Jack Allison wrote:
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.

Sorry man...I'm in the same boat as you Jay. PPL at age 40. Wished I'd
started sooner but very glad I didn't wait any longer.


I grew up around airplanes as my father flew large aircraft for the USAF.
However, when he retired he never pursued GA. I finally figured no tickie, no
washie as far as lessons went and paid my own way when I was 24.

While I would have LOVED to have learned how to fly at 15 (that's the age I was
when I first started sneaking my father's car out in the middle of the night), I
have to question what the hurry is? And would you be comfortable letting a kid
fly off in your precious airplane IF you could even find a way to insure it?
It's not the technical skills I would question but rather the maturity.

I know I didn't have it at that age. Even when I was in my late 20s I still was
prone to buzzing. I finally got that out of my system but I suspect it would
take any kid a long time to do the same... I don't care how mature he seems to
be.

And if he likes aircraft, he's still gonna like them when he's older. I'm 52
and I still don't turn down plane rides. Any excuse will do.

Suggestion: let him see how he does with a driver's license first. If he
handles that responsibility well, then escalate. You might hold it out as a
reward for some future acheivement (3.0 average in college?). But don't just
GIVE it to him if you want him to really value it. Make him earn it.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE