So I am another step closer to earning my Private Pilot's License. Over lunch today I drove out to Sporty's at the Clermont County Airport to take the written exam. I spent about ten minutes with the test administrator filling out paperwork and reviewing the computer training system before starting the test.
Although I knew I was prepared, I was still a bit nervous. Even more so when the first question was an obscure question about whether a motorboat or a floatplane has the right of way on a lake. I no longer felt so well prepared. But after answering that question incorrectly, I moved on and the questions became much more familiar.
Although you are allotted over two hours for the exam it took me a little over 30 minutes to finish. When I completed the test there was no drumroll or a long wait for the results from the test administrator. Instead it quickly displayed on screen - Pass 87% - 52 of 60 questions answered correctly. I should be happy with that score but I keep thinking if I had not been asked the bogus floatplane question and answered one other question right, I would have scored a 90%. But I should stop thinking about the written exam and start focusing on the the flight exam.
I have passed the FAA written exam twice in my life, both times over 10 years ago. Unfortunately, I was unable to take the flight training at that time. But having completed formal aviation ground school training once before I elected to home study for the written exam this time around.
I feel like I am back in college cramming for a final that I will likely take on Wednesday or Thursday. I have used a few different resources to help me prepare including the Jeppeden Private Pilot textbook, Jeppesen Private Pilot FAA Airmen Knowledge Test Guide and the Sporty's Private Pilot Flight Training DVD Course. Additionally, my CFI has given me about 8 hours of formal ground training in addition to all that I have learned from her while flying.
The exam will consist of 60 questions pulled from a database of 600 possible questions. The 600 questions are not closely guarded as you might think. In fact, they are readily available, for example, my test guide has all 600 questions to review.
Sporty's has a great FAA Practice Test on their site. It randomly selects 60 questions from the database each time you take the exam. When you complete the exam it displays your final score and provides analysis of your answers and even breaking down your score by subject area. It is a really great resource for preparing for the written exam. Tonight I scored 84% on my first attempt and an 89% on my second attempt. I plan to take the exam a few more times to ensure I am ready but am feeling good about it.
I was disappointed to learn today that my flight school has been temporarily closed due to some problems with airport permits after changing business entities. From what I have learned thus far Queen City Flight Training was in the process of changing its name to Queen City Aviation, LLC. and had to reapply for the necessary permits to manage a flight school at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati. The closure is expected to last until mid or late June.
This puts me in a difficult situation as I do not want to postpone my training by waiting for the appropriate permits to be approved. There is no guarantee the permist will be approved before the end of June.
I was not satisfied with the other two flight schools at Lunken (Cincinnati Flight Training or Franklin Aviation). So, at this point I am thinking of looking at other flight school options at Blue Ash airport (view aerial shot from Terra Server), a single strip, uncontrolled airport in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati. I think in the coming days I will be talking to Blue Ash Aviation and Co-op Aircraft Services also based at Blue Ash.
I am sure this will be just a bit of turbulance along my path to completing the Private Pilot requirements so I will journey on...
Today I decided to make the decision whether to start flight training or not. I think I knew that the answer would be to go for it but having been raised a Boy Scout I know the importance of being prepared. So I went through my pre-flight training checklist: Do I have the time, the dedication, finances, support, a good school, and an instructor I think I will like?
Today, I answered all the questions in my head. I went through the go, no go systems check. I must admit it was not nearly as dramatic as those done by Gene Kranz of NASA preparing for the Apollo missions. For the most part I think I am ready.
So, I called up Queen City Flight Training and talked to the Flight Instructor I met on Thursday evening and signed up for my first two lessons. My first lesson will be two hours on Sunday afternoon. I will follow it up with a night lesson Wednesday night.
...but the two included a school I originally had scratched from my list. Over the past two days I have visited: Blue Ash Aviation, Franklin Aviation, Cincinnati Flight Training and Queen City Flight Training.
I visited Blue Ash Aviation and enjoyed my visit and really liked the instructor. The school is located at Blue Ash Airport an uncontrolled airport. I think that is my only real concern with Blue Ash Aviation is missing out on the controlled atmosphere each time out.
Today, I visited Franklin Aviation, a Part 141 flight school. I was not impressed with their staff. Although their equipment is top of the line that comes at a steep price. I was equally unimpressed with Cincinnati Flight Training who came in cheapest of the four.
I was pleasantly surprised with Queen City Flight Training. Their website did not impress me but I am not hoping to learn HTML so I got past that. The three staff members I met were all very nice. The flight instructor I met with offered to take me up in one of their Cessna 152's for an introductory flight. The flight was great and I felt comfortable with the instructor. Flying out of an airport in controlled airspace and with a busy schedule of business travel did not seem to slow down the lesson.
So, I think in the coming days I will need to make the tough decision between Queen City Flight Training and Blue Ash Aviation.
Check back soon...
I figure one of my first tasks now that I have decided I want to earn my private pilot's license is picking a flight school. This is a harder decision than I thought it might be. It is kind of like buying a car since it is an expensive decision and a long term one.
I found a couple of resources helpful in researching how to make this decision. The first was How to Choose the Right Flight School by StudentPilot.com. I also found this article from the Americn School of Aviation helpful.
Based on these articles I have narrowed my search down to two schools:
Blue Ash Aviation - at an uncontrolled airport
Franklin Aviation - at a busy controlled airport
In the coming days I plan on visiting both facilities and determing which is a better fit. I will keep you posted.
