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Flight School: Do accelerated flight training programs work?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Both experts agree that accelerated flight training can be highly effective when delivered by a reputable company using a well-designed program, provided the pilot is also well-prepared.
  • Michael Phillips emphasizes that successful outcomes depend on the pilot having strong foundational skills, the ability to disconnect from daily life for total immersion, and completing knowledge tests prior to the course.
  • John King argues that faster learning can lead to better retention due to more vivid experiences, and views FAA knowledge and practical tests as sufficient safeguards for ensuring training quality.
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May 2010 — We asked two nationally recognized experts in flight training to weigh in on the effectiveness of “accelerated” flight training — those weekend, 10-day or short-term immersion courses that offer flight ratings in short periods of time. Their opinions differed somewhat — John King is a more unabashed fan of accelerated learning than is Michael Phillips. But they both agreed that accelerated learning can be effective with a reputable company, a well-designed training program and a well-prepared pilot.

Michael Phillips is a Master Flight Instructor and a charter member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE). He instructs at CP Aviation in Santa Paula, California. He says:

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