Just Waiting 2

USNA69

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You/your son or daughter has received your appointment. You/yours is one of my aforementioned candidates, who from the age of diapers, all you have ever wanted to do is fly fighters.

Should you take private flying lessons?

My opinion is no. My first time in the front seat of a plane was my P'cola Fam-1. I graduated primary at the top of my class. Ditto for my son. He went on to graduate jets at the top of his class.

I was recently talking to the person partially responsible for setting up the new Navy pre-flight school flying program where prospective aviation candidates are given 20 or so hours of flight time before they report to Pensacola. He said that they had a heck of a time with these civilian flight schools to get them to do what was expected. The Navy did not want these candidates to learn how to fly but only to demonstrate being comfortable in the air. Kind of an airborne AQT/FAR where they can demonstrate situational awareness and prove they do indeed like flying. I suppose it saves a lot of govt funding to find out they don't like avation before they spend all the money of getting them to P'cola and through ground school. The civilian flight schools wanted to teach procedures, especially landing ones. The Navy does things differently. From day 1 they are preparing students to land on the boat. A civilian school can teach enough bad habits to put the neophyte behind the power curve at P'cola and cause him never to be able to get ahead.

There are students with 1000 flight hours that still have trouble with Navy flight training. Mostly attitude problems, but nevertheless, trouble.

I saw recently where the USNA flying club was disbandoned due to lack of funds. I would guess that the powers-that-be at the Academy share my views or money would be "found" to support it.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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USNA69 said:
I was recently talking to the person partially responsible for setting up the new Navy pre-flight school flying program where prospective aviation candidates are given 20 or so hours of flight time before they report to Pensacola. He said that they had a heck of a time with these civilian flight schools to get them to do what was expected.


Not to turn this thread into a sad story, but the problems with the civilian program are not limited to what you listed. I had a very good friend and soccer teammate at KP who went on to do Marine Air. He began this civilian program and during one of his early solo flights had engine problems and was killed in the subsequent crash. Investigations have gone on to reveal that the civilian plane he was in had CAR parts for some of the engine connections. So they also have trouble regulating the safety of the planes the potential student aviators use.
 
I agree with USNA69 about avoiding the urge to get a pilot's license in civilian aviation.

My civilian flight training experience was characterized by inconsistencies between varying CFI's I flew with. One guy taught me 'his' way and then when I took a lesson with someone else I got criticized for doing it the 'wrong' way. When I got to the flight test for my license, that was a near disaster because the examiner had nothing good to say about my technique. I wish my training would have been consistent from instructor to instructor as I believe it would be in the military. I think it would be a blow to a pilot's confidence to have to 'relearn' to fly once in the military.
 
Thank you, USNA69, for your insight and comments. Our family has talked quite a bit about this very issue since our son want to fly for the military. It's good to hear from someone who has btdt.
 
My father has said that it is much harder to unlearn something then it is to learn it. The right way, The wrong way, and the Navy way.
 
I'll have my son read this thread when he gets home. He's said the same thing about his instructors (this way, no this way), since he's trying to get his pilot's license, now.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom! :tomcat:
 
USNA69 said:
There are students with 1000 flight hours that still have trouble with Navy flight training. Mostly attitude problems, but nevertheless, trouble.

I saw recently where the USNA flying club was disbandoned due to lack of funds. I would guess that the powers-that-be at the Academy share my views or money would be "found" to support it.

Cripes. I never thought of it that way. Wow. :eek:

It does make sense, though....
 
Originally Posted by USNA69

I saw recently where the USNA flying club was disbandoned due to lack of funds. I would guess that the powers-that-be at the Academy share my views or money would be "found" to support it.

The Flying Club or as it is called Naval Academy Flying Squadron is doing fine. It is the Flying Team that was disbandoned. The Squadron is offering ground school classes this semester and they fly out of both Lee County Airport and Bay Bridge Airport. My Mid is active in the Squadron, doesn't have much time to fly but hopes that will change next year.
 
That will make someone's day!

Thanks for the update!:thumb: :cool: :shake: :rockon:
 
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