These days, many people dream of learning to fly planes and becoming pilots. Thankfully, there are plenty of means of doing so. A person can easily find a plethora of flight schools scattered all around, most of which offer high-quality pilot training courses. However, the sheer number of pilot schools may present a problem when looking for the right one. While some schools offer top-notch training programs, there is still a good number of those that offer sub-par ones.
Many people simply want to obtain a private pilot’s license to be able to fly recreationally. If you want the same thing, you can choose from a large number of local flight schools, which are usually found at nearby airports, as well as mail order training schools. While standard flight schools offer both the academic and the practical parts, keep in mind that mail order schools offer only the academic part.
Now, with all this mind, how should you go about picking the right school? Well, you can find the answer in this article, as we will offer some tips on how to choose the right flight training school.
Longevity and payment options
For starters, check for how long a school has been in the business. Inquire about what a particular school offers to its students. It is not uncommon for prospective flight students to be surprised by unexpected charges for extras such as uniforms and equipment, even though they have paid the enrollment fee. Keep in mind that some schools include these extras in their overall fee, while others don’t. To be sure, always inquire about all fees upfront, so as to avoid any nasty surprises, that might end up causing you to give up on chasing your dream of becoming a pilot.
Safety measures and precautions
Safety in undoubtedly one of the most important factors. You will want to ask for a safety report that covers at least the last five years. Pay special attention to incidents caused by technical problems, as well as bad weather incidents. The latter ones are usually an indication that the flight school is situated in a region that is regularly subjected to bad weather, thus making it unsuitable for flight training. If you have some suspicions regarding the honesty of the school’s officials, you can always conduct a search of your own, by getting in touch with your local business bureau or checking out government websites.
The quality of training material and instructors
The next thing on your list should be the quality. Start by inquiring about the qualifications and educational background of flight instructors and check if their certifications are up to date. Also, don’t forget to ask for references from previous students as well. This is a very reliable method, given the fact that former students no longer have any obligations to the schools, which means they will most likely be perfectly honest. Last, but not least, seek out some employers and ask if they have any references, as they usually look for the best students from the best schools.
Equipment and tools
And finally, inspect if the school is well-equipped with all the latest tech. Aside from checking out the planes themselves, make sure a school is equipped with appropriate diagrams, model training tools, videos, as well as advanced computer programs and flight simulators.