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Question: I plan to start flight training this spring, and I am in the process of finding a flight school. I toured a local college that has a Part 141 program and decided I would do better training under Part 61 at a mom-and-pop school. What should I be looking for in Part 61 school?
Answer: Mom-and-pop style businesses, as the name implies, are often family operated and operate with a smaller budget than the larger, more academically oriented programs. The training is usually more flexible and to the same standards as the training in a Part 141 school.
Ask about the airplane-to-student ratio and the instructor-to-student ratio. You are looking for a program that will facilitate flying at least twice a week. If there are three instructors, three airplanes, and 40 students, this will likely be a problem.
Some flight schools put a cap on their enrollment or limit posttraining rental opportunities to protect the clients actively training. You may be wait-listed if the school is at capacity. Ask if it allows rental opportunities after you earn your certificate. You will want to be able to rent an aircraft after you have your certificate so you can keep up your skills.
Ask about the maintenance program, specifically if it is done in-house with an A&P/IA, or if it is contracted out. If in-house, ask about the scheduling of customer aircraft and fleet aircraft. Three-to-one is a common ratio.
Ask about the turnover rate among the mechanics and instructors. These jobs are often entry level, so the people that fill them earn the experience that enables them to move on to higher-paying jobs. This is to be expected, however.
If the instructors are leaving for lateral positions at other flight schools in the area, this can be a red flag, as something is driving them away. It could be anything from poor maintenance, which impacts the ability to schedule, poor pay, or poor management. Instructor turnover will throw a monkey wrench into your training, as you will likely have to repeat some, if not all, of it with a new instructor.
If the flight school requires you to put money on an account before you begin training, be on alert. If it has that as an option, ask about the refund policy. If there is one, get it in writing. Don’t put any more down on account than you can afford to lose.
Most importantly, note how you are treated when you walk in the door. If you are ignored or encounter employees complaining about clients or their jobs, leave. It is unprofessional, and you don’t need that kind of negativity. If you are greeted warmly, you may have just found yourself a home. Good luck!
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