Are you searching for the best flight school to advance your goal of becoming a certified pilot? We’ve developed this list to help you define what makes a flight school worthy of your time and money. So, let’s get started — here are 10 qualities of a good flight school.
1) Transparent with Cost Structure
One of the biggest concerns with first-time students is cost. The cost of obtaining a private pilot’s license can vary greatly from school to school, so it’s always good to choose an organization that clearly lays all of the costs out. This can help you budget and possibly finance your education going forward.
2) Aircraft Availability
Before agreeing to start a flight training program, check out the aircraft availability at the school. Ask about the type and number of training aircraft. Additionally, a flight school that has many aircraft, rather than just a few, means that you’ll have more access to a plane and can increase your flight hours more quickly.
3) A Full Roster of Caring CFIs
How many instructors does the flight school have? While a larger team doesn’t always mean higher-quality instruction, it does give you opportunities to switch instructors based on your personal preference or needs. Additionally, there should be some chemistry between the flight instructors and their students. Any CFI that seems to be “going through the motions”, rather than taking an active interest in their student’s education, isn’t worth your time and money, and can actually detract from your goal of becoming a certified pilot. If possible, have a conversation with two to three different different instructors. It’s a good way to notice subtle pros and cons with each instructor’s training style.
4) They Have a Defined Focus
Some flight schools cater to private pilots, some cater to commercial pilots, some cater to helicopter pilots, and so on. First, define your end goal in becoming a pilot — do you envision a career as an airline pilot or do you simply want the freedom to fly where you wish? Answering the big questions will help you narrow down your choice of flight schools, so you can participate in a program that serves your training objectives.
5) Great Track Record of Safety
Check on the flight school’s record of safety before agreeing to receive any instruction from them. Do some online research, read reviews and talk to local pilots about the flight school, to see if anything comes up about their safety reputation. Any flight training program that’s worth participating in should put an emphasis on safe flying.
6) Offers Ground School
Ground school comes in 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. A good flight school will let its students take ground school, independent of traditional flight training. Since you need to take ground school and pass a airman knowledge test before you can take your FAA checkride, this is a crucial part of your overall training.
7) Their Personality Matches Yours
One of the most important quality of a good flight school is their personality. Similar to people, each school is different — some are more serious, some are more fun, some are more familiar in nature. Regardless, choose a school with a personality that matches yours. Like the aviation industry itself, good flight schools are constantly evolving to provide better, higher-quality services to their students.
8) Offer Tours and Discovery Flights
So, you’ve narrowed down your list to a few ideal options. The next thing you need to do is schedule a tour of the school and go on a discovery flight. A discovery flight will give you insight into how the school conducts their lesson plans. Always keep your eyes and ears alert during the tour/discover flight to get a good feel for everything from the environment, safety policies, staff personality and the satisfaction of other students.
Are you searching for a reputable flight school?
Get in touch with the team of certified flight instructors at Inflight Pilot Training today to learn more about our training programs!
Inflight is a leading pilot training company serving the Twin Cities area. With a reputable training program and deep roster of highly skilled flight instructors, it’s our goal to help those who’ve dreamed of flying realize their potential of becoming a pilot. We can help you pursue your passion for taking flight – get in touch with our team of flight instructors to find out more.
For additional information on Inflight Pilot Training, contact us today or call (952) 698-3000.