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Hints for parents of 13 year old student pilot?
My son, age 13, is planning to take flight lessons this summer. My wife and
I are both pilots, so he has been flying since birth. Any parents out there gone through the same experience? My concerns a 1. Training Program. His training need to be thorough, but not dull and too "book oriented." I don't want him to burn out. 2. Structure. He's a typical 13 year old -- one minute mature, the next minute a scatter-brain. He learns best in a structured environment, which is something I've noticed is lacking in most FBO-based training programs. The problem, of course, is if it's too structured it may become dull, and then we're back to #1. 3. Frequency. Given his inability to solo for a few years, I was thinking that weekly lessons would be plenty. I know this slows the learning process, but that's okay for now. Or do you think he'll lose interest at that slow of a pace? 4. Instructor. Whoever teaches him is going to have to relate to a young teenager. Considering the young age of most of our CFIs, this may not be a problem. Or, they may not take him seriously. Or, worse, he might not take *them* seriously. It's really hard for me to tell if his interest is genuinely internal, or if it's just coming from the fact that his mother and I are pilots. We've assumed from birth that he and his sister would one day fly, just like we assume that they will one day drive a car and go to college, so it's not like he's got this unusually strong, burning desire to fly. Heck, he's been flying right seat since he was 8 years old, so it's kind of "old hat" to him, and he, too, has always just "assumed" he would learn to fly. But flying is serious business, and I want to make sure he becomes safe and proficient. Despite our aviation background, my wife and I are both on pins and needles about this -- we want to make sure he gets off on the right foot. Any advice from others who have gone down this road is appreciated! Thanks, -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" |
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