Hello all,
I'm sure this question has been beat to death in many other threads, but I was hoping to get an answer specific to my situation. I am a student (a financially limited one at that) looking to get into the world of flying. I am not sure if I plan to make a career of it one day, but right now I would just like to earn a basic license. I would be open to just a Sport Pilot License right now while I finish school, but I will eventually want a Private Pilot. After doing some research, I have four options for a flight school in my area. The options are:
Door #1: About 40 minutes from where I live there is a flying club that offers flight lessons. They have reasonable prices, a ground school, several aircraft/instructors, and seem to be a friendly community, but they discourage the Sport Pilot License on their website and require membership to take lessons. Also, the 40 minute drive is a bit of an obstacle if I hope to take lessons frequently.
Door #2: The more traditional flight school "business" at the major airport where I live. The prices are fair and they have a large number instructors and a high turnover of students. Only 25 minutes away, and the only major concern I see is learning how to fly around a busy international airport.
Door #3: 10 minutes from my house is a small paved airstrip with several hangars and planes. There is no flight school offered there, but I could track down a freelance CFI or perhaps find one at the airfield and then study on my own for the written test. This is the wild card, is it a good idea? Anyone done something similar?
Door #4: Finally, 45 minutes away there is a small regional airport with a flight school that offers Sport Pilot training and Private Pilot training. Their prices are the lowest, and I believe their Sport Pilot training would count towards Private Pilot hours.
What are your thoughts? Is there a best overall choice here? I'm hoping to avoid major Sport Pilot vs. Private Pilot debate here, for the sake of argument the Sport License is exactly half the cost of the private and would serve to just get me in the air until I can afford more training.
Much appreciated.