TheTraveler
Line Up and Wait
Hi All,
I've finally got my training going again, and I'm sure I'll finish this time. The conditions are a bit different, so I'm reaching out to the community for some input.
I previously had about 6 hours or so between 150's and 172's, had to take a leave, and now I'm up and going again. We have a nice flight school here, and access to quite a few aircraft. A 162, a few 150's, multiple 172's, an Arrow, etc. If you didn't see my other post about my hiatus and return, I also have shared private access now to a 206, which I'm really excited about! The game plan is to get the ticket, and the 206 will be what I'm primarily flying after I'm all set. FYI, I'm going for private, and this will all be private and recreational. No goal of joining an airline, flying commercially, or for hire. So here comes the question about the training.
The leader of the pack for the 206 feels strongly that I should get my initial training in the 172, but as soon as I solo, get the high power and complex endorsement, and then finish up the rest of my training in the 206. I understand why he thinks this way. It's good time spent with an instructor in that plane, it's good practice time on what I will primarily be flying, less time and $ in a rental aircraft, etc.
My instructor says he'll do whatever I want, but strongly advises against the plan. His first concern was about insurance, but that's not an issue, we have that worked out. He feels I should finish all the training for the private in the 172, then get the two endorsements, and transition over. He doesn't think that moving students around to different aircraft is a good idea, he thinks the 206 is too complicated for the average student, has concerns about the prop control for a new private pilot, and also has concerns about beating up on the 206 (wear on the landing gear, wear on the turbo, etc).
I can see some of his arguments, but not all. I don't believe the prop is so complicated. Sure, it's additional learning and takes additional finesse, but it's certainly not beyond the reach of someone who is intelligent, dedicated, and takes well to the material.
What I do see as valid are the concerns of beating on the landing gear and the turbo for training. Continuous stall/recovery maneuvers, as well as landing practice and touch and go's are probably not the best thing for the 206/ I'm of the opinion that as a student, everybody needs practice. Doesn't matter if you know you have to be gentle with a turbo or that you want to make smooth landings...even if you know it, it still takes practice.
My thought for myself is kind of in the middle of these two guys. I say get to my solo with the 172 and see what happens. Am i making nice landings? Am I able to be gentle enough with the 206 in stall/recovery's that I'm not beating up the turbo? Then maybe it's ok to switch over. Or maybe I'm bumpy with my landings, or a little aggressive with my stall/recovery's, in which case I'd just finish up in the 172 and maybe I pay an instructor to fly with me for some more time after I've already got my ticket.
Anything I'm missing here? Would you say that my "let's see how it goes" is a good decision? What would you do?
I've finally got my training going again, and I'm sure I'll finish this time. The conditions are a bit different, so I'm reaching out to the community for some input.
I previously had about 6 hours or so between 150's and 172's, had to take a leave, and now I'm up and going again. We have a nice flight school here, and access to quite a few aircraft. A 162, a few 150's, multiple 172's, an Arrow, etc. If you didn't see my other post about my hiatus and return, I also have shared private access now to a 206, which I'm really excited about! The game plan is to get the ticket, and the 206 will be what I'm primarily flying after I'm all set. FYI, I'm going for private, and this will all be private and recreational. No goal of joining an airline, flying commercially, or for hire. So here comes the question about the training.
The leader of the pack for the 206 feels strongly that I should get my initial training in the 172, but as soon as I solo, get the high power and complex endorsement, and then finish up the rest of my training in the 206. I understand why he thinks this way. It's good time spent with an instructor in that plane, it's good practice time on what I will primarily be flying, less time and $ in a rental aircraft, etc.
My instructor says he'll do whatever I want, but strongly advises against the plan. His first concern was about insurance, but that's not an issue, we have that worked out. He feels I should finish all the training for the private in the 172, then get the two endorsements, and transition over. He doesn't think that moving students around to different aircraft is a good idea, he thinks the 206 is too complicated for the average student, has concerns about the prop control for a new private pilot, and also has concerns about beating up on the 206 (wear on the landing gear, wear on the turbo, etc).
I can see some of his arguments, but not all. I don't believe the prop is so complicated. Sure, it's additional learning and takes additional finesse, but it's certainly not beyond the reach of someone who is intelligent, dedicated, and takes well to the material.
What I do see as valid are the concerns of beating on the landing gear and the turbo for training. Continuous stall/recovery maneuvers, as well as landing practice and touch and go's are probably not the best thing for the 206/ I'm of the opinion that as a student, everybody needs practice. Doesn't matter if you know you have to be gentle with a turbo or that you want to make smooth landings...even if you know it, it still takes practice.
My thought for myself is kind of in the middle of these two guys. I say get to my solo with the 172 and see what happens. Am i making nice landings? Am I able to be gentle enough with the 206 in stall/recovery's that I'm not beating up the turbo? Then maybe it's ok to switch over. Or maybe I'm bumpy with my landings, or a little aggressive with my stall/recovery's, in which case I'd just finish up in the 172 and maybe I pay an instructor to fly with me for some more time after I've already got my ticket.
Anything I'm missing here? Would you say that my "let's see how it goes" is a good decision? What would you do?
