The most effective flight training is designed in a manner that allows the student to engage in flight instruction and ground instruction concurrently, and this is paralleled by the one-to-one ratio of student-to-instructor. Immediately practicing in the air what you learned on the ground does wonders for the learning curve.
For a full-time student, we encourage you to fly at least three to five times per week, up to twice each day. Once again, getting into and maintaining a groove is the key. It is imperative that you find a flight school with the equipment and manpower to make this happen.
Find a helicopter flight school that is approved by the FAA under the Part 141 format. This is an important issue because a Part 141 FAA-approved school provides the student with very structured training.
The instructors are trained by the school to perform at a level that is dictated by federal regulations. The other format is Part 61, which is not approved by the FAA. Many schools operate under this format. Either they have not been in business long enough to become FAA-approved, or they lack the managerial experience that it takes to initiate and maintain an approved program. Some schools are unwilling to accept the challenges that come with Air Agency Certificate approval, inspection and renewal.
Classic offers courses in both formats, but the Part 141 requirements pertaining to recordkeeping, management and curriculum is truly the foundation for our Part 61 program. If you would like to discuss in detail the differences between these formats, just give us a call.