each and every day. For Joe, it has become common to jump in the airplane
and travel hundreds of miles to visit people and things that otherwise would
have never been seen. With this in mind, remember that each pilot is an
individual.

Examine and explore Joe's motivation for not just "learning to fly" but his
motivation for becoming a pilot and using the privileges, it may be
different from the normal "because it's cool" and it may not be "because Mom
and Dad do". No doubt his motivations will change as he matures, but long
term goals can be kept in mind. A solid basis in practical aviation will be
worth it's weight in gold as he moves on to other endeavors.

In many ways I agree with Jim ME. Advanced ratings and the knowledge gained
obtaining them will help him in what ever career he chooses, there are still
many top paying jobs in aviation, some even as pilots. Corporate pilots
that have a strong business background will always be in high demand. The
decision making skills gained in the cockpit and in the flight planning room
will be invaluable later in his life. Joe has many things going for him that
put him in a position to take full advantage of what aviation has to offer.
He has a wonderful basis to build upon. He has two supportive parents that
can evaluate, critique, and encourage. (oh, they also own an airplane).

I'd start when ever he is comfortable.

Jim
"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3fUig.26692$1i1.20490@attbi_s72...
My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting his Junior year
of high school.

He's been flying since he can remember, and has many hours in the right
seat. (He's got over 1500 hours as a passenger with Mary and me.) His
first dozen or so hours behind the yoke were "IFR" -- because he couldn't
see over the panel! He can do everything except land the plane -- and
I'm fairly certain he could do that, but I'm not about to risk our lives
(or my plane) to find out.

We both agree that he's ready to learn to fly "for real". So, last week
we sat down with a local flight instructor to check out his options on
learning to fly.

Our options are simple.

1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo before school starts
in the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire year before he
can take the check-ride.

2. He can hold off until next summer, 2007.

Prior to age 37, I could only walk around on the ground looking up
enviously at aircraft flying overhead -- so I have no frame of reference
on this issue. For those of you who were lucky enough to train as
teenagers, did it work for you? Should my son wait a year, so he can go
at it full-steam and get the ticket?

Or should we strike while the iron is hot?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

But having to wait a year between solo and private is a lot of down
time for someone who probably has an enormous number of non-aviation
activities and a very short attention span (pretty much describes all
of us at 15). It might be best to wait until he is old enough to pursue
this activities at his natural pase and not get stopped all the time by
age requirements.

-Robert


Jim Macklin wrote:
You don't "ramp up" for solo or even the private, you ramp
up for a career in stages. The goal is always coming and it
isn't just the solo, or even the private, but the CFI and
ATP experience level.

Jay Honeck schrieb:

the horizon (and a daughter coming up not far behind), stretching out his
flight training is not a good option, financially.

There are many commercial glider operations which I'm sure would be glad
to accept him for a three week (or so) full time arrangement during
holidays (http://www.ssa org). This would give him a new perspective to
flying and a license. Besides, it's my strong believe that starting in
gliders makes you a better stick and rudder pilot, but this is just my
opinion.

You'd run the risk, though, that he'll loose interest in powered flight
and decides to stay with gliders.

Stefan

I started flying lessons at age 16 and finished my private at 17. It took me
the full year. I only flew about one per week and though about it most of
the time. That worked well for me. I took my checkride with just barely 40
hours (and passsed). Spreading out the training may end up requiring more
hours but that doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. If there is enough money
for 60 hours in a year, is it better to get the license in 40 hours in the
first two months and then spread the next 20 over the remaining 10 months. I
would rather spread the 60 more evenly over the full year, even if the
license comes at the end.

I was the first person in my family to take an interest in flying. My
brother and I had each saved up enough for a car by the time we were 16. He
bought a car. I got my private and drove the family car. The money even let
me fly a few hours after my license before it ran out.

I gave up flying for 12 years starting in college. I stopped because I
didn't have enough money. I didn't start again until I felt I had enough
income to sustain it. (My wife doesn't necessarily agree that we have enough
income for flying, but that is a difference of priorities.) Something
similar is likely to happen with your son at some point.

Jay Honeck wrote:
My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting his Junior year
of high school.

Fly now!

Absolutely agree, Ron... Fly now and get him soloed at 16... Even if
he drops it right there it is knowledge that will help him life long...

Local girl I watched was one of those skinny brat kids who grew up
flying with dad in his Cessna 140... She has a BS in science from a
university where she went through the aeronautical program...Now she is
a gorgeous blonde in sunglasses that has all the guys on the field
drooling as they watch her walk across the ramp, casually climb into a
KingAir, and fly off with a load of charter passengers... She is also
flying right seat in Falcons... She flies left seat freight in D-18
beech's... Has solo time in DC-3's... Is ASMEL CFII rated... Got her
water rating in a J3 on floats... Is faculty at the same university
she attended where she does the bulk of the multiengine instrument
instruction... If I were a young man I would be moving heaven and
earth to have her as my girlfriend...

denny

" How many guys do you know that tell you "I soloed a plane back in
19xx" --
but never got their ticket?

I have met a whole bunch of them. I don't want my son to solo, get
"stuck" in a rut waiting, and then never finish up.


I started lessons at 15, soloed at 16---missed my birthday by 4 days because
of IFR WX---took my checkride as soon as I turned 17.
That was 1955 and I'm still at it.

My father helped me through solo and I came up with the rest---line
boy---mechanics helper---etc.

If he has the interest and motivation go for it. Lucky kid---a family plane
to fly---a dad to help----

Cheers:

Paul
N1431A