Frequently Asked Questions about Accelerated Flight Training

Q: How is Accelerated Flight Training different from regular training?

A: Many aviators progress in their training while they are also pursuing other interests such as work or school. While that approach is suitable, it also can take many calendar months to accomplish the end goal. Experience has shown that the longer the training for a certificate or rating is spread out, the more flight hours it will take to achieve the goal. Learning to fly is mastering both intellectual and mechanical tasks, and these tasks will diminish if they are not practiced. During flight training, you will learn a new skill that builds upon a previously learned skill. If you become less proficient at a previously learned skill, you will be less able to learn a new, required skill. Accelerated Training is learning and practicing these tasks every day, which in turn allows you to progress in less hours of training.

The course material and flight training is exactly the same in either course. Accelerated Training does not “water down” or skip any steps, you will just progress faster because you will be building new skills everyday.

Q: Can you guarantee that I will finish in the advertised time?

A: The short answer is no, there are no guarantees. Our courses are planned around a schedule that experience has shown to be the time required for an average student to complete the material and be ready for his or her FAA check ride.  What NNA can commit to is providing you with the environment to accomplish your goal - the proper airplanes, instructors, training materials and facilities. Under most circumstances, this will allow you to complete the course on time and on budget.

Some factors that may hinder the completion on time and on budget may be (but not limited to):

1. A streak of bad weather - While Reno is a very dry environment and our clouds usually stay very high and away from the flight path of most light aircraft, there may be an occasion for a streak of bad weather. For Instrument students, our Simulator is always available. Most storms rarely last more than 1-3 days and there is usually great flying shortly after they pass.
2. English not a first language - this is not a deterrent, however, it may require more time to get certain concepts across to the student and for the student to be able to describe them back to an examiner.
3. Student Performance - Not everyone learns the same things at the same pace. Our courses are quoted as average times, but some people make take longer. This does not mean you are a bad aviator, just that you need a little longer to master the skill.  The courses are designed with check points along the way to measure progress. You will know by the end of the first few days where you are in relation to the average and will have the tools to track your own progress every day.
4. Not coming to a lesson prepared - All the material and information will be made available to you before you begin the course and each lesson.  If you do not follow the prescribed lesson plan, it will take longer.
5. Not committing to the training - If you come with your outside work, vacation schedule or other distractions, the course will take longer  The times quoted are based on your undivided attention to the course for 8-10 hours a day. Personal time should be arranged after 5pm-6pm.

Q: How will I know if I am above or below average?

A: Regardless of what you may have heard, unless you were born with wings, there is no such thing a a born aviator. Flying is a learned skill. Our students range from 14 year old boys and girls to school teachers (men and women) to retired persons over 70+ years of age. If you can drive a car to the airport and have no extraordinary physical limitations, you can probably learn to fly. There are deaf pilots, paraplegic pilots - even a young girl pilot that was born with no arms!

You will be given the tools to track your own progress every day and know where you are in relationship to the prescribed course. The course plan is well proven, widely used syllabus that is easy to understand and follow. Within a few days of training, you and we will have a good understanding of how quickly you can progress. It will be a pace that is comfortable for you and for your instructor. Because all of our training is one-on-one with the instructor, it will be entirely up to you and the instructor on how to proceed.

Q: Will I have the same instructor throughout the entire training?

A: Everyone is assigned a primary instructor who will be responsible to monitor the entire training. However, you will probably have a few lessons with other instructors along the way, including progress checks with the Chief Instructor or his designee. Our integrated syllabus is designed to be taught by multiple instructors and every NNA instructor teaches the same material to every student. You will find that having multiple instructors is a good way to prepare for the FAA Examiner’s check ride. When he shows up, it’s just like having another instructor in the plane!

Q: How do you keep track of the training?

A: Each student’s training records are keep in the student’s own logbook and on a central computer. Some paper records are stored in a file cabinet in our locked office. Our central computer is encrypted and password protected. The training records can be downloaded to your personal computer each night if you wish so that you can keep track of your own progress.  In addition, if you need to leave NNA before your training is complete, your records can be electronically transferred to any other Cessna Pilot Center throughout the world.

Q: Do I really need all the ground instruction and pre/post flight briefings?

A: The Computer Based Instruction kit contains all the information that you will require to pass the FAA written exam. The CBI also has videos of each flight lesson filmed from inside the airplane. However, while the airplane itself is a great place to hone the skills required, it can also be a difficult place to absorb new information. Our experience has shown us that when students are on the ground, in a quite room, they will absorb more information about the upcoming flight, last night’s lab work or critiques of the just completed flight. Programs that do not afford you time with your flight instructor outside of the airplane are betting that you absorbed all the information required at the same time you are concentrating on flying an airplane.

Q: When can I start?

A: Classes are starting all year long. We usually like to have 3-4 weeks advanced notice. This allows you and us to get all the scheduling and prerequisites completed. If there is enough lead time, we can also ship you a Computer Based Instruction kit so that you may get a jump on some of the course work before you arrive. It’s not necessary, but it sure does help! Even if you can’t give us 3-4 weeks advanced notice call anyway.  Because your training is one-on-one, we can usually start at any time that meets your schedule.  Just call to set it up!

Q: How much will the course cost?

A: The actual cost of your course will vary.  Some may learn certain skills sooner than others and therefore will have a lower cost of training, others may take longer and have a somewhat higher cost.  Each lesson and course will have a clearly written lesson plan and exit criteria based on the requirements for the certificate of or rating sought. You will know at the beginning and the end of each lesson what was expected and what was accomplished.

Be wary of any school that advertises a “Fixed Cost” for their training or a ”Guaranteed Pass”. The details of these courses will show some are overpaying if they complete sooner while those that take longer will be charged “catch up fees” or simply expelled and forced to start again from the beginning of the course.  We feel that this high pressure environment is no way to run a successful training course.

NNA guarantees that you will only pay for the training and hours you receive and that we will provide you with the best instructors, airplanes and facilities to help you achieve you goal. You will receive a detailed accounting of the costs each day.

If you are on a budget or financing the course, it would be a good idea to pad the estimate for the course by 10%. If you do better, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Q: What can I expect during my training?

A: You can expect to be at the airport at 6am in the spring/summer and 7am in the Fall/Winter.  Your day will start with a pre-flight briefing followed by a training flight lasting about 1.5 hours, followed by a post flight briefing. The time required for the briefing will depend on how you prepared for the flight and how you performed during the flight. Your feedback will be immediate. Then you will be reviewing the Computer Based Instructional Labs for approximately 2 hours complete with sample tests of the material covered. After a quick break its back in the airplane for another flight lesson with pre and post flight briefings followed by another  2 hours of Computer Based Instructional labs.  Lunch can be brought or there is a full service restaurant at the flight school or other facilities close by to choose from. By 2pm or 4pm you will be ready for a break, but exhilarated from the experience.

A few days may be a little different, especially if there is a night flight involved, we won’t start so early the next day or if a long cross country is planned, the flying may all be done in one segment. However, it will be intense and will require you to focus and concentrate on flying the length of the course. Don’t plan a late night out or too much during the evening time.  You will be tired and if you have some extra energy, you can always review your lab material or prepare for the next day’s lesson.

If you get too tired, we can make adjustments to allow for some additional rest. Everyone will be different and will absorb different skills at a different rate. It is not our intention to wear you out, but rather to maximize the rate at which you learn. Don’t be afraid to say “slow down a bit today”, we will probably know it before you do anyway...

Q: What if I don’t pass?

A: NNA flight instructors and Chief Instructor make every effort to ensure that you will pass.  However, there may be circumstances where either you are unable to take the FAA check ride during the allotted time or the check ride was not completed. Flight training has many variables that are out of our control. Weather, illness, terrorism, your own capacity to absorb the material at this pace, etc. However, the good thing about flight training hours is that they count forever! Keep your log book and you can restart at any time. You can stay in the program longer, finish up at a later date, even finish up with another flight school. Even if you cannot complete the FAA check ride exam, it is possible to retake only the parts of the exam that were not completed within 60 days. All you need to retake the exam is an endorsement from an instructor that additional instruction was given in the required areas.

Q: Can I come for 1 week, take time off and then come back?

A: The simple answer is “yes”, all of our training is given one-on-one and can be tailored to meet almost anyone’s schedule. However, this is not the same as Accelerated Training. Learning in this fashion will invariably increase the total amount of time required for your course but can still be done. In fact, most training is done in just this manner. It just takes longer and tends to cost a little more than an Accelerated Course.  Call us and we can put together a program to meet your schedule. The actual training course is exactly the same!

Q: Do I need a Medical Certificate to start?

A: For the Private Pilot course, technically no, but you will need one before you fly an airplane by yourself or “Solo”. With the speed of the Accelerated Course, there will be little time for waiting in the local doctor’s office.  Also, if you believe that you may have any medical conditions that may prevent you from flying, it would be best to know about them before you spend money on flight lessons. Visit the FAA website for a list of FAA Aviation Medical Examiners in your area and make an appointment to get your medical which also doubles as your student pilot license!

Advanced students (IFR, Commercial, Multi) should show up with current medical certificates in their possession.

Q: I already began working towards my rating and now just want to finish it up. Can you help me?

A: Absolutely! This is very common... You want to enjoy the fun and freedom of flying so you start your training and fly once or twice a week. Then you find out that flying seems to be getting more difficult because you seem to be working on the same items over and over - the costs are building and the enjoyment is diminishing! Not what you had expected... Now you are ready to commit and just get it done.

Just bring your logbook, enthusiasm and commitment to the training - we will put a program together for you. Remember, all of our training is one-on-one just for you.

Q: How much does it cost to start?

A: When you commit to the course, we also commit resources for you. We will require a down payment or will require a Credit Card to be placed on file with us.  If you plan to pay cash or finance the training using some types of financing options, a $2000 deposit will be required to schedule the airplane, instructor and purchase the Computer Based Instructional (CBI) kit. We will open up an account for you and charge that account for the CBI kit. If you choose not to attend the course within 2 weeks of your scheduled start date, we will charge your credit card $500 or keep a $500 cancelation fee and return the rest to you within 30 days. As you progress through the training, we can continue to charge your credit card each day for the training received that day or you may replenish your account in $2000 increments. Some financing options replenish accounts at different rates.

In any event, you will receive a full accounting of all the charges made against your account that can be viewed by you on-line at any time with the proper login credentials.

Q: What if I have money left on my account when I finish or leave early?

A: If you have money remaining on your account, after you have received at least $500 of training, you can either “fly off” your remaining funds or we will return your money to you within 30 days of your request.

Q: Can I finance the training?

A: There are many financing options available for flight training. We are partners with Cessna and Bank of America and Pilot Financing. Each offer financing for flight training with competitive rates and programs.  Call us for an application.

Q: Where will I stay if I don’t live in the area?

A: Reno/Tahoe Airport is America’s Adventure Place and is a premier destination for travelers from all over the world. Lake Tahoe and the best skiing areas are only minutes away and with hundreds of hotels, casinos and resorts, there is are accommodations to fit any budget. If you need some help locating accommodation on or near the airport, contact us for assistance.

Q: Why study at Reno/Tahoe Airport?

A: The Reno/Tahoe Airport offers students an environment that is offered at no other airport in the United States:

1. As a Class C airport, every flight will be operating “in the system”.  Most students never learn to use the radio to talk to controllers and therefore only fly to smaller airports, avoiding Air Traffic Controllers. Learning at Reno/Tahoe will give you the confidence to use the ENTIRE airport system. While Reno/Tahoe is designated as a Class C airport, it is also a very low use airport. Most other Class C airports have 3-4 times as much traffic. You get the benefits of using the ATC system, without all of the downsides of learning at a busy airport!
2. Experience Mountain Flying - With an elevation above 4,000 ft you will be learning in an environment that others only get to read about! We fly in the mountains with great scenic views every day!  You will have the confidence and experience that pilots from the flat lands only read about in books.
3. Over 20 Instrument Procedures to chose from at Reno/Tahoe! - You don’t need to travel far to get real world experience practicing procedures on two separate runways.