Can You Make Progress With Flight Lessons Only Once a Week?

When you stretch out flying lessons for any reason—be it finances, weather, or aircraft availability—there is a lot of relearning that has to take place before you can move forward. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Question: I am a student pilot and really enjoy my flight lessons but can only afford to fly three times a month. My CFI told me I'd make more progress if I saved my money and did multiple lessons a week. Is he trying to get more money out of me, or is he giving it to me straight?

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Answer: The CFI is correct. When you stretch out flying lessons for any reason—be it finances, weather, or aircraft availability—there is a lot of relearning that has to take place before you can move forward. It is very difficult to make progress this way.

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Can you budget for and save for 10 hours of flight instruction? In the meantime, study and join an aviation club, such as the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, to keep your head in the game. You may even make a friend who already has their certificate and will take you along for the ride.

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Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.