Flight Training at 15?

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:
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.

Was he there at the meeting? He should have been. Does he really want
to do this? Or is this something you and Mary want?

Let me tell you a story. Once I went with a friend of mine to pich up
a very nice glider he picked up for a very reasonable price (It was a
Ka-8b, and he paid $5K for it, in flying condition and with a fresh
annual). Only problem was, it had sat on its trailer in a hangar for
almost five years. There was a reason it sat there.

A guy who was really into flying (including gliders) bought it for his
15 year old son. Now, when I was 15, I would have been willing to kill
someone to get my father to buy me a flying maching of any description
whatsoever. But this kid just didn't much care about flying. He never
did fly it. It sat, and it sat, and in the end his father sold it to
my friend, when it became obvious that his son wasn't going to fly it.

In a world full of people, only some want to fly. Isn't that crazy?
But it's true. I think if your son really wanted to fly, you would
already know what to do. He could have soloed a glider at 14, and he
can get a glider certificate at 16. He can solo at a powered airplane
at 16, fly for year doing solo flights and training, and take his
private and instrument back to back. There are lots of options. But
the real question is, what does he want? Unless he really has a desire
to fly, it won't matter in the long run what you do - he won't fly.
And if he does have a desire, he'll let you know in no uncertain terms.

I know a kid who chose having a glider over having a car at 16. Would
your kid make that choice?

Michael

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.

Was he there at the meeting? He should have been. Does he really want
to do this? Or is this something you and Mary want?

"We" was Joe and me, with Mary joining us mid-meeting. We met the new head
of the flight school, and (of course) Joe already knows 'most everyone at
the airport.

In a world full of people, only some want to fly. Isn't that crazy?
But it's true. I think if your son really wanted to fly, you would
already know what to do. He could have soloed a glider at 14

Sadly, there is no glider training available in Iowa City. He has flown a
glider several times in CAP, but we're in no position (geographically) to
get him soloed in a glider.

I know a kid who chose having a glider over having a car at 16. Would
your kid make that choice?

At 16, we wouldn't let him own either one -- and he knows it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

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"

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

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

Or should we strike while the iron is hot?

If he has the interest now, feed that interest NOW!
If you hold him back for a year, he will find something
else to occupy himself... and it will be unlikely to be
aviation.

Gliders or airplanes? Private power first, then private glider.

Best regards,

Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocations!"
--
Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO
CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jeratfrii.com http://users.frii.com/jer/
C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor
CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot BM218 HAM N0FZD 240 Young Eagles!