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Hello,

I am in the wannabe stage and am trying to figure out what is the optimal lesson rate? I have been told that once a week is an absolute minimum but I would probably spend some time retraining "stuff" that was forgotten from the previous lesson. A local school rents a 172 for a $155/hr and a two seat trainer is more than $130 an instructor is an additional $75. Heck even an LSA is $110 or so.

I was considering taking time off work and working on the ticket full time but was advised that it might be more efficient to try to fly less to have to have some time to "absorb" the lessons. I realize that it is rare to have someone that is ready for the check ride after 40 hours but what can I do to minimize the expense?

How many times a weeks is ideal? Does it vary depending on how far along in training (ie more lessons at the beginning/end?) Would an extra hour of CFI time on the ground be able to save me an hour of flight time? What can be done prior to and after the lesson to maximize its effectiveness?

Also any local knowledge of flight schools in the Seattle area would be appreciated.

Stuart.

in my experience teaching at the FBO, 2-3 times a week seems optimal. once a week is pretty slow but if thats all you can afford thats all you can afford. those rental numbers are ugly too, but there's not much you can do about that. unless you can get enough money saved up to cover the costs and then travel somewhere for some intense training. intense training is not all its cracked up to be. lots of work.

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Everyone must believe in something, I believe that I will go flying.

I flew once a week while earning my Sport Pilot cert because it was all I could afford, and then just barely. While I agree that twice a week would have been great, I did just fine and passed my checkride at around 32 hours. I have a Word document I created with some of the ways I lowered my overall training costs. A lot of small things but without using these "tips" I don't think I could have afforded to finish. If anyone would like the doc just email me at nttek@lycos.com. Mike (Rtrudr)

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Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans - John Lennon

I did my PPL in about 60 hours over six months. For the most part I flew twice per week, and that seemed enough to allow for sufficient book study between lessons.

The week of my check-ride I took three days off work and flew about four hours each day to prep. It worked, I passed.