Hints for parents of 13 year old student pilot?

In rec.aviation.piloting John Galban wrote:
Not a parent, but I have known a several kids that started training
early. Unless you can start him on sailplanes, I think 13 is a bit
early. The problem is that there are no immediate goals. Solo in a
power plane is at least 3 years away (seems like a lifetime to a 13
yr. old), and a PPL is 4 yrs. away. Even at 1 lesson per week, it
will be hard to maintain progress (and interest) for that long.

This is exactly what I thought as soon as I read Jay's post. Jay should
continue flying with his son, and fostering his interest, and put off
having him take formal lessons until he's atleast 15.

--- Jay



--

__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

This is exactly what I thought as soon as I read Jay's post. Jay should
continue flying with his son, and fostering his interest, and put off
having him take formal lessons until he's atleast 15.

Yeah, I've thought the same thing, off and on. But...

Then I read Trace Lewis' posts, with him asking insightful questions about
flying, and creating little musical videos of him flying a sail plane, and I
realize that SOME 13-year old boys *are* ready for this kind of thing. I
just don't know if *my* 13 year old boy is ready for such things.

Here's the deal: We want our son to feel the joy of flight. We want him to
be able to feel pride in achieving something other than the high score on
"Grand Theft Auto" (a popular video game, for you old fossils out there) --
while at the same time we don't want to push him into something he doesn't
appreciate.

On the OTHER other hand, a 13-year old is not unlike a pack-mule -- he'll
pretty much go whichever way you face him. If you don't steer them, they'll
just sit around all day eating potato chips and watching TV.

We are able to give him a unique opportunity -- an opportunity 99.999% of
the world will never have -- but this can be a double-edged sword if we
don't do it right.

*sigh* They say raising kids is the hardest thing you'll ever do. I'm
starting to believe that.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:vZI7c.59157$1p.964116@attbi_s54...

*sigh* They say raising kids is the hardest thing you'll ever do. I'm
starting to believe that.

Not quite. I put "stopping raising them and putting duct tape over your
mouth as they get on with their own lives" on a par.

A colleague (who also lurks here occasionally) offers the following. I met
his son and he seems highly motivated, but I'm not clear whether that is a
cause or effect...

We started [son's name] with gliders (14 is solo age), although he decided
that dad's taildragger was more interesting.

Before age 15 (assuming power-only training), let him fly your plane from
the right seat. Also make certain he participates in x-country planning,
etc. Buy the KING CD course, which will be met by protests of "boring". So
is school, so get over it.

At age 15, start weekly lessons. At age 15-2/3, step it up so that on the
16th birthday he is so over-trained that the only possible blocker to a
birthday solo is weather. Assuming you don't forget to get him a medical by
the birthday. (Don't ask...)

[dbrooks: another popular last-minute forgotten detail is the CFI signature
on the 8710, I'm told]

As to maturity, let the CFI decide. You are too close to the situation.
Speaking of CFIs, relationships are important to teens. Make certain it
works.

-- David Brooks

Excellent description!!! (add... play video games)

Jay Honeck wrote:


On the OTHER other hand, a 13-year old is not unlike a pack-mule -- he'll
pretty much go whichever way you face him. If you don't steer them, they'll
just sit around all day eating potato chips and watching TV.

Jay, don't over-analyze. Go ahead, but let the kid know he can bail
(and come back) without a big scene. Some days it will seem like a
good idea; some days it won't.

Don

Don Tuite wrote:

Jay, don't over-analyze. Go ahead, but let the kid know he can bail
(and come back) without a big scene. Some days it will seem like a
good idea; some days it won't.

That's the best advice. If a young teen thinks you're keen to have him
do something, he'll probably attempt to "lose interest" and note your
reaction. Offer to him, support him, make the invitations, and don't
be crazed if he doesn't take an interest. He'll change his mind or
not.

Then, if you like, as he gets closer to solo age and to whatever
you'll consider appropriate one-on-one-dating age, offer it to him
again and see what he does. :-)

Rob

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 21:34:19 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

This is exactly what I thought as soon as I read Jay's post. Jay should
continue flying with his son, and fostering his interest, and put off
having him take formal lessons until he's atleast 15.

Yeah, I've thought the same thing, off and on. But...

Then I read Trace Lewis' posts, with him asking insightful questions about
flying, and creating little musical videos of him flying a sail plane, and I
realize that SOME 13-year old boys *are* ready for this kind of thing. I
just don't know if *my* 13 year old boy is ready for such things.

Here's the deal: We want our son to feel the joy of flight. We want him to
be able to feel pride in achieving something other than the high score on
"Grand Theft Auto" (a popular video game, for you old fossils out there) --
while at the same time we don't want to push him into something he doesn't
appreciate.

On the OTHER other hand, a 13-year old is not unlike a pack-mule -- he'll
pretty much go whichever way you face him. If you don't steer them, they'll
just sit around all day eating potato chips and watching TV.

We are able to give him a unique opportunity -- an opportunity 99.999% of
the world will never have -- but this can be a double-edged sword if we
don't do it right.

*sigh* They say raising kids is the hardest thing you'll ever do. I'm
starting to believe that.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


Have you read Rick Durden's article about his daughter soloing in a
glider? There is a picture of her in this month's Sport Aviation
standing in front of the glider and looking hugely mature for a 13
year old, and extremely smug about things.

He flew beside her watching the flight.

I think Rick would probably explode with pride if his skin were a
thousandths thinner. ;-)

Corky Scott

Corky Scott wrote:

I think Rick would probably explode with pride if his skin were a
thousandths thinner. ;-)

Yet another reason for him to be glad he's so thick-skinned. :-)

George Patterson
Battle, n; A method of untying with the teeth a political knot that would
not yield to the tongue.

Have you read Rick Durden's article about his daughter soloing in a
glider? There is a picture of her in this month's Sport Aviation
standing in front of the glider and looking hugely mature for a 13
year old, and extremely smug about things.

He flew beside her watching the flight.

I think Rick would probably explode with pride if his skin were a
thousandths thinner. ;-)

For sure! I've met Rick's daughter, both at Oshkosh and when he brought her
here to Iowa City -- and she is one smooth operator. Very sharp and
self-confident for a teenager.

I think she was actually 14 when her AOPA article ran -- and she's probably
pushing 15 now.

Girls sure mature faster than boys at that age.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 18:40:44 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:


I think she was actually 14 when her AOPA article ran -- and she's probably
pushing 15 now.

Girls sure mature faster than boys at that age.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I think you're correct about the age. As to girls maturing faster
than boys at that age, I'm beginning to wonder when we ever catch up.

Corky Scott