Ask FLYING News Pilot Proficiency

Can You Make Progress With Flight Lessons Only Once a Week?

Here's how to get the most out of learning to fly when you're on a tight budget.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 11:03 AM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

When you stretch out flying lessons for any reason—be it finances, weather, or aircraft availability—there is a lot of relearning that has to take place before you can move forward. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Infrequent flight lessons (e.g., three times a month) impede progress as significant time is spent relearning material.
More frequent lessons are essential for efficient and effective advancement in flight training.
It is recommended to budget and save for concentrated blocks of instruction, such as 10 hours, to maximize learning.
While saving or between lessons, students should study and engage with aviation clubs to stay connected and maintain progress.

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Question: I am a student pilot and really enjoy my flight lessons but can only afford to fly three times a month. My CFI told me I’d make more progress if I saved my money and did multiple lessons a week. Is he trying to get more money out of me, or is he giving it to me straight?

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Answer: The CFI is correct. When you stretch out flying lessons for any reason—be it finances, weather, or aircraft availability—there is a lot of relearning that has to take place before you can move forward. It is very difficult to make progress this way.

READ MORE: Do Flight Hours Expire When There’s a Lapse in Training?

Can you budget for and save for 10 hours of flight instruction? In the meantime, study and join an aviation club, such as the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, to keep your head in the game. You may even make a friend who already has their certificate and will take you along for the ride.

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.