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This is a big question for many when they start training...my two cents would be to take your time before deciding anything. Interview instructors, go to different flight schools, trust your intuition...and always remember that you are the paying customer. If you do make a decision, nothing is final...and if you are uncomfortable in anyway-feel confident to question and change if need be.
Any more thoughts out there?

I tell people al the time that I interviewed 7 different CFI's and 4 flight schools before I found mine. And I feel I made a good choice. One question I learned to ask to a potential CFI was why are you a CFI? I talked with two CFI's that told me they were building hours so they could go to the bigs. Well that is fine and I am sure they were good CFI's but I had to wonder what would happen when they got that good job with an airline? I guess I would have to start looking for a new CFI. That might slow my progress down a bit. I figured that I would rather have a teacher that loved to teach and wanted to teach, and would be there with me tell the end. Something to think about.

-Will

_________________
Learning to fly is a lifelong project. Every time you start the engine or hook up a tow line you begin a lesson.

pilotwill@sbcglobal.net
http://web.mac.com/pilotwill/Site/Home.html
http://pilotwill.libsyn.com/

Rod Machado had a great article about this in the December 2006 AOPA Flight Training Magazine. Here's a link:

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/members/ ... ticle=5814

_________________
-PJ

PPL ASEL as of 8/15/2007

"Flying is a lot like riding a bicycle, it's just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes!" -Captain Rex Kramer, from the movie "Airplane!"

I just passed my FAA private pilot single engine land oral and checkride today, and I have to give a lot of credit to TheFinerPoints.

The podcast has been my constant companion driving to and from the airport for many months. Jason is right on the spot about picking a CFI, but just as important is to find time to be around pilots, soak up the lore, and get different perspectives on what your instructor is telling you. Not that he or she is wrong, but sometimes it makes more sense when someone else says it a different way.

For me it was hard to find "hanger talk" any where except on the podcasts, and I've learned a lot from Jason. I will continue to be a steady listener as I work my way toward an instrument rating.

This was the problem I had. I started my training in June of 1993 and changed instructors 3 times before I ran out of money in Feb. 1994. That was at Wings Field, the birthplace of the AOPA outside of Philly.
Now where I live is at least 45 minutes from the only airport that offers training. I still don't have the money to finish but from listening to TFP, Will's Student Podlog, UCAP and The Student Pilotcast, my enthusiasm is being rekindled!
I hope I can get back to it, soon.
Frank

Stick with it Frank. I was kind of in the same boat as you, but with a few other hurdles (see my post in the GA section).

All of the podcasts you mentioned, including Airspace with Steve Tupper, REALLY lit the fire again for me. Steve has one episode called "Why I Fly" that really sums it up.

Good Luck!
Mark

[Deleted] Multiple Post

I've been catching up on [most of] the Airspeed podcasts over the past week or so. I just listened to "Why I Fly" here at work about an hour ago and some bits, like the Cat Squadron fly-by and the Blue's hi-speed-pass description had me reacting to them the same way Steve did, and that was just from remembering the original experiences.

I haven't given up hope but the money is a Long way off.

Frank