Flight Forum

You tell people to be careful when signing up for a flight school and how to handle large sums of money with a flight school ("Training Notes and News: Silver State Shutdown," May 2008 AOPA Flight Training). This is not an aviation-related problem. These are not aviation-related lessons to learn. These are life lessons to be learned.

You should never give any company large sums of money--from department stores to car companies to flight schools. This happens thousands of times every day. No one is too big to go out of business. Ford is having problems. Chrysler almost went under years ago. Kmart just came out of bankruptcy. Sears is in trouble. Where's Hechinger's? Where's Rickels? Comp USA--gone, except for a handful of stores bought by another firm. Private companies never give any warning they're going under. You just come in one day and the doors are closed. Don't just think you have to be careful in the aviation industry. The aviation industry is just another drop in the economic bucket.
Brad Zacharia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No time requirement on retests

I was reading the May 2008 AOPA Flight Training magazine article "Earning Your Wings" by Christopher Parker. In "Step 7: The Knowledge Test," he states that if you fail a knowledge test you can retest after 30 days.

According to FAR 61.49(a), an applicant for a knowledge or practical test who fails that test may reapply for the test only after the applicant has received the necessary training from an authorized instructor who has determined that the applicant is proficient to pass the test, and an endorsement from an authorized instructor who gave the applicant the additional training. There is no time requirement to retake the knowledge test.
Courtney Andrascik
Layton, Utah

Keeping sharp when you're not flying

Although I've been a pilot for years, I still get and enjoy AOPA Flight Training magazine. I've never felt compelled to write you about the articles in your magazine until I read the letter submitted by David Doermann Sr. from San Dimas, California ("Flight Forum: Taxi Term to Listen For," May 2008).

When I was a student pilot, I thought of many creative ways to learn better and read many articles on how to do so. But the technique David suggests makes more sense then anything I tried. Practicing procedures correctly in your living room (probably best when no one is home so you don't feel stupid) not only makes sense but saves a ton of money as well--and repetitiveness is a great way to get any procedure down in your mind. I used to like to explain out loud, to an imaginary student pilot, the information in each of the chapters in the flight manual. I figured if I could explain it correctly, I knew it. Whatever techniques you use, I encourage any student pilot to continue with your dreams to get your certificate. There's nothing like it in the world.
Jim Cecil
Flagstaff, Arizona

Back to square one on S-turns

For LeRoy Cook's article on ground reference maneuvers ("Square Dancing," May 2008 AOPA Flight Training): I like the narrative for the S-turns; however, the diagram does not match the description. My student just brought this to my attention since he could not get it clear in his head. We had just done these maneuvers a few days ago, so I did appreciate that he did notice the problem. The lower diagram on p. 24 shows the wind in the wrong direction for the narrative to work.

Really appreciate LeRoy's articles.
Jim Price
Abilene, Kansas

Your student is sharp! Here is the diagram as it should have appeared. We apologize for the confusion.--Ed.