Any Certified Flight Instructors here??

[Oldschool61]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

Hi Oldschool61, I am a flight instructor but not FAA, based in the UK, I'm fairly confident that the FAA won't give any dispensation on the minimum hours on the basis of MSFS experience, the factors being that MSFS is not an approved FNPT system (flight navigation procedure trainer) and self teaching can not be accepted, you have to admit self teaching makes somewhat a mockery of the many hours of training and regulation that professional instructors have to go through in order to teach to the strict syllabus laid out by national authorities, as Nearmiss says, if you stroll into the flight school asking for dispensation because you play computer games you will instantly lose respect.

I will however say that your time spent on MSFS will almost certainly make the instrument flying side of the syllabus much easier, remember that the hours required in the syllabus are absolute 'minimum' and there is always a chance that if a student struggles along the way then the hours may overrun.

I wasnt expecting a break I was wondering if any pilots thought having alot of sim experiance (VOR/instrument flying) would make achieving the required level of competance easier.

[bongodriver]

OK Oldschool, fair enough, sorry I misunderstood your question.....like most other respondents here did it seems.

the simple answer in that case is 'who knows?', I've had students who flew flight sims who never gained any real advantage, and some students with absolutely no idea about anything who picked it up pretty quickly......it's all down to you.

[Oldschool61]

Originally Posted by redxfred

I instructed in USAF and in civilian scenarios and personally have great respect for the training derived from FSX. If nothing else, it can eliminate those prospective pilots who have neither the discipline or "Air sense" to get through an FAA certified program. That's good, because not everyone can be a pilot (Or a Doctor, or a singer or a good sheet rock hanger...). It is a blessing to find out you really don't want to put up with flight school before you lay out gobs of dough.

FAA never accepted training from other than a certificated Instructor when I was doing it, but a call to any flight school listed in the yellow pages can confirm whether or not that policy has changed. Just ask to speak informally to an instructor. I'm sure they will be glad to answer your questions.

FSX is a good procedures trainer but can never replace the "seat of the pants" experience of the real thing. Practicing radio procedures as well as course intercepts and holding pattern type instruments is a great way to apply all the little instructions found in the Airman information Manual so that you will instinctively know which way to turn, when to start the clock and all that other stuff when you start paying big bucks to the flight school. Simply put, learn what to do in FSX so that you can quickly learn HOW to do it in the rental plane.

Learning to fly is only part of the challenge. After you are given the FAA blessing, you still must be committed and be able to afford to fly occasionally in order to remain legally and skillfully current. If you can't afford to practice after you're licensed, you've just wasted the money on a pilots certificate. Be committed to safe flying before you start spending on what can be a very expensive hobby, or else please don't fly over western Virginia, where I live.

Guy at work here just got his PPL a few monthes back. He borrows a guys Grumman Tiger at his local airport (40/hr plus fuel). He mentioned you need 3 takoffs and landing every 90 days to stay current. What happens if you miss the 3 takeoffs and landing in the 90 days?? Do you need to get a check ride or just go up solo to make the 3 and 3??

[bongodriver]

No check ride, just 3 and 3 so you can take passengers, you only need a check ride every 2 years.

[Oldschool61]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

No check ride, just 3 and 3 so you can take passengers, you only need a check ride every 2 years.

DO touch and goes count as take off and landings or do they have to be full stops??

[bongodriver]

Here in Europe they have to be full stop, I can't say with confidence if the FAA is the same but I imagine it is, a long runway makes this less of a pain.

[Oldschool61]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

Here in Europe they have to be full stop, I can't say with confidence if the FAA is the same but I imagine it is, a long runway makes this less of a pain.

Question? In USA you need 20 hours with instructor minimum. Is that whats required to solo or the minimum total to get PPL? Is soloing strictly up to flight instructors opinion or can you solo at any point after a certain amount of time with instructor? I know that when soloing you cant have passenger (before PPL), but what if passenger has a PPL?

[bongodriver]

The minimum hours are for licensing, if during training your progress is really good and you have covered all lessons up to first solo then it is the instructors discretion as to when to send you solo, this can be achieved in as little as 10 hours approx.

[Oldschool61]

Originally Posted by bongodriver

The minimum hours are for licensing, if during training your progress is really good and you have covered all lessons up to first solo then it is the instructors discretion as to when to send you solo, this can be achieved in as little as 10 hours approx.

When you are aloud to solo are you only able to take planes from the flight school your using or do you get to use any rental plane from other sources??.

[bongodriver]

You are only allowed to fly an aircraft the instructor has authorised you to because technically you will be flying on the instructors license.

Another point to note is that the first solo sessions will only release you into the circuit for take off and landing practice, you won't be released to do any form of cross country or local area flying until you have done dual sessions dealing with navigation and practice forced landings, some instructors may even like to touch on some basic instrument flying too just to cover all bases, it can be an anxious time for us instructors sending students off solo, so we like to know everything has been covered.