Corky Scott wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 02:36:02 GMT, "Bob Gardner"
wrote:

I can't believe that anyone can assimilate what it takes to be a safe pilot
with good judgment in ten days. At the very least, you need to experience a
variety of weather situations. Wouldn't touch this place with the proverbial
ten foot pole.

Bob Gardner

If you pass the written, the oral and practical to the satisfaction of
the examiner, what exactly is the difference between learning in 10
days or 10 months? Knowledge is knowledge. If it stays in you, what
does it matter how quickly you are taught it?

On the other hand, not everyone learns at exactly the same speed so
not everyone will be able to handle this type of instruction.

As to judgement, this seems a complicated subject. From what I've
read all my life about flying and what I've heard from pilots, poor
judgement can come from pilots whether they are freshly minted or have
thousands of hours of experience. It seems to depend on the
individual and his/her level of confidence, whether deserved or not.

Corky Scott

It is highly unlikely that anyone will retain this amount of knowledge when
exposed for such a short period of time. This is why a college degree takes
years not months – you could cram all the info into a 6 month course but you
wouldn’t get the same quality graduate. Would you want your brain surgeon to be
one who learned in a six month cram course? The longer exposure allows not only
more time to assimilate the material but more time to read about and discuss the
subject with others and gain insight from sources outside the teaching
institution. Many complex concepts need numerous exposures (often from different
points of view) over relatively long periods of time before they are fully
comprehended.

The FAA exams (written, oral, and practical) are not capable of verifying that
you are a good, safe pilot who has learned everything you need. They only are
meant to be checks that you meet some minimum requirements and possess some
minimum knowledge that indicates you are qualified to become a pilot. They rely
heavily on the fact that your CFI, who has known you and flown with you for a
considerable amount of time (hopefully over a period of time greater than a few
weeks), would only recommend you for the exam after he is convinced you have
acquired the skills, knowledge, and judgment to be a pilot.

Flying is a complex venture and is quite unforgiving. It is very foolish to
consider cost and time above safety. Almost every time I fly, I see other pilots
doing stupid things – I ask myself, what instructor taught them (or failed to
teach them) and how did they get recommended for the flight exam with this poor
judgment and flying ability. It is your life and your family, friends, and other
people’s lives at stake; why risk them to save a few bucks? If you’re on a tight
budget, forget the new TV or new car but spend the money and time to learn to fly
the best you possibly can. Not only will you be a safer pilot but you will enjoy
this wonderful adventure of flying a whole lot more.

I have been a CFI for 34 years and love flying and teaching. I am not cheap but
if you fly with me, you will not get recommended for the flight test until you
are a good, safe, professional acting pilot. When you take your friends or
family up the first time after getting your PPL, you will have the confidence and
professionalism that they deserve in a pilot.

Jerry
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-- Jerry Petrey, CFI
-- Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Navigation (GPS/INS), Guidance, & Control
-- Raytheon Missile Systems - Member Team Ada & Team Forth
-- NOTE: please remove NOSPAM in email address to reply
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