Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Sport Pilot training costs - My recent experience

Yup!

For #1 below, I did my own "ground" for the written test with the Gleim books I listed as well as good ol' favorites such as the FAR/AIM, Airplane Flying Handbook and Aviation Weather. Asked my instructor for the endorsement for the written which he gave after a short verbal quiz. Same thing for the oral prep -- mostly done by studying the material at hand.

My instructor didn't charge for pre and post flight briefs as some do -- these were usually short anyway, while we were scheduling the next lesson and filling out logs. Come to think of it, I did pay for like an hour or two of ground one bad weather day prior to my check ride for a mock oral exam prep -- so call my ground school expense $80.

I tried to make up for the free time I got by: always being early or at least on time, always being prepared (i.e. doing my XC planning before arriving), always being back on time (if solo), not waiting until the last minute if I had to reschedule, and always helping to fuel the plane or put it away if I was last one on.

As far as aircraft systems -- early on I made sure I read and understood the POH for the aircraft, the Dynon manual for the EFIS, and the Garmin GPS manual. Any questions we usually covered during the flight.

As far as the DPE mentioned in #2 below, as stated the instructor endorsed me to take the check ride. The DPE charged the normal fee (the $360), and the flight time was included in my solo costs (1.8 hrs).

--- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, "apollonorthamerica" <apollonorthamerica@...> wrote:
>
> 1) Most people are can do most of the ground school with the books and software or DVDs they buy. Sure they cost about $250 or so but they pay back quickly if you can self educate.
> There is still some ground school that you simply can't do without an instructor or it seems that way, like aircraft specific information, pre and post flight briefs, XC planning (chart reading, airspace, weather information touched in this). I usually allow about 8 to 10 hours of ground for this type of ground school through the course.
>
> 2) DPE is a Designated Pilot Examiner. DPE doesn't recommend you for anything. He gives you the checkride and they generally are at $350. He included that in the cost. The person who recommends you for the checkride is your instructor (CFI). He included instructor dual flight cost in his estimate
>
> Abid
>
> --- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Williams" <rkwill@> wrote:
> >
> > Vardonx,
> >
> > There seems to be a missing item or two from your list.
> >
> > 1) the hourly cost of ground school, typically $50 or more per hour for the
> > instructor+class room.
> > 2) The cost of the DPE who recommends you to take the actual Oral/Practical
> > tests with another DPE, with whom you have to have (at least) 3 hours.
> >
> > R. Williams
> >
> >
> > > > ________________________________
> > > > From: vardonx <catalina1783@>
> > > > To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> > > > Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 1:29 PM
> > > > Subject: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Sport Pilot training costs - My
> > recent experience
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >  
> > > > Since I recently (first week of April) finished my SPL, I thought I'd post
> > what my basic costs where for any prospective students out there.
> > > >
> > > > I did not do an accelerated program, so most weeks were 2 or 3 lessons per
> > week as work allowed. There was also a two week period of bad weather/work
> > timing that set me back a bit.
> > > >
> > > > Ground School Costs
> > > > -------------------
> > > > Gleim Sport Pilot Knowledge Test Prep 20
> > > > Gleim Sport Pilot Practical Test Prep 23
> > > > FAR/AIM 10
> > > > Sectional Chart 9
> > > > A/F D 5
> > > > Chart plotter 6
> > > > Flight computer (ASA CX-2) 70
> > > > FAA Knowledge Test 140
> > > >
> > > > Flight Time Costs
> > > > -----------------
> > > > Dual Received ( 26 hrs @ 140/hr) 3640
> > > > Solo/Checkride ( 8 hrs @ 100/hr) 800
> > > > FAA Checkride Examiner Fee 360
> > > >
> > > > Total Cost $5083
> > > >
> > > > I just included the basics above -- I didn't include my new iPad and all the
> > apps for instance :)
> > > >
> > > > --Charles
> > > >
> > ------- End of Original Message -------
> >
>




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