Private Pilot's License

You kind of have a dillema. I think to make reasonable progress you're
going to need to fly 3+ times per week on a continuing basis without
missing much. Doing so will get you through in a minimum of time. You'll
also need to prepare ahead of time for each lesson and have some
goals for each one. Flying every other week will have you spending
a good share of lesson time backtracking to get back to where you
were after the previous lesson, and will take a lot longer to get up to
speed.

Taking vacation and flying a whole lot in a week (like 20+) will likely end
up
in overload, especially when you're first learning to fly.


"Vern Torino" wrote in message
...
Haven't begun any training yet. Still considering time and cost factors.
One problem is my job will only avail me to fly every other week, so I
figure it'll take me at least the better part of a year to get licensed.
My question is, after licensing what would be a likely minimum flight time
and frequency to maintain proficiency? Appreciate any helpful comments.

Taking vacation and flying a whole lot in a week (like 20+) will likely
end up
in overload, especially when you're first learning to fly.

Agree 100%.

As a new student, an hour of flying was like running 5 miles. Everything
was so new and intense, I was wiped after a lesson. I remember telling my
instructor, after one particularly intense 90 minute lesson, that I didn't
think any more new learning was taking place in my wee little brain. Mary
had the same experience with her instructor.

IMHO, 20 hours in a week would lead to sensory overload, and would do more
for your flight school's bottom line than anything else.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Vern didn't actually say that he can only fly ONCE every two weeks.

If that is the case, it will indeed be a challenge to complete the
license in a reasonable amount of time.

If he can get in a few flights during a flying week, then he has to
skip a week due to travel or work schedules, it won't be quite as bad.

Something I've found useful as a low-hours student pilot who gets to
fly about once a week (weather limitations, mostly) is to write down
detailed notes about the intangible stuff I learn on each flight. Not
just facts learned, not just things related to ground school or the
upcoming knowledge test, but my perceptions and recollections of the
flight. What does the sight picture over the nose look like during a
proper climb-out? Where was the seat adjusted, since this affects the
sight picture? How was the sensation felt in an uncoordinated turn
different than what I felt in a coordinated turn? How much control
input did I feel I was using for a give maneuver? What feedback was I
getting from the instructor at various points in the flight? It all
gets written down, and I review it before the next flight. I find it
makes the preceeding flight(s) fresher in my mind, and it helps
minimize the effects of going a week or so without flight time.

Yes Gary, I was vague about my fly-week. During that week there's some
chance I might be able to get in two one-hour week day flights (depending
on weather, day light, and the remote possible chance of getting off from
work a little early by starting work early or skipping lunch), and one
two-hour weekend flight. That would give me about eight flight hours per
month. If I can't get off from work early, then I might have to jump
through more hoops by flying early in the morning before work, i.e. 6-7a.m.
With a couple of staggered weeks of vacation, I could get in three two-hour
flights each week (or go broke, which I think would come first). Except for
the vacation days, I would still have basically eight hours of flight per
month. Far from best, much better than once per week (I hope), but maybe
still not good enough.
All of you have given very noteworthy and insightful help. I welcome any and
all. Thanks.

"Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...
Vern didn't actually say that he can only fly ONCE every two weeks.

If that is the case, it will indeed be a challenge to complete the
license in a reasonable amount of time.

If he can get in a few flights during a flying week, then he has to
skip a week due to travel or work schedules, it won't be quite as bad.

Something I've found useful as a low-hours student pilot who gets to
fly about once a week (weather limitations, mostly) is to write down
detailed notes about the intangible stuff I learn on each flight. Not
just facts learned, not just things related to ground school or the
upcoming knowledge test, but my perceptions and recollections of the
flight. What does the sight picture over the nose look like during a
proper climb-out? Where was the seat adjusted, since this affects the
sight picture? How was the sensation felt in an uncoordinated turn
different than what I felt in a coordinated turn? How much control
input did I feel I was using for a give maneuver? What feedback was I
getting from the instructor at various points in the flight? It all
gets written down, and I review it before the next flight. I find it
makes the preceeding flight(s) fresher in my mind, and it helps
minimize the effects of going a week or so without flight time.