| Picking who will instruct a person is ultimately up to the individual student.
Flight training is primarily one-on-one instruction. Although the choice of an instructor
is paramount, usually finding the right school or training center is the first step. The school of choice may be different for different individuals. Obviously location is important, but the nearest school may not be the best choice. The USA offers the most affordable training facilities as well as the most modern equipment. For this reason many students travel from all over the world just to train here. Among these there is a wide choice of schools to choose from. If (for instance) a career in aviation is the goal, one might first look for a facility with a wide variety of airplanes to choose from. Does the school have access to the types of airplanes you will want to fly? Close inspection may reveal the condition of this equipment. Do the planes look well maintained and clean? Is the layout of the place appearing well organized? Talking to the instructors and clients (students) will give more clues to the school's professionalism. Ask not only questions about their school but ask them to compare their school to other training facilities. The choice of instructor can be difficult but trust your intuition and pick the one who you think will help you reach your objectives best. Key things to look for:
Most instructors are "time builders" meaning they are there to build flight time in preparation for an airline career. So it is very important to notice their interest in you. If they are dedicated, as most are, you will get good instruction regardless of their total experience. Although choosing a more experienced person may be in your best interest, it might also be that they have already acquired their quota of hours they need to further pursue their career goals. That being the case, you may have to find a new instructor in mid training. Don't be afraid to ask for a commitment from them, it's your money.
|
