Austin/San Marcos Training

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MikeAg03

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Mar 16, 2017
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Michael
I'm looking into getting my PPL and trying to figure out the best place to learn. I'm also considering a local club if a share becomes available and going that route.
I live in Buda, so am about equal distant to KAUS/KHYI. I'd consider New Braunfels as well, if it made more sense. Not sure I'd want to drive all the way north to Georgetown though.
Does anyone have any feedback or commendations on the local options?

Thanks,
Michael
 
I'd avoid AUS, not GA friendly and half of your flight time is getting in and out of the airspace. First 3 flights at the AUS school were 3 hr in the logbook and 1 hr of training info. That's why i'm up in G'town. I'd check HYI and BAZ.
 
Howdy Ag!

+1 to the idea of training at San Marcos.
 
Yeah, I plan to check out HYI, perhaps BAZ as well. HYI has Tx State Aviation and Redbird... Redbird seems nice but I believe is geared more torwards full time students... also quite expensive.
 
I fly out of Bergstrom. Bergstrom is in fact very GA friendly for a large air carrier airport. But there's no getting away from the fact that it takes at least 20 minutes from takeoff until you're far enough out to do any real training.

And if you pay on hobbs meter time, that 9,000 foot taxi to runway 17 sure hurts.

I really like HYI. The tower is patience with trainers, and it has all the approaches. Skyport is a really nice facility and has a snack bar. Other than renting some sim time at Skyport, I haven't done any training there so I can't comment on that.
 
I'll send him a message. Got my medical today and visited Tx State Aviation and Skyport...
 
I sent him a message thru his website, but haven't heard back yet... Which ground school package to use is my next question at hand...
 
MikeAg03 said:
I sent him a message thru his website, but haven't heard back yet... Which ground school package to use is my next question at hand...
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Depends. Are you good at self-study? If so, get the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Read through it 2-3 times. Bring what questions you have to your CFI to answer.

All the ground schools do is repackage the same information and deliver it via a different medium. Some swear by them but they never did much for me...
 
labbadabba said:
Depends. Are you good at self-study? If so, get the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Read through it 2-3 times. Bring what questions you have to your CFI to answer.

All the ground schools do is repackage the same information and deliver it via a different medium. Some swear by them but they never did much for me...
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This...

Plus the FAA books have a very important attribute. They are Free, no cost, zero dinero. Look to this page for downloading: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/

In addition to the PHAK, get the Airplane Flying Handbook.
 
MikeAg03 said:
I'm looking into getting my PPL and trying to figure out the best place to learn. I'm also considering a local club if a share becomes available and going that route.
I live in Buda, so am about equal distant to KAUS/KHYI. I'd consider New Braunfels as well, if it made more sense. Not sure I'd want to drive all the way north to Georgetown though.
Does anyone have any feedback or commendations on the local options?

Thanks,
Michael
Click to expand...

Welcome to PoA, Michael.

I agree that KHYI is better than Bergstrom for training. If you lived on the north side, I'd recommend KEDC or Georgetown.

Flying around Austin is expensive and is bound to only go up. Welcome to Nuevo Kalyfornya.
 
BigBadLou said:
Welcome to PoA, Michael.

I agree that KHYI is better than Bergstrom for training. If you lived on the north side, I'd recommend KEDC or Georgetown.

Flying around Austin is expensive and is bound to only go up. Welcome to Nuevo Kalyfornya.
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Thanks... Know of any partnerships, clubs, etc that allow students, and any recommendations on cfis?

Also, any Austin gatherings coming up?
 
MikeAg03 said:
Thanks... Know of any partnerships, clubs, etc that allow students, and any recommendations on cfis?

Also, any Austin gatherings coming up?
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Sorry, no idea on partnerships or clubs. But you are welcome to start one. Believe me, you WILL have plenty of interest.

We have monthly gatherings on the north side with one coming up in 2 weeks, we eat burgers/wings/tacos and drink beer/sodas/water and talk about airplanes (the horror, right? :) )
But you are on the south side so you are closer to the Fecesbooks kids. Give them a shout if that interests you.
 
Do his voiceovers occur during instruction too? That might get annoying while trying to learn crosswind landings. :p
 
I liked his vids as a student. Not so much now. Haven't watched in forever. But I'm not his target audience now. Seems like he'd be a good CFI. I love the passion for aviation, which will be valuable teaching students.

OP, congrats! You're in for an amazing journey man!!
 
Well, never heard back anyhow... I'm leaning towards starting at Tx State Aviation at KHYI.
 
find something down south - even using the toll road (which will get pricey) that's just too far. You'll get a similar experience in San Marcos with a towered field, etc... which was a really valuable learning experience during training. I don't know is down there besides Redbird and I don't know much about them...but I'm sure they'll get the job done. Just make sure you take the time to talk to a few CFI's - just don't let them 'assign' you one if you don't feel up to that.
 
MikeAg03 said:
Thanks... Know of any partnerships, clubs, etc that allow students, and any recommendations on cfis?

Also, any Austin gatherings coming up?
Click to expand...

Once you are at or near your PPL you can check out our ownership club:

http://chandelleflyingclub.com/

We're at Bergstrom, which is a PIB for local training. Two of our three airplanes are tach time airplanes, so we've got that going for us.
 
JimNtexas said:
Once you are at or near your PPL you can check out our ownership club:

http://chandelleflyingclub.com/

We're at Bergstrom, which is a PIB for local training. Two of our three airplanes are tach time airplanes, so we've got that going for us.
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I've checked out the club online and talked to you I believe. I'm currently on the interest list for available shares...

Just an update on my training... I've taken one lesson now at Above & Beyond... have a lesson planned at Tx State for tomorrow (if the weather clears up anyhow).
 
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