Q. I am a senior in high school and have decided to attend an aviation college to build up time and get FAA certificates and ratings. I have been talking to some pilots and CFIs and they are split on a recommendation. Some say to go to a school in the north to get real weather flying. Others say go south to maximize the number of good flying days. What do you think?
A. Weather is not the only consideration. Granted, if you decide to attend schools such as the University of North Dakota or Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan, you will be exposed to weather flying like you will never see in Arizona or Florida. Having to consider wind, fog, icing, and subzero temperatures in your flight planning is real-world stuff. Few professionals get to practice their careers in 350 days of sunshine per year.
But the downside is down time because of weather. Some schools have flight training devices (FTDs) and simulators that allow the students to keep learning inside while the weather implodes outside. If you head north, find out how schools make up for lost time because of weather.
True, flying in Prescott, Arizona; Daytona Beach, Florida; or Phoenix will get you more time in the aircraft and you will complete your training on time, in most instances. But you will hardly ever see the inside of clouds for a solid hour or make an approach through a 400-foot ceiling. Explore whether these schools can get you some challenging “simulated weather” in simulation devices. Airline and corporate pilots can find themselves training in wicked weather, thanks to the marvels of simulator computerization. You have to get into “real” weather—even if simulated in a box—to round out your training.
There are other factors that you should consider to point you in the right direction. Cost is certainly a prime consideration. What does the fleet look like? Is it old and tired or fairly new and reliable? Visit with other students. Get an idea what life is like on campus. Visit the airport and maintenance facility.
Try this: Ask to look at aircraft logbooks. That will probably stun the recruiter. Examine those records. Are they complete and neat, or sloppy? Inspect the classrooms. Visit with professors. Does the school offer advanced training in devices that simulate regional jets? What relationships does the school have with industry? Internships? Bridge programs?
There is one little trick that might save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Is the school located at a large airport with multiple runways and a control tower, or is the institution housed at a small field? Schools such as Cochise College, Hesston College, and Central Missouri are situated at nontowered fields. The benefit is a short taxi time and not waiting for takeoff clearance with the Hobbs meter ticking all the while.
Frankly, I personally would like to get some real weather flying experience during my training, but that is only one consideration of many.
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