How much is enough?

[Guest eland2705]

Been wondering about the time between lessons. For various reasons, mostly financial, I fly once a fortnight for an hour. (this Sat, 15/5, is my Day, )

 

I spend the intervening days, revising, reading my BAK and all the other notes on the train. My fellow passengers think I'm nuts. I fly the whole circuit in my head, mutterering about "brakes off, undercarriage bolted on....". I photographed the dash, printed it out big, and sit in front of it, doing the preflight check list, "flying" the circuit, doing the radio calls (let me tell you, I can do some great landings in my armchair Tecnam) and generally dreaming of the next time I fly.

 

When I get to the aircraft though, I can't fly for toffee (in my mind I use another word...) my rudder control stinks, my attitude is all over the place, and I can't land worth a damn.

 

Would I be any better to fly every week, take some time off and fly every day? What are your thoughts. Am I nuts?

 

 

[Spin]

Hi Steph

 

I was in a similar position to you, flying once a week or fornightly depending on weather and competing duties at home, getting a bit frustrated at not making the progress I wanted to. I ended up taking 3 days off work and booking 2 lessons a day for each. As it turned out it was only about 5 hours flying in total, but I feel it paid dividends in accelerating my progress and getting me over the hump as it were. Also because I was hanging around the airfield all day during quieter times, I also got a few rides and some free stick time in between lessons - all valuable experience.

 

So yes, my advice would be to try and do something like that, just be wary of trying to fit in too much in a day, I don't think I would have got much benefit out of a third lesson in the same day.

 

Hang in there, that little Techie will suddenly start talking to you:big_grin:

 

Cheers Carl

 

 

[facthunter]

Flying Frequency-Training.

 

There would be an optimum for each person as we are all different.

 

If you do ONE period each weekend with a thorough briefing and debriefing, that would be a possibility, at the low end of the scale. Considering that you are cash limited.

 

Don't stay in the air on intense training for more than about 50 minutes, as you get overloaded, do not improve and waste your money.

 

If you were highly organised and fully prepared, you could fly two periods each day, with follow-up, and knock the thing over in a short time, (weather permitting). This is the technique I would use if I went to a particular school which is not near to where you live.

 

Don't forget that the week-ends are the busy time for schools and if you could arrange week days it might be an advantage for you (You can spend more time with the instructor etc). Nev

 

 

[Guest Sharp End]

Would I be any better to fly every week, take some time off and fly every day? What are your thoughts. Am I nuts?

No, you're not nuts! Flying once a fortnight isn't the best way to do it... you'll spend most of the time revisiting what you've already done and your progress will only be slow. It's way LESS expensive in the long term to fly once a day until you're flying your circuits consistently well - almost by instinct, if you will. You can stretch out the time between lessons once you're a happy bunny with the basics. Good luck!

 

S-E

 

 

[JollyWalter]

Hi Steph

 

I started out with two lessons a week up to about 6 weeks (12 hours) then scaled back to one a week. I found that the frequent lessons early on were definitely to my advantage while I was becoming familiar with what had previously been a totally foreign experience.

 

I totally agree with Sharp End, I'm sure I would have taken longer to solo (and therefore paid more) if I hadn't had the regular lessons early on. Once I was flying the circuits well I dropped back to a lesson a week concentrating on landings until that magic day when my FI sent me up solo.

 

My vote is for intensive lessons if you can afford them. Just my opinion, of course.

 

Mick

 

 

[Guest davidh10]

Steph, There's nothing wrong with weekly lessons, but the longer you go between sessions, the more you forget, or perhaps the less you absorb. Absorbing requires reinforcement.

 

I started this way at one lesson a week, but when I was having trouble getting my landings sorted, and I thought I ought to be making more progress, I decided to hit it three days in a row and that got me to my solo. During daylight saving, there was plenty of time after work.

 

I think I just needed to keep repeating more landings while my muscles and brain still remembered the nuances and the feel.

 

Keep it up. It'll soon click.

 

 

[Guest burbles1]

When I started recreational flying, I was doing one hour a week. After a few months I realised that wasn't enough to actually improve my skills. I felt I was mostly revising from the previous session, not gaining confidence quickly and making the same mistakes.

 

I then 'intensified' to 2 hours a week (2 one-hour lessons), and that was an immense boost to my confidence - I actually looked forward to flying because I knew I was progressing faster.

 

If money is a factor in how often you have lessons, perhaps you can save up until you can afford two hours a week for several weeks or so.

 

 

[Guest Howard Hughes]

Many years ago, I did two lessons per week and that seemed to work well, time for consolidation. If you do the lessons on the same day though, make sure you have a decent break between them to allow to time to relax and make sure you have something to eat and drink. I see a lot of people who perform below par because they have not rested properly, or taken on sufficient food/fluids.

 

 

[Relfy]

I took three weeks off work and did my training in the one block flying every day that I could. I lost a week to bad weather (cyclone coming down the qld coast) but was lucky to have a relatively good mixture of different, but generally good weather. Some days I could do three hours occasionally broken up between other students, other days an hour was enough. Took three weeks to get my cert and another 4-5 days to knock over my x country. Did about an hour or two study a night and that took care of the theory exams.

 

I believe if you get into the zone and do as much as you can according to how well you handle your training, that is the best way to build your motor skills. Some parts of the flight training syllabus may take a bit longer whereas others may be straight forward. It all depends on the individual, but either way, you will still have a ball! :thumb_up:

 

 

[pilotdave69]

Some fantastic pointers here, i only live 10 min from airport, a guy i work with ( experienced pilot) advised doing 3 lessons a week to get you solo and then back off after that to maybe 1 lesson a week. It does come down to cash of course.. I will have a good think of what to do next. I have a week before my next lesson.

 

 

[Steve L]

hi Steph, hang in there and it will come together which ever way you structure your training, your not nuts, most of us have the same feelings. There has been some pretty good advice here and everyone's different. Howard H is right about getting plenty of rest the night before and a good brekky, I also spend a couple of hours before going to bed studying and going over the next days training. 2 lessons in the one day work for me, although at times I have had very long spells between training ( due to work commitments ) Today I went solo after one circuit with my instructor, she got out and I then flew a few circuits on my own, landed, had nearly an hour off then went solo again, it was great walking over to the Jab by myself for the first time.

 

Good luck Steph :thumb_up:

 

Steve

 

 

[Guest davidh10]

Retention of the Knowledge Gained ?

 

Reading the range of answers, they cover the full spectrum from occasional, but regular training to "total immersion".

 

I've observed others take this latter approach and often wonder what strategy they employ to ensure that the theory and regs actually stick in their minds. It seems to be to be akin to cramming for an exam, which usually means good short term knowledge to pass the exams, but low medium to long term retention, in the absence of other reinforcement?

 

 

[Guest rocketdriver]

Reading the range of answers, they cover the full spectrum from occasional, but regular training to "total immersion".?

Hi David. One of the things they teach instructors is that training goes forward in a series of "saw tooth" advances. You go forward two steps:), then, between lessons, you slip back a bit.i_dunno How far depends on the time between lessons. So each lesson begins with a re learning phase where the student catches up to what he/she learnt last time, then a bit of consolidation where the skill is further practiced, and then if appropriate, another advance of skill is taught. :big_grin:

The old saying that practice makes perfect is very true for flying, especially regular practice. Actually, that slipping back happens throughout your flying career ... which is why there is a requirement for currency when taking a passenger flying. :thumb_up:

 

Regards

 

RD

 

 

[Foto_Flyer]

Steph, I've approached training both ways. A few years ago, while in GA going for my GFPT, I would only fly every 1 to 2 weeks, sometimes more due to weather! However, I found that my progress was slow and very much like the "saw tooth" that rocketdriver mentioned. As a result, my funds dried up before I could finish.

 

When I returned to flying training, this time in RA after a very L-O-N-G break, I made the decision that I was going to go full time. All I can say is that, for me this was a good decision as my progress was quicker and the "saw teeth" were much smaller. In the long run, it turned out to be a better decision financially too!

 

Either way, it is a good idea to keep up the theory, even after you have passed all the exams, and for much the same reasons as the practical flying.

 

If distance from the field is an issue, talk to your instructor about what accomodation is around nearby. Most schools will have a list or may even have something like a bunk-house or cabin on-site for that purpose.

 

Either way, don't forget to have fun and enjoy the experience!