"How to Choose Between Two Different Flight Schools?"

Jan 27, 2025

Choosing a flight school can be a daunting task, especially when you're deciding between two local airports, like Provo and Spanish Fork in Utah. The advice Kenny Keller provides in the newest video from Helicopter Online Ground School (H.O.G.S.), offers invaluable insights into how to make one of the most important decisions of your flight training career. Let's delve deeper into the critical aspects of choosing a flight school and the benefits of training at multiple locations.

 

 

Try Both Schools: The Dual Approach to Comprehensive Training

When evaluating flight schools, Kenny Keller recommends trying out both institutions. This approach isn't just about hedging your bets; it's about gaining a rich, well-rounded education by learning from diverse sources. Different instructors will teach you varied techniques and perspectives, and operating under distinct airspace rules will broaden your experience.

Kenny emphasizes the advantage:

 "You learn from different instructors flying different aircraft, flying in different places. And yes, it can make your training maybe drag out a little bit longer because you're switching back and forth, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting some experience at one place and getting experience to the other."

Getting a Feel for Each School

Before making your final decision, Kenny advises testing the waters at each flight school to see how they treat you and assess their maintenance programs. Although you may not be a maintenance expert, visual cues can tell you a lot about their standards.

As Kenny stated "I would totally base it on how they treat you. So I would, hands down, you got two choices. I'd go try them out."

Addressing Flight School Loyalty and Instructor Familiarity

Flight schools often want to retain their students exclusively, but this can limit your learning experiences. Kenny advises against sticking with one instructor exclusively, as you might miss out on different techniques and perspectives that other instructors offer.

 "You'll find that you'll favor one instructor over another. However, every person you fly with explains things just a little bit different, and you'll learn a lot from flying with different people."

Tower Controlled vs. Non-Tower Controlled Airports

Provo being a tower-controlled airport while Spanish Fork is not can significantly influence your training. Each environment offers unique learning opportunities.

Kenny explains "For example, here we're class G, so there's no tower. It makes it really, really nice for us to go out here, do what we got to do, hone somebody, finish them, get them ready for a check ride. And then we have local airports we can go to if they need some tower experience."

Why You Need Both Experiences

Training only in non-tower-controlled airspace may make you less prepared for tower interactions in the future. Conversely, focusing solely on tower-controlled airspace might make some manipulations more cumbersome due to added complexity.

As Kenny mentions "On the flip side of that, you need the tower experience to become a rounded pilot and understand how to do it and fly in and out of it and talk to the tower."

 

 

Additional Resources for Aspiring Pilots

For those starting their journey into rotorcraft, Kenny offers a free PDF, "Private Pilot 101- A Helicopter Training Blueprint." This comprehensive guide addresses many common questions and helps you get started with flight training. "100% free. You can go down below, there's a link down below. Or you can type in your browser and you can download immediately after you sign up."

Specialized Training Courses

For more advanced training, Kenny mentions specific courses that cover the R-22 and R-44 helicopters, available to online members. Kenny emphasizes updating these courses to ensure they provide the most current and relevant training. "We have an R-22 specific section and an R-44 specific section that come with any of our memberships. So you don't have to buy that specifically."

Choosing the right flight school involves more than just convenience or cost. By experiencing different instructors and airspaces, you gain a comprehensive understanding and become a well-rounded pilot. Take advantage of free resources and specialized courses to boost your learning. Don't be afraid to cross-train at multiple schools and remember, gaining diverse experiences will only make you a better pilot in the long run.

When it comes to flight training, the sky isn't the limit; it's just the beginning.