I posted this over at rec.aviation.student, but forgot to crosspost it
here..

Thought I'd CC it here and see if I can get any info, as there's been
no response there yet..

A few questions for those more knowledgable...

Is there a defined flightschool / flight training syllabus in the USA?

Other countries?

The reason I ask is that I spend alot of time reading various message
boards, here in the newsgroups, as well as a few blogs, and it seems
strange to me the amount of variety in training methods, sequences,
and procedures that I read.

Here in Canada, the syllabus is laid out by Transport Canada, and
based on my experience so far, is followed by all designated flight
training units and instructors.

All students learn the same lessons, generally in the same order. The
published syllabus is available right on the Transport Canada website:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/ge...artII/menu.htm

The only variences to the training regiment are based on student
ability. If the student needs extra training on something in
particular, then the lesson plan stops, and is repeated untill
adequate progress is made. Then, it continues where it left off, in
sequence fashion.

Yes, some lessons can be done out of sequence, within reason.. For
example, I had to wait some time to get my spin training out of the
way as the winter months were very cold this past winter, and the
thermal stresses placed on the engine from those sorts of maneuvers
were deemed extreme enough to delay the lesson, as opposed to cracking
cylinder heads.

Also, although "Approach and Landing" is not listed untill exercise
18, I was obviously doing them (or at least attempting, right from the
first flight) long before that exercise came up.. However, the finer
points of such were taught, and practiced in more detail, once lesson
18 arrived.

However, you see what I mean... There is still a laid-out regiment
for the most part.

Some of the message boards I read have students that seem to be
overwhelmed, and I personally think it's because their instructors
have then all over the map when it comes to lesson plans.. When I
read about some students being pushed under the hood in their first
few flights, or are doing stall training on their 3'rd flight, or
flying cross-countries very early on in their training, it baffles me.

Just curious...



---
Mark Morissette
Courtice, Ontario, Canada
http://oshawapilot.blogspot.com (My student pilot blog)