TIPS FOR NON-VITAL STUDENTS

The content of this page will change frequently. The information here can fill a book and, in fact, represents the contents of our "LEARNING TO FLY IN CANADA" book spread over a couple of years of web pages.

Not everyone visiting this site will fortunate enough to train with Vital. So if we can’t have you as a customer - perhaps we can have you as a friend with the following ‘Vital’ advice:

Tip No. 3: ‘FAM’ FLIGHTS

Familiarization Flights... Beware! This is the oldest trick in the flight training racket.

The unscrupulous operator will try to get you into the aeroplane at any cost. It’s very much worth his while to give the flight free. The idea is to show you how easy it is to fly, how much fun it is, and to get you ‘hooked’. It works too! Few people with the desire to fly can resist.

The problem is that it is all untrue. Flying is not easy. (Yes, handling the plane is - but that’s the smallest part of the job.) Nor is it fun. It’s plain hard work (mental, that is, not physical) and extremely frustrating.

The person falling for a fam flight starts out learning with the wrong impressions. It takes a good instructor a lot of time and effort to rectify this bad start and get you in the right frame of mind to make your basic lessons effective. This time and effort ultimately extends your hours to licence and costs you more money. (Good for the school - bad for you. - See why the fam flight is promoted at cut rates?)

Every flight, whether recreational or commercial, does not start in the aeroplane - it starts on the ground. To start your learning process by jumping straight into the plane gives you a dangerous first impression.

However, there is one situation which may justify a fam flight. If you have never flown, or never flown in a small plane, and need to know whether you are going to be comfortable before committing yourself to expensive lessons, then it may be appropriate. But - such a flight should start on the ground with the instructor giving you a thorough lesson on what the flight is going to accomplish, how the plane is going to be maneuvered, and why you will notice certain aerodynamic effects. This is not a ‘joy ride’ it is your first meaningful learning experience - if you do not ensure that it is conducted this way, you are doomed to ultimate frustration and extra expense.

Tip # 3 "FAM FLIGHTS"

Tip # 6 "GROUND SCHOOL KITS"

Tip # 10 "SOARING COSTS"

Tip#11 "INSTRUCTOR SHORTAGE"