Accelerated Flight Training

[TheChartLady]

Have you taken training from an accelerated training center? Was it a good experience? What did you like about it? What wasn't the greatest?
What was your goal for the training? Did you achieve it?

I have been slogging along on an IFR rating for more than 2 years. Life just keeps getting in the way. I am considering one of the accelerated training schools, but don't know what to look for, what to avoid.

I've checked websites for schools that advertise in the back of AOPA Flight Training magazine, just to get started. I have up to 2 weeks to spend on it, willing to go anywhere in continental US.

What advice do you have for me?

[hunter]

I created a discussion on the AOPA forums about this, search for it if you are a member. If not, I will come back here and post it in this forum, as soon as I pony up and renew

[fordan]

I created a discussion on the AOPA forums about this, search for it if you are a member. If not, I will come back here and post it in this forum, as soon as I pony up and renew

It was also your first post in this forum. Accelerated Programs, yay or nay?

I'm still slogging my way through my Instrument written prep (see my post in that thread from Dec 2008 saying I have books on the way. ). I was sure I wanted to do it locally, but my FBO has made the aircraft type I rent less interesting as a instrument platform since they've stopped even pretending to update the IFR GPS' database and have since placarded it for VFR use only, leaving them with dual VORs, no DME. I'm debating doing the accelerated approach as well.

For the original poster, how far along are you? Are you closer to needing to relearn everything, or closer to just needing some finishing up training? If you're already a good ways into your learning, doing a program that assumes you've never flown an approach might be a waste.

I have no experience with them, but Professional Instrument Courses offers a finish up program as well as a full no-experience Instrument program. They come to you and your home with a simulator, and you fly your plane (which might be tricky if you rent).

[TheChartLady]

I read through the posts mentioned " Accelerated Programs, yay or nay? "
I probably won't be a professional pilot (I can withdraw from my IRA without penalty, shall we say), but I like to fly every weekend and during the week if I can.
I think I could finish pretty quickly if I could just concentrate on flying. And that would be a vacation for me.

For me, a "finish-up" program would suit me as I was flying approaches of all kinds before I had to quit flying last summer.
My husband did a sommersault down the stairway of a regional jet on our way *back* from vacation in August. That took a big bite out of both of our lives. He was in a wheelchair for about a month after surgery to repair his ruptured quadriceps tendon. He was with a cane and reduced activity until February this year. Even he is ready for me to get my currency back so we can *go* somewhere. We're also considering an airplane purchase, but that's a whole 'nother subject.

While I wasn't flying and caring for the love of my life, I did take my flying club's commerical ground school last fall and passed that knowledge test.
I think I need a deadline to get past the knowledge test for the instrument rating.

I have about 250 hours VFR, almost 100 hours cross-country, so I'm no stranger to a cockpit.

I couldn't find the AOPA topic that Hunter mentioned, so I'll have to wait until he renews to point it out to me.

I'm hoping to capitalize on everyone's experience. I haven't got the patience to make all the mistakes myself.

Jan

[hunter]

Hey Jan,
Sorry to hear about that accident! But I'm glad he's back on his feet. I did renew yesterday and I just went through all of my posts in the AOPA forums, username hlocke8, and I was mistaken. I posted the question here, but my memory deceived me in saying I posted in the AOPA forums.

I will keep my eyes out for literature on accelerated "finishing" programs and the like.

Blue Skies...

[Dave Higdon]

Something worth remembering in any consideration of enrolling with a specialist in accelerated training: find the right flight instructor locally and you can often craft an "accelerated" program of your own -- and possibly at lower costs than one of the specialty outfits...nothing against them. Have friends who've used 'em and liked 'em, friends that have paid to get accelerated training at a Flight Safety International center and liked it -- and others who weren't all that enamored with either.

For both my Private and my Instrument, I worked with CFIs who understood I had goals, time to make it work and a desire to complete training and check ride in shorter-than average time periods. For my Private, the checkride came on my 33rd day since first training; we did the Instrument in 16 days -- and that really worked me over -- working days and flying evenings and into the night to cover the requirements, log the hours, get competent and pass the checkride -- which also was flown at night, again to meet my schedule requirements.

Always felt like my accelerated flight studies paid off in how comfortable and practiced my flying was; we we started using my Private five days later (a 2,200-mile round-trip) and my Instrument three days later (about 3,500 miles, international, and long overwater...).

You may be able to work out a schedule with a CFI that gets you the training in an accelerated period going through a local flight school...

Dave

[hunter]

Tailwheels in Winter Haven, FL has a great accelerated program. They will pick you up from the airline terminal, etc.

[TheChartLady]

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and ideas.

I had just about decided to talk to a local instructor about weekday flying and taking some time off from work.

Then, the other shoe dropped. My poor husband is having x-rays tomorrow for a serious hip problem. The docs are talking hip replacement surgery at this time.

I'll get that instrument rating finished. I swear! But it may not be soon....

WE HOPE to see y'all at Oshkosh this summer; have the reservations and plane tickets and car lined up.

Glad we hadn't planned on SunNFun...
Jan