Flight Training at 15?

My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting his Junior year
of high school.

He's been flying since he can remember, and has many hours in the right
seat. (He's got over 1500 hours as a passenger with Mary and me.) His first
dozen or so hours behind the yoke were "IFR" -- because he couldn't see over
the panel! He can do everything except land the plane -- and I'm fairly
certain he could do that, but I'm not about to risk our lives (or my plane)
to find out.

We both agree that he's ready to learn to fly "for real". So, last week we
sat down with a local flight instructor to check out his options on learning
to fly.

Our options are simple.

1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo before school starts in
the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire year before he can
take the check-ride.

2. He can hold off until next summer, 2007.

Prior to age 37, I could only walk around on the ground looking up enviously
at aircraft flying overhead -- so I have no frame of reference on this
issue. For those of you who were lucky enough to train as teenagers, did it
work for you? Should my son wait a year, so he can go at it full-steam and
get the ticket?

Or should we strike while the iron is hot?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In article 3fUig.26692$1i1.20490@attbi_s72,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

Our options are simple.

1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo before school starts in
the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire year before he can
take the check-ride.

2. He can hold off until next summer, 2007.

Prior to age 37, I could only walk around on the ground looking up enviously
at aircraft flying overhead -- so I have no frame of reference on this
issue. For those of you who were lucky enough to train as teenagers, did it
work for you? Should my son wait a year, so he can go at it full-steam and
get the ticket?

I don't have kids, so...

While the objective isn't merely to solo, I find myself asking why not go
ahead and do a lot of training this summer? Why should your son wait next year
to experience solo flight?

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3fUig.26692$1i1.20490@attbi_s72...
My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting his Junior year
of high school.

1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo before school starts
in the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire year before he
can take the check-ride.

Being able to fly solo for a year is hardly being "stuck".

2. He can hold off until next summer, 2007.

Should my son wait a year, so he can go at it full-steam and get the
ticket?

Or should we strike while the iron is hot?

Which does he prefer?

--Gary

Bob Noel wrote:
In article 3fUig.26692$1i1.20490@attbi_s72,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

Our options are simple.

1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo before school starts in
the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire year before he can
take the check-ride.

2. He can hold off until next summer, 2007.

Prior to age 37, I could only walk around on the ground looking up enviously
at aircraft flying overhead -- so I have no frame of reference on this
issue. For those of you who were lucky enough to train as teenagers, did it
work for you? Should my son wait a year, so he can go at it full-steam and
get the ticket?


I started ground school while I was 16 and in high school (our tiny
high school had the insight to host a ground school through the local
airport manager and have it count as credit, what a great idea), and
got my private about six months after I turned 17, so I wasn't quite as
far ahead of the curve as your son. But I'd say go for it, that way in
case any sort of hinderances arise (airplane availability became an
issue during my training, and I had to go to a neighboring town for a
while to rent) during the course, he'll have plenty of time to dodge
them.

Jay Honeck wrote:

My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting his Junior year
of high school.

He's been flying since he can remember, and has many hours in the right
seat. (He's got over 1500 hours as a passenger with Mary and me.) His first
dozen or so hours behind the yoke were "IFR" -- because he couldn't see over
the panel! He can do everything except land the plane -- and I'm fairly
certain he could do that, but I'm not about to risk our lives (or my plane)
to find out.

We both agree that he's ready to learn to fly "for real". So, last week we
sat down with a local flight instructor to check out his options on learning
to fly.

Our options are simple.

1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo before school starts in
the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire year before he can
take the check-ride.

2. He can hold off until next summer, 2007.

Prior to age 37, I could only walk around on the ground looking up enviously
at aircraft flying overhead -- so I have no frame of reference on this
issue. For those of you who were lucky enough to train as teenagers, did it
work for you? Should my son wait a year, so he can go at it full-steam and
get the ticket?

Or should we strike while the iron is hot?

I'd get him started. I realize it is unlikely, but teens interests
change fast and furiously and he may discover girls by next year and
flying may not be as important.

Matt

Matt

"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
. ..
"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3fUig.26692$1i1.20490@attbi_s72...
My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting his Junior
year of high school.

1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo before school starts
in the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire year before
he can take the check-ride.

Being able to fly solo for a year is hardly being "stuck".

Agreed! Beyond that, he can do all of the flying while you and Mary are
aboard, as long as you are willing to accept the responsibility as PIC.

That would probably mean at least one of the certificated pilots would need
to be comfortable doing everything (including landing) from the right seat.

KB

August 16 (1969) is my first son's birthday.
As to flight training options...
Training does not expire, although there is a requirement
for a certain amount of training during the 60 days prior to
a practical test.
Your son can fly gliders.
He can begin powered aircraft training and solo on his
birthday, when he is 16. He can then continue to build solo
and dual experience toward the private and instrument rating
on his 17th birthday. Then he can continue into commercial
training and build the experience so he can take the
commercial and add-on the multiengine rating when he turns
18.
He should also be looking at his college plans and high
school grades with math and business in mind. Whether he
wants to be an engineer or an airline pilot, those will
stand him well. He should also do some mechanic training,
either in an auto-shop in high school or maybe with some
homebuilders in the area.
He can work toward the ATP experience and can even take the
practical tests before he turns 23, but the certificate
won't be valid until his 23 birthday.
To keep his interest and assuming that paying for training
[experience] is not the issue...
aerobatics, seaplanes, multiengine, mountains, bush pilot,
skis, type ratings (jets -large aircraft), and of course CFI
ratings. He can then work his way through college as a
flight instructor which is a better career move than
flipping burgers (even if the pay is less).



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3fUig.26692$1i1.20490@attbi_s72...
| My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting
his Junior year
| of high school.
|
| He's been flying since he can remember, and has many hours
in the right
| seat. (He's got over 1500 hours as a passenger with Mary
and me.) His first
| dozen or so hours behind the yoke were "IFR" -- because he
couldn't see over
| the panel! He can do everything except land the plane --
and I'm fairly
| certain he could do that, but I'm not about to risk our
lives (or my plane)
| to find out.
|
| We both agree that he's ready to learn to fly "for real".
So, last week we
| sat down with a local flight instructor to check out his
options on learning
| to fly.
|
| Our options are simple.
|
| 1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo
before school starts in
| the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire
year before he can
| take the check-ride.
|
| 2. He can hold off until next summer, 2007.
|
| Prior to age 37, I could only walk around on the ground
looking up enviously
| at aircraft flying overhead -- so I have no frame of
reference on this
| issue. For those of you who were lucky enough to train as
teenagers, did it
| work for you? Should my son wait a year, so he can go at
it full-steam and
| get the ticket?
|
| Or should we strike while the iron is hot?
| --
| Jay Honeck
| Iowa City, IA
| Pathfinder N56993
| www.AlexisParkInn.com
| "Your Aviation Destination"
|
|

"Jay Honeck" wrote:

1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo before school starts
in the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire year before he
can take the check-ride.

So what? He can still fly the Cherokee with a parent in the right seat
until he's old enough. By then he should be *really* ready.

Should my son wait a year, so he can go at it full-steam and get the
ticket?

Nah.

Or should we strike while the iron is hot?

Always.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Prior to the other day I probably would have said to go ahead and start
him. I was at a safety semenar the other day and several people had had
their teenagers start flying at your son's age. Both their sons ended
up not becoming pilots (one had been a CAP cadet and involved in
aviation his whole life).
As the father of two pre-teen boys and a BSA leader I understand that
it takes boys a lot of energy to ramp up to a large challenge like
learning to fly. One thing I've found for sure is that boys don't like
to ramp up twice. Another thing is that kids today are very, very busy
with school, outside activities, sports, etc. While most of us were
just working 9-5 while we learned to fly most kids today are busy from
6am-9pm with activities.
So, all that said, the experience of those at this semenar was that
their boys ramped up and achieved their solo, then got busy with other
stuff (since they had a year to get their private) and then had an
impossible time re-engaging when it was time to take a checkride.
Both my boys will be in your son's situation in a few years and I'll
wait until they're old enough to go right through and get their
private.

-Robert, CFI

Jay Honeck wrote:
My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting his Junior year
of high school.

He's been flying since he can remember, and has many hours in the right
seat. (He's got over 1500 hours as a passenger with Mary and me.) His first
dozen or so hours behind the yoke were "IFR" -- because he couldn't see over
the panel! He can do everything except land the plane -- and I'm fairly
certain he could do that, but I'm not about to risk our lives (or my plane)
to find out.
"

You don't "ramp up" for solo or even the private, you ramp
up for a career in stages. The goal is always coming and it
isn't just the solo, or even the private, but the CFI and
ATP experience level.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
ups.com...
| Prior to the other day I probably would have said to go
ahead and start
| him. I was at a safety semenar the other day and several
people had had
| their teenagers start flying at your son's age. Both their
sons ended
| up not becoming pilots (one had been a CAP cadet and
involved in
| aviation his whole life).
| As the father of two pre-teen boys and a BSA leader I
understand that
| it takes boys a lot of energy to ramp up to a large
challenge like
| learning to fly. One thing I've found for sure is that
boys don't like
| to ramp up twice. Another thing is that kids today are
very, very busy
| with school, outside activities, sports, etc. While most
of us were
| just working 9-5 while we learned to fly most kids today
are busy from
| 6am-9pm with activities.
| So, all that said, the experience of those at this semenar
was that
| their boys ramped up and achieved their solo, then got
busy with other
| stuff (since they had a year to get their private) and
then had an
| impossible time re-engaging when it was time to take a
checkride.
| Both my boys will be in your son's situation in a few
years and I'll
| wait until they're old enough to go right through and get
their
| private.
|
| -Robert, CFI
|
| Jay Honeck wrote:
| My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and
starting his Junior year
| of high school.
|
| He's been flying since he can remember, and has many
hours in the right
| seat. (He's got over 1500 hours as a passenger with Mary
and me.) His first
| dozen or so hours behind the yoke were "IFR" -- because
he couldn't see over
| the panel! He can do everything except land the
plane -- and I'm fairly
| certain he could do that, but I'm not about to risk our
lives (or my plane)
| to find out.
| "
|