GROUND SCHOOL
Q AND A - GROUND SCHOOL
WHO: Are the instructors: Randy Caldemeyer and Brock Wagner, both FAA certified flight instructors.
WHAT: STUDENT PILOT GROUND SCHOOL
WHEN: April 20th - Beginning AT 6:00 P.M. and continuing every Wednesday evening for twelve weeks.
WHERE: Huntingburg Airport - Dubois County Flight Services, Inc. 2675 W. 900 S. Huntingburg, IN.
Q. What is a student pilot ground school?
A. Ground School is just that, it includes all curriculums pertaining to becoming a private pilot and flying an airplane that can be taught in a classroom.
Q. Why a ground school, doesn't the instructor do that anyway?
A. Yes, usually students are taught one on one, however, it is much less expensive for you if we have several students learning at one time which allows the instructors to cover a broad curriculum with several students. Whenever we can, we prefer to offer ground school's, basically several can learn at the same time saving money for the student's, and time for the instructors. Another benefit for the student is the opportunity to meet other folks interested in aviation and gives students a chance to share questions and common issues with other students.
Q. What are some things we learn?
A. First, FAA rules and regulations pertaining to student pilots and obtaining your private pilot license. Then such things such as aircraft nomenclature, dynamics of flight, weather, map reading, decision making, and eventually everything you will need to know to pass your FAA examination both written and practical.
Q. How long does ground school last, and how often do we meet?
A. Ground school will last twelve weeks, and will meet every Wednesday evening from 6:00PM till 9:00PM. in the DCFS classroom.
Q. Do we get to fly, or is it all classroom?
A. Yes, you certainly will be flying. It may be a couple of weeks before the instructors are ready for you to get into the plane, but it doesn't take long.
Q. Will all of our classes be on Wednesday nights?
A. Only the Ground School portion. Your instructor will be scheduling your flight time depending upon your schedule, the instructors schedule, the planes schedule, and of course the weather. There is a good chance you will be at the airport on some weekends.
Q. What if I miss a night of Ground School?
A. Like any schooling, the less you miss the better off you will be. We know that life sometimes can get in the way of plans. If you have a vacation scheduled, flu bug, or simply cannot make it to a class, your instructor will work with you to keep you current. You'll need to prove to the instructor that you have kept up on your own, have completed and understand the study material. Don't forget this is a very serious endeavor, your instructors take very seriously what they teach, but the whole idea is to have fun while doing it!
Q. How much does it cost?
A. The cost of the ground school is $400.00.
Q. Are there other expenses?
A. Yes, you will need to buy a student pilot kit which includes all text books, tools and items required to complete the private pilot course. The cost of the student pilot kit is $300.00.
Q. Since we pay $400.00 for ground school, do we still pay for the instructor when we fly?
A. Yes, the $400.00 covers all instruction in the classroom, but when you are in the airplane, the cost will be $130.00 per hour. The breakdown is $35.00 per hour for the instructor and $95.00 per hour for the airplane.
Q. I intend to go to college and major in aviation, if I get my license before leaving for college, will it be recognized?
A. We have had several students that wanted to save money by obtaining their private pilot's license before going to college. If you intend to major in Aviation and have obtained your private license before going to school you will have a good head start academically and financially. We have never had a college refuse to recognize a student who already had their license, or insist the student retake the private pilot course. Although we can't imagine any college or school not recognizing your license, anything is possible and we recommend checking with the particular school or college to confirm acceptance. Your private pilot's license is a federal license and cannot be declined.
Q. Is there an age limit?
A. A person must be at least 16 years old to solo, and 17 years old to receive their license. On the other end of the spectrum we have had students in their 80's. Good health is important and everyone must pass a FAA 3rd class flight physical before beginning.
Q. I have had some health issues, can I still get my license?
A. Certainly, however it does depend on the seriousness of the illness. There are medical waivers available and other avenues that can be approached in the event you have had serious ailments. But, there are some ailments that can prohibit one from receiving their medical.
Q. Who are average flight students?
A. There really is no such thing as an average flight student. We have had student pilots from all walks of life. We've had housewives, professional women and men, retired men and women, young people still in high school, doctors and truck drivers. Mostly folks just want to earn their license for leisure flying, but we've had many students go on to fly commercially. So, we can't say there is an average student.
Q. What if the instructor doesn't think I am performing up to standards?
A. In the event a student doesn't show the level of proficiency or interest required to pass the curriculum, the instructor will discreetly meet with you to discuss any concerns or deficiencies. If there comes a point that the instructors feel a student is not benefiting from their investment they will again discreetly suggest ending training.
Q. What if I start the class and discover I don't feel flying is for me; do I get my money back?
A. We do refund Ground School tuition on a pro-rated basis until the end of the fourth session or meeting. Obviously, no refunds are made for any flight time.
Q. What kind of identification do we need to start.
A. Dubois County Flight Services and the Federal Government take the business of Flight Instruction very seriously. The Department of Homeland Security has very stringent rules about identifying flight students. Therefore, we must ensure all federal regulations pertaining to student pilots are complied with. For that reason all student pilots must present prior to training one government issued photo I-D (such as a driver's license or passport.) and an original copy of your birth certificate with raised seal, or original U.S. citizenship document with raised seal. The flight instructors have a list of acceptable documents, and will discuss that area at your first meeting.
Q. How long will lessons take when we fly?
A. Most lessons are based on a one-hour flight, but count on a minimum of two hours per session because of pre-flight and post-flight briefings. Students and instructors talk about what will be introduced or reviewed before each lesson, then cover how things went afterwards and what will be introduced in upcoming lessons.
Q. What kind of airplane will we learn to fly in.
A. We use a Cessna 172, sometimes called a high wing.
Q. How safe is flying?
A. General aviation and "those little airplanes" (as some may call them) are as safe as any other mode of travel, if not safer. Pilots and passengers do not use parachutes because airplanes and helicopters do not fall from the sky if their engines were to stop. An aircraft without an engine - even if it's supposed to have one - is a glider, capable of descending safely to a landing. Every student's training covers how to fly safely and how to deal with the extremely rare actual emergencies.
Q. What about insurance?
A. Dubois County Flight Services, Inc. carries up to $100,000.00 Per Occurrence per student, which is standard coverage. If a student feels they would like higher coverage, we suggest you consider buying additional non-owned or renter insurance. An excellent place to investigate additional insurance coverage is at the AOPA web site. They offer very reasonable rates and are an excellent source of information for private and student pilots. We have no affiliation with the AOPA.
For additional information regarding ground school please call 812-683-2888
For more information regarding learning to fly, please follow this link to the AOPA web page.