Question about training costs

"Seth Masia" wrote:
Train in an older 172. Density altitude at Phoenix means that a 152 has
marginal climb peformance and it will waste a lot of your time just getting
up to pattern altitude.

I did the majority of mine in a C152 from late April through the end of
July in Phoenix with no problems, including a x-c to Prescott from
Chandler. Of course, you need to fly early in the morning, before it
reaches 110°. If you and/or your CFI weigh a lot, the 172 is a better
choice. I don't see that ANY time was ''wasted'' getting to pattern
altitude ... we were always there in plenty of time, even on the hot
days.

Train at an uncontrolled field, so you don't waste a lot of time taxiing and
waiting, with the engine turning, on the ground.

I flew at Falcon and Chandler, both controlled and fairly busy and
didn't spend any more time in taxi and run-up than at any uncontrolled
field. Busy as those airports both are, we rarely had to wait for
takeoff clearance at either airport. We did, however, spend 20 minutes
waiting for takeoff clearance at Deer Valley one morning and never went
back there; they're always really busy due to the schools, not unusual
for several planes to be lined up for takeoff on more than one taxiway
at the same time.

JMO, but if you're worried about the time spent taxiing at a controlled
vs. uncontrolled airport, you probably can't afford the training. You
need to know how to get in and out of uncontrolled *AND* controlled
airports ... don't limit your training to just one or the other. The
regs state that part of your solo requirement is "three takeoffs and
three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in
the traffic pattern) **at an airport with an operating control tower**."

As you can see by all these responses, everyone has their own ideas
about the best way to train. Do your own research, talk to people whose
opinions you respect, and then make up your own mind about how, where
and with whom you want to train. Good luck and enjoy!

Good on you. Flying early mornings is always a good idea, because that's
when the air is smooth.

No matter where you train, you'll do practice into controlled fields.
There's less pressure at uncontrolled fields, and you'll spend more time
with your head out of the cockpit watching for traffic and being more
flexible with radio work.

What's not fun is sitting in a hot cockpit on a 110 degree day waiting 20
minutes for a takeoff clearance, and then being told to rush the landing
because there's jet traffic behind you -- on your early solos. Which is not
out of the question at a busy controlled field.

Seth

wrote in message
...
"Seth Masia" wrote:
Train in an older 172. Density altitude at Phoenix means that a 152 has
marginal climb peformance and it will waste a lot of your time just
getting
up to pattern altitude.

I did the majority of mine in a C152 from late April through the end of
July in Phoenix with no problems, including a x-c to Prescott from
Chandler. Of course, you need to fly early in the morning, before it
reaches 110°. If you and/or your CFI weigh a lot, the 172 is a better
choice. I don't see that ANY time was ''wasted'' getting to pattern
altitude ... we were always there in plenty of time, even on the hot
days.

Train at an uncontrolled field, so you don't waste a lot of time taxiing
and
waiting, with the engine turning, on the ground.

I flew at Falcon and Chandler, both controlled and fairly busy and
didn't spend any more time in taxi and run-up than at any uncontrolled
field. Busy as those airports both are, we rarely had to wait for
takeoff clearance at either airport. We did, however, spend 20 minutes
waiting for takeoff clearance at Deer Valley one morning and never went
back there; they're always really busy due to the schools, not unusual
for several planes to be lined up for takeoff on more than one taxiway
at the same time.

JMO, but if you're worried about the time spent taxiing at a controlled
vs. uncontrolled airport, you probably can't afford the training. You
need to know how to get in and out of uncontrolled *AND* controlled
airports ... don't limit your training to just one or the other. The
regs state that part of your solo requirement is "three takeoffs and
three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in
the traffic pattern) **at an airport with an operating control tower**."

As you can see by all these responses, everyone has their own ideas
about the best way to train. Do your own research, talk to people whose
opinions you respect, and then make up your own mind about how, where
and with whom you want to train. Good luck and enjoy!

"Seth Masia" wrote:
What's not fun is sitting in a hot cockpit on a 110 degree day waiting 20
minutes for a takeoff clearance, and then being told to rush the landing
because there's jet traffic behind you -- on your early solos. Which is not
out of the question at a busy controlled field.

Point I was making was that not *all* controlled fields around Phoenix
are as busy as Deer Valley. A friend that attended one of the schools
there said waiting 20 minutes for takeoff clearance at Deer Valley is
not at all uncommon. Waiting even 5 minutes for takeoff clearance at
Chandler or Falcon IS uncommon -- a minute or two is the norm if you
aren't cleared on the first request. But it's not unusual to have to
wait a minute or two for landing traffic at uncontrolled fields in the
Phoenix area either. Just because it's an uncontrolled field doesn't
mean there won't/can't be faster aircraft behind you ... a King Air in
the pattern at Casa Grande behind a 172, for example.