Hints for parents of 13 year old student pilot?

My son, age 13, is planning to take flight lessons this summer. My wife and
I are both pilots, so he has been flying since birth.

Any parents out there gone through the same experience? My concerns a

1. Training Program. His training need to be thorough, but not dull and too
"book oriented." I don't want him to burn out.

2. Structure. He's a typical 13 year old -- one minute mature, the next
minute a scatter-brain. He learns best in a structured environment, which
is something I've noticed is lacking in most FBO-based training programs.
The problem, of course, is if it's too structured it may become dull, and
then we're back to #1.

3. Frequency. Given his inability to solo for a few years, I was thinking
that weekly lessons would be plenty. I know this slows the learning
process, but that's okay for now. Or do you think he'll lose interest at
that slow of a pace?

4. Instructor. Whoever teaches him is going to have to relate to a young
teenager. Considering the young age of most of our CFIs, this may not be a
problem. Or, they may not take him seriously. Or, worse, he might not take
*them* seriously.

It's really hard for me to tell if his interest is genuinely internal, or if
it's just coming from the fact that his mother and I are pilots. We've
assumed from birth that he and his sister would one day fly, just like we
assume that they will one day drive a car and go to college, so it's not
like he's got this unusually strong, burning desire to fly. Heck, he's been
flying right seat since he was 8 years old, so it's kind of "old hat" to
him, and he, too, has always just "assumed" he would learn to fly.

But flying is serious business, and I want to make sure he becomes safe and
proficient.

Despite our aviation background, my wife and I are both on pins and needles
about this -- we want to make sure he gets off on the right foot. Any
advice from others who have gone down this road is appreciated!

Thanks,
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

1) Start with sailplanes. Solo at 14 (if he is ready for it)
2) Find an instructor that is a school teacher or retired school teacher (they
will have a better understanding of the methods that will work best with a
young mind)
3) Navigation... give specific directions for the information you want. Begin
by setting him in front of the computer and walk him through the process. Walk
away and come back, ask how things are going, heap lots of praise on what a
good job he is doing, etc. When he says he has everything, sit down and explain
what you are looking for and why. If you see something that raises a flag that
you want to explore a little more, explain why and sit down at the computer
again and walk him through the source of additional information, why/what is
different and helps you in your decision process. Talk about NOTAMS, the
information they contain and why you need to know it.
Preflight and inflight...
Map reading... review the route, looking for "obstacles" (MOAs, towers,
Restricted Areas, etc), don't let him peek at the big moving map display, make
him do it the old fashion way, match the ground features with the map. Teach
him the pencil and paper math, (wind triangles) before you introduce the whiz
wheel or calculator. Work W&B/CG calculations.
Introduce tasks one at a time on different flights to avoid information
overload. Back off at the first sign of frustration.

Come to think of it, Margie would make a really good instructor for your needs.
She already knows this stuff. She could write a sylabus.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:IyC7c.58287$_w.912977@attbi_s53...
My son, age 13, is planning to take flight lessons this summer. My wife
and
I are both pilots, so he has been flying since birth.

Any parents out there gone through the same experience? My concerns a

1. Training Program. His training need to be thorough, but not dull and
too
"book oriented." I don't want him to burn out.

2. Structure. He's a typical 13 year old -- one minute mature, the next
minute a scatter-brain. He learns best in a structured environment, which
is something I've noticed is lacking in most FBO-based training programs.
The problem, of course, is if it's too structured it may become dull, and
then we're back to #1.

3. Frequency. Given his inability to solo for a few years, I was thinking
that weekly lessons would be plenty. I know this slows the learning
process, but that's okay for now. Or do you think he'll lose interest at
that slow of a pace?

4. Instructor. Whoever teaches him is going to have to relate to a young
teenager. Considering the young age of most of our CFIs, this may not be
a
problem. Or, they may not take him seriously. Or, worse, he might not
take
*them* seriously.

It's really hard for me to tell if his interest is genuinely internal, or
if
it's just coming from the fact that his mother and I are pilots. We've
assumed from birth that he and his sister would one day fly, just like we
assume that they will one day drive a car and go to college, so it's not
like he's got this unusually strong, burning desire to fly. Heck, he's
been
flying right seat since he was 8 years old, so it's kind of "old hat" to
him, and he, too, has always just "assumed" he would learn to fly.

But flying is serious business, and I want to make sure he becomes safe
and
proficient.

Despite our aviation background, my wife and I are both on pins and
needles
about this -- we want to make sure he gets off on the right foot. Any
advice from others who have gone down this road is appreciated!

Thanks,

I've been through this both as a youngster myself, (see Reader's Digest
April 1985 "A Little Help From A Friend" ) and with parents who have
consulted with me through the years on this issue as it relates to teaching
their youngsters to fly.
It's not really a complex question, but it deserves a great deal of thought.
The first thing I've always addressed with the parents is the issue of
motivation. This can be a problem, especially if the parents are active in
the aviation community as both of you are. The issue needs to be viewed from
outside the box. You have to take yourselves and your influence out of the
equation and view the youngster's motivation completely as a separate
entity. This is extremely important, as it's completely normal for a young
person to want to please their parents by emulating and indeed expanding on
the parents interests. This can lead to trouble down the line if the
youngster goes into the program with this incentive, as it's a negative
incentive as far as flying is concerned. It's not a guaranteed major hit on
the negative side, but it could be a serious problem if the youngster is
intelligent; learns the rote functions; but is harboring some deep seated
negative issues or fears about flying. I only mention this to point you in a
direction that ended up with you being absolutely certain that all the
incentives and motivation involved are positive. Once this is done, and
you're sure he's positive instead of "wanting to please" the rest is easy.
For a 13 year old with the obvious experience your youngster would have
already gained through exposure to both of you, I would suggest an easing
into a structured program gradually rather than a sudden rush into
programmed training. Once you are satisfied that the motivation is positive
on it's own merits, I'd simply upgrade the way you approach the subject with
the "prospective student" while talking about flying, and when you are in
the air together. Start dealing with the issue more seriously and expect a
certain level of performance in return. Don't go overboard, but start
dealing with the subject more seriously with the youngster. While you're
doing this, I'd suggest looking around, if you haven't already done so, for
the best CFI you can find. Then bring this equation together and turn it
loose. Let the CFI deal with when to get into the structured end of things.
I'd suggest laying off the formal ground school for awhile. The ideal time
to get into that would be AFTER the youngster has experienced first hand
his/her OWN ABILITY to handle an airplane in various situations not
experienced before. It will be here that the interest level will accommodate
the comparatively boring but necessary ground school training. Also, the
ground school training should be timed so that it's completed just about
where it would be in a normal training cycle leading to the PPL check ride,
and that in this case will mean a short waiting period :-) I totally agree
with your reasoning on burn out. Also, the ground school training has to be
fresh, so it's best not to enter into it early just to get it out of the
way.
So there are two reasons to hold off on it right there.
Basically Jay, I'd just continue with what you're no doubt already doing.
Just up the expectation level like I said. The important thing is to nail
that motivation issue NOW!! You want to make absolutely sure that this kid
WANTS to learn to fly and isn't doing it for any other reason!!! I can't
stress enough the importance of this single issue.
Best of luck. I have a feeling you and your wife are on top of this already
and don't really need much help :-))
Dudley

"Dudley Henriques" wrote

.. The important thing is to nail
that motivation issue NOW!! You want to make absolutely sure that this kid
WANTS to learn to fly and isn't doing it for any other reason!!! I can't
stress enough the importance of this single issue.
Best of luck. I have a feeling you and your wife are on top of this
already
and don't really need much help :-))
Dudley

Amen.

Too early, IMHO. Best to teach what you can yourself in the plane, then
start formal, when after a relatively short poriod, he can solo. Kids have
to see the goal, up close, or they lose interest.
--
Jim in NC


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I know you said, "this summer", but that is only 11 or 12 lessons at one per
week. The training will last well into the fall. Actually, the training will
last his whole life, but that's another matter.

I'd go talk to his teacher, telling exactly what is planned and how it is going
to unfold. If the teacher has anything at all on the ball, his English
assignments are going to be to write about some aspect of flying, his math is
going to involve the trigonometry of wind triangles, and his history will be to
chronicle flight from Daedaleus (sp?) to the Mars mission.

Just a thought, mind you.

Jim



"Jay Honeck"
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

-My son, age 13, is planning to take flight lessons this summer. My wife and
-I are both pilots, so he has been flying since birth.

Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

I'd go talk to his teacher, telling exactly what is planned and how it is
going
to unfold. If the teacher has anything at all on the ball, his English
assignments are going to be to write about some aspect of flying, his math
is
going to involve the trigonometry of wind triangles, and his history will
be to
chronicle flight from Daedaleus (sp?) to the Mars mission.

Ah, Jim, you're dating yourself here.

At 13 nowadays, he's in "Junior High School" and doesn't have "a teacher" --
he has a fleet of 'em. One for each hour, in fact.

But I like the idea... I'll try to get in touch with at least a few of
them.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Culver Academy had a summer camp that offered pilot training when I was a kid.
Their site is screwed up enough that I can't tell for sure if they still do,
but the program is mentioned in this old article
http://www.culver.org/news/publicati...non/May_03.htm
(look for "From Fleet Field")
and in this one
http://www.petersons.com/summerop/specnote.html
(look for "Culver Summer Camps/Culver Summer Aviation Program")

'seems like a place that specializes in flight training for 13-16 year olds
would be a good place to start.

(No, I didn't go to Culver. I was busy with music and cycling camps back
then. I wish I had though; it probably would have shaved some time off of
the 14 years I took to get my Private...)

--kyler

Oh, and the one thing I forgot was to have him sign up for both auto shop and
electronics shop so he can show his old man how to work on the damn thing.

{;-)


Jim


Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

Oh, and the one thing I forgot was to have him sign up for both auto shop
and
electronics shop so he can show his old man how to work on the damn thing.

Yeah, he WILL take those classes in high school.

I attended a stupid Catholic high school in the '70s, and missed out on all
that. We were constantly struggling for money just to stay afloat. (Heck,
we even did several "Walk for St. Catherine's," where we would take per-mile
pledges, and walk 25 miles in an effort to keep the doors open...)

Needless to say, there was no "shop" class, or swimming class, or anything
that required extra money.

We had good discipline, though. ;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

You have to send your kids to a "vocational" school to learn those things in my
school district.
If you do that, you cannot take the college prep classes you need.
Ideally, I would send my kids to vocational school in the morning to learn a
trade, then regular high school in the afternoon for "book learnin". Alas, that
is not possible.

Jim Weir wrote:

Oh, and the one thing I forgot was to have him sign up for both auto shop and
electronics shop so he can show his old man how to work on the damn thing.