發信人: pzt (因為你....)    看板: Aero
日期: Sun Sep 17 22:57:12 2000
標題: Re: chooising your flight school

==> nathanlin (海上飛行的水手) 的文章中提到:
>  
>Choosing Your Flight School
>Learning to fly can be one of life's most rewarding adventures. The freedom of moving in three dimensions is not only fun but can lead to interesting 
career 
>and travel opportunities. To take advantage of aviation's rewards, you must make sure you get the good, solid information that you'll need to be a safe, 
>confident pilot in the air. One of the most important steps in that process is finding the right flight school.
>AOPA Flight Training magazine has prepared the following general guidance information. It is intended as an aid for anyone interested in learning to fly 
>and for selecting the training organization tat will meet the individual's specific needs.
>Without any aviation experience on which to base your decision, selecting a good school can be a formidable task. Aviation is procedural and not well 
>suited to impatience. Whether you're flying or picking a school, making rash, hurried decisions can cause dire consequences. Checklists are an aviation 
>mainstay that ensure all procedures are accomplished and, therefore, make for safe flights. This same procedure can be applied to selecting a good flight 
>school.
>How to Determine What You Need & Want
>At the beginning of your flight school search, it helps if you have a general idea of what you want from aviation. Why do you want to learn to fly? What is 
>your ultimate, long-term aviation goal? Do you want to fly for fun, or are you seeking a flying career? Will your flying be local, or do you want to use 
>general aviation aircraft to travel? Do you want to own an airplane or will you rent? These are questions you should answer before you start considering 
>flight schools. And you should consider whether you'll train full time or part time; that can make a big difference in your school selection criteria.
>Types of Schools - Part 61 & Part 141
>Flight schools come in two flavors, Part 61 and Part 141, which refer to the parts of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) under which they operate. The 
>most common and least important distinction between them is the minimum flight time required for the private certificate - 40 hours under Part 61, and 35 
>hours under Part 141.
>Considering that the national average for earning a private certificate is 60-75 hours (how long you'll take will depend on your ability and flying 
>frequency), this difference isn't important for initial training. It does make a difference to commercial pilot applicants: Part 61 requires 250 hours, and 
>Part 141 requires 190.
>What differentiates the two is structure and accountability. Part 141 schools are periodically audited by the FAA and must have detailed, FAA-approved 
>course outlines and meet student performance rates. Part 61 schools don't have the same paperwork and accountability requirements.
>Learning under Part 61 rules can often give students the flexibility to rearrange lesson content and sequence to meet their needs, which can be of benefit 
>to part-time students. Many Part 141 schools also train students under Part 61 rules.
>Which type of school is best for you depends on your needs, available time, and other factors, such as veteran's benefit eligibility (only Part 141 schools 
>can qualify for VA-reimbursed training) and location. When it comes to the FAA checkride, which is the same for all, it doesn't matter where you learned to 
>fly, only how well - including your understanding of aviation academic material.
>Although flight schools fall into two basic categories, Part 61 or Part 141, there is a third category that bears serious consideration by prospective 
>pilots, particularly those planning a professional piloting career: nationally accredited training institutions. Accredited schools must meet rigid 
>standards of accountability for virtually every area of operation and must apply to an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
>Collegiate aviation degree programs also play a large part in today's training marketplace, and you should consider earning a degree if you are planning a 
>professional flying career. A plus in seeking a degree is that in many cases you are eligible for financial aid and scholarships that will assist you, not 
>only in your academic endeavors, but in flight training as well.
>Compile a List of Choices & Schools
>Once you've given some thought to what you want, start putting together a list of possible flight schools. Then request all available literature from each. 
>Ask them to send an outline or curriculum for each program in which you're interested, and a copy of the school's regulations and flight operations 
>procedures.
>Don't base your decision on the literature alone! You're looking for informative substance, and this can be found as well in photocopied sheets as it can 
>in full-color catalogs. While scrutinizing the material, take notes for use during the school visit, when you'll check the veracity of its claims. Some 
>things to look for:
>The school's philosophy, goals, and objectives, and how they match your needs.
>Are there such benefits as housing, financial aid, and additional training, such as aerobatics, that will broaden your experience?
>How important is flight training to the organization?
>How long has the flight school been in business?
>What about the school's instructional staff, its enrollment numbers, and credentials?
>How many and what types of aircraft are used in the school's flight instruction program?
>What are the school's classrooms like?
>What services are available at its airport (instrument approaches and control towers)?
>What is the school's reputation on regulations and safety policies?
>Take a Firsthand Look - It's Your Money
>If you do nothing else in your school search - visit the school!
>Your first contact will likely be an admissions officer or the chief flight instructor. Listen closely and ask questions about everything. Don't be shy. If 
>you don't understand something, ask! During your tour, ensure that no area is left unvisited, from administrative offices to the maintenance area.
>Interview the school's chief flight instructor or his or her assistant. Some questions to ask:
>Are progressive flight-checks given? (These checks evaluate your progress during the training program.)
>What's the instructor-to-student ratio? (Generally speaking, an instructor can adequately educate four of five full-time students, or 10 or more 
>part-timers, depending on their schedules.)
>Who schedules lessons, and how is it done?
>What are the insurance requirements of the school, and how do its liability and collision policies work? Will you be responsible for a deductible, and how 
>much is that deductible in the event of a loss? What is your coverage as a student?
>Who keeps your records? (This is important because poor documentation can cause you to repeat training.)
>What happens when weather or maintenance problems cancel a lesson? Who's responsible for rescheduling lessons and reporting maintenance problems?
>After the official tour, get away by yourself and talk to other students in training. Ask them to rate the training's quality and explain what problems 
>they've had, if any, and how they were dealt with.
>Other important information resources can be the local FAA Flight Standards District Office, the Better Business Bureau, and the Chamber of Commerce. They 
>may offer important insights on such topics as a school's safety record and business practices. Don't forget such applicable sources as the Aircraft Owners 
>and Pilots Association, National Air Transportation Association, Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, if so accredited, and 
>the Immigration and Naturalization Service, if you are an international student.
>Don't Overlook Ground School
>Learning to fly requires that you obtain the ability to manipulate the controls of the airplane and make it perform certain maneuvers. However, there is 
>another aspect of learning to fly, and that is the academic knowledge required to understand how, where, and when to fly safely. This is accomplished in 
>ground school.
>Ground school takes two basic forms: an instructor teaching a scheduled class or a self-paced, home-study program using video or audio tapes and/or a 
>computer-based program.
>Which is better depends on you. If you're a self-disciplined self-starter, the self-paced video programs can't be beat. You can "attend" ground school on 
>your schedule and review the tapes as needed. If you need the discipline of the classroom, well, the choice is obvious. Perhaps the best option is a 
>combination of the two. Many schools have a traditional classroom ground school and a resource room that contains self-paced materials for additional study.
>Many local community colleges or independent ground schools are also an option. Although technically not part of ground school, instrument ground trainers 
>(or simulators) are being used by a number of schools in primary training, and they are a real benefit in instrument training.
>After ground school and before you can take your FAA checkride with a designated pilot examiner, you must take and pass (70 percent or better) an FAA 
>airman knowledge test at an approved computer testing site. A growing number of schools offer FAA-approved computer testing as part of their services.
>Training Aircraft
>The training airplane is where you practice in the air what you've learned on the ground. High wing or low, it doesn't make much difference. What's 
>important is how well the airplane is equipped and maintained. It's also important that the school's trainers are dedicated to training and not to rental.
>How many trainers a school has depends on the number of active students. Generally speaking, one trainer serves four or five full-time students. This ratio 
>may be higher with part-time students. Another consideration is the fleet's mix of primary, advanced, and multiengine trainers.
>Because trainers are flown often and sometimes hard, how a school maintains its training fleet is important for both safety and scheduling. Asking 
>questions about maintenance policies and procedures should be part of every school interview.
>Flight Instructors
>A good flight instructor is important because your life will depend on what he or she teaches you. Don't hesitate to ask questions about the training and 
>experience of the flight instructors. You might ask what the average flight time is and what the pass/fail rate is among the instructors. (A pass rate of 
>100 percent doesn't indicate good instruction.) You might also talk to some of the other students at the school to ask about their flight instructors.
>Your primary instructor should be at least a certificated flight instructor (CFI). Ensure that your instrument instructor has an instrument instructor 
>rating (CFII). Instrument training received from a non-rated instructor can cause problems when it comes to meeting FAA requirements.
>A good way to get acquainted with your instructor is to take an introductory lesson (not just a demonstration ride). During your lesson, assess your 
>instructor's attitude. Only you can determine what personality best fits yours, but you want an instructor who expects perfection, who will work with you 
>until it's achieved, and who cares about you as a person as well as a student.
>Cost
>Compared with most of your current activities, learning to fly is expensive. But remember, you're investing in your education, in skills that will open new 
>worlds and opportunities. Flying is an activity of purpose, productivity, and pleasure. It's also a never-ending learning process and as with all 
>education, your initial training provides the foundation for all that will follow.
>Looking at the bottom line, you'll notice that, adjusting for location and differences in training programs, schools more or less charge about the same. 
>Only you can determine if what you get for your money is fair. As with any other major purchase, if a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is.
>When comparing costs, make sure you're comparing "apples with apples." Some schools base their prices on the FAA minimum-time requirements, such as 40 
>hours for a private certificate. Others base their prices on a more realistic figure that's the average of what their students accomplish. Some include 
>books and supplies, ground school, flight testing, and FAA written examination fees. Others don't. In other words, read the fine print, and ensure you're 
>making a comparison of equals!
>Because most schools require partial or full payment before training begins, financing your flight training, especially if you are in a professional pilot 
>program, will be your greatest challenge. Some schools offer financing, and most have financing and loan information. AOPA, for example, offers its Flight 
>Funds loan program to its qualified members. Schools also offer "block time" prices if you pay for a certain amount of training, or flight time, in 
>advance, which can often offer substantial savings.
>Some schools guarantee their training - that you'll earn your certificate for a fixed price no matter how long it takes. Read the fine print carefully, 
>because many of these guarantees expire after so many flight hours. If you haven't achieved your goal in this time, the school will still train you, but 
>you'll have to pay for the training that takes place above the guarantee's ceiling.
>Also inquire about refunds. Most schools require that you pay for part or all of your training in advance, which prevents you from training and running 
>before the bills are paid. But if you must stop training for some reason, you should know if and how much of your money will be refunded.
>Unless your instructor's fees are part of a "package price" program, know how you are charged for his or her educational services, and how much you're 
>charged for aircraft rental. Aircraft rental and the instructor time are usually charged by the Hobbs meter, which is a timing device activated by oil 
>pressure. If the engine is running, so is the meter. Even if you're sitting on the ground, you're still charged for it.
>Also learn if the instructor is paid for pre- and post-flight briefings in addition to flight time. These are crucial parts of every lesson, and if the 
>instructor is not paid for them, you may get abbreviated briefings before you start the engine, and then get the rest of the briefing while the engine and 
>the meter are running.
>There's an old saying that says, "Time is money." In your research, make sure that you're getting the best quality training for your dollar.
>The Final Decision
>What flight school you ultimately choose depends on the quality training you desire in a method convenient to your schedule. In earning your private 
>pilot's certificate, you will have achieved a "license" to learn. Aviation is an ever-changing activity, and good pilots are always learning.
>Perhaps the final deciding factor between several schools that are running in a dead heat is personality. Like people, schools have personalities. Some are 
>deadly serious, while others are more familial in nature. Only you can select the one that matches your personality.
>A CHECKLIST FOR CHOOSING A GOOD FLIGHT SCHOOL
>Determine your aviation goals. Are you learning to fly for fun or do you plan to pursue a career? 
>Compile a list of schools to examine, and request literature from each. Review material from each school and answer the questions outlined earlier in this 
>brochure. 
>Once you've done your "homework", visit the final two or three schools that pass the test. Ask questions and get a feel for the personalities of the 
>schools. Ask specific questions and insist on specific answers. Talk to other students and flight instructors. 
>Once you've decided on a school, be sure a written agreement outlines the payment procedures.
> 
--
* Origin: 中山大學-美麗之島BBS * From: 211.72.90.223 [已通過認證]
.