10 groups of questions to ask when looking for a flight school
Overview: There are many questions that can and should be asked when looking for a flight school. The suitability of a particular school depends entirely on the needs of the one asking the questions. Thus a person seeking only a private pilot license would ask a different set of questions than someone looking to earn two or more licenses or ratings. In keeping with the focus of this web site, these 10 questions (with sub-questions included) are asked from the perspective of someone looking to go from zero flight time to being employable as a flight instructor with the CFI, CFII and MEI ratings.
Purpose: My purpose is to give you a list of informed questions. You don’t necessarily need to ask all of these questions because, as with any interview, the person being interviewed might answer several of them in one shot. Also, the purpose here isn’t to annoy the person answering your questions. Remember, these schools aren’t necessarily trying to take advantage of you. Because the competition each school faces is quite fierce, they most likely will not tell you if their school is not suitable for you. So be informed, ask the right questions, and make your own decision on what is right for you.
1. Do you have a package that takes me from zero time up to and including the instructor ratings?
- How long does it take an average person to complete this course?
- Do students typically finish the program with exactly the number of hours stated, or do they go over? How much over?
- Are there lengthy delays waiting for 141 stage checks? How many instructors are qualified to give stage checks?
- Are there lengthy delays waiting for check rides? How many students are actively flying right now and how many FAA examiners are available for check rides.
2. What is the total cost and what does the price include?
- Are supplies like books, bags, headsets, charts, uniform, included?
- Is housing included, and if so, for how long?
- Are check rides included? How much do they cost?
- Are written exams included? How much do they cost?
- Do you offer student loans?
3. How will I be charged and for what?
- Will I be charged Hobbs time or Tach time?
- If I fly for one hour solo/dual in the C-172 or Archer (single engine airplane) etc…how much money is deducted from my account? Any extras, like fuel surcharges or instructor pre/post flight briefings?
- If I fly one hour solo/dual in a Seminole or Duchess (multi engine airplane) how much money is deducted from my account. Any extras?
4. How much Multi Engine time will I have when I finish?
- How much of it will be with an instructor?
- How much of it will be solo?
- How much will be “Time Building” with another student.
- How many multi-engine airplanes do you have?
- Will you hire me as an instructor when I finish?
- What percentage of course graduates do you hire?
- Will I get multi engine students or is that for “senior” instructors only?
5. Do you have interview agreements with any companies?
- If so, which companies?
- Are they hiring?
- How many course graduates have been hired by airlines (or whoever) in the last year?
- What was their average total flight time and multi-engine flight time when hired?
6. What is the weather typically like while I will be there?
- If there are lengthy weather delays and I am unable to finish the course in the prescribed number of days, will I have to pay extra for housing?
7. Tell me about the experience level of the instructors?
- Am I assigned an instructor, or can I choose?
- If I am assigned an instructor and we aren’t a good fit, can I select a new one?
- What are the chances that I will keep the same instructor for all of my ratings?
- What is the student to instructor ratio?
8. Tell me about your airport.
- Is it controlled or uncontrolled?
- What’s the average number of planes in front of you waiting to takeoff/land?
- Are there commercial operators on the field? How many daily departures do they have on average?
- How far do you have to fly to reach an ILS approach, a VOR approach, a GPS approach, or an NDB approach?
- How far is it to the practice area?
9. What sort of airplanes do you have?
- How many do you have?
- How many are multi-engine?
- How many are instrument equipped?
- How many are IFR GPS equipped?
- Tell me about the maintenance. Do you have your own maintenance facility?
- Would you send your daughter up alone in one of these airplanes over alligator infested swamp? J
10. Tell me about your facility.
- Do you have a classroom?
- Do you have your own maintenance facility?
- Do you have an FAA testing center nearby?
- Do you have a flight planning area with an internet connection for weather?