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. 6: GROUND SCHOOL KITS

The dropout rate among new student pilots is so serious that some schools endeavor to make as much money out of you as they can before you quit. One way of doing this is to load students with a kit of materials which, although the items will be ultimately beneficial, will not be immediately useful.

Until you are absolutely sure that you will be committing yourself to a serious flight training schedule, you should delay the purchase of items such as navigation equipment, pilot logbooks, flight training manuals, etc. Assuming that the groundschool course follows the usual schedule of Licensing, Theory of Flight, Engines, Instruments, Radio, Air Regulations, Meteorology , Navigation, and Human Factors/Pilot Decision Making – you will not need most of the supplies until the last quarter of the course. All you really need to get started is one basic text book. Most commonly in Canada this is the book ‘From The Ground Up’ which costs about $36.

Beware of schools who make a full kit (often priced around $200) mandatory when you register for their groundschool. If they insist, then you should get an agreement from them (in writing) that they will give you a full refund on any unused items if you decide to quit the course. If they will not do this then you should reconsider whether the school is operating for your benefit or theirs.

Do not feel that your decision to quit constitutes failure. The most common reason for discontinuance is not difficulty but simply that when people find how complex flight training is, they wisely decide that they are unable to devote the considerable amount of time that it requires.

Tip # 3 "FAM FLIGHTS"

Tip # 6 "GROUND SCHOOL KITS"

Tip # 10 "SOARING COSTS"

Tip#11 "INSTRUCTOR SHORTAGE"