I recently led a discussion at West Valley Flying Club on How to Save Money Using a Flight Sim in Private Pilot Training. The presentation video is attached below, along with some excellent flight sim tips for student pilots shared by attendees.
…4 New Flight Sim Tips for Student Pilots and CFIsRead More »
The theory is pretty simple: the FAA only requires 40 hours of flying the airplane, but a typical private pilot in the Bay Area needs ~80 hours. Could we close that gap and save money using a flight sim? At ~$230/hour for a Cessna 172S, wouldn’t it be nice to shave off an extra 40hr * $230/hr = $9,200?1
I initially wrote about simulators in 2024 (How to Leverage a Simulator for Flight Training). The additional years of teaching have further clarified and generalized those ideas. This post provides a framework for students and instructors to reduce flight hours, optimize instructor time, and avoid future costs.
…How to Save Money Using a Flight Sim in Private Pilot TrainingRead More »
I didn’t have ‘runway excursion’ on my personal bingo card for 2024. Some of the reasons it happened were pretty mechanical, like my student needing more right rudder in landing. Some are more subtle, like complacency and not adjusting to changing circumstances.
What I (and hopefully now others) learned from this experience is how we can unconsciously erode our safety margins.
Wanted: Earlier Go-Arounds, More Go-Arounds
how complacency can erode safety marginsRead More »