Lesson Three. NOT!

[Scott]

I'm beginning to develop a very dim view of the weather.

After just two training flights, this unbelievable weather system moved in
and started making thunderstorms EVERYWHERE. For more than a week now, I
wake up in the morning to entire herds of cumulus in the southwest; when
they pass by there's another batch waiting right behind them. If it's not
raining, it's either just finished raining or is about to start raining (or
both). And there's no reason to expect any improvement for at least another
week. Argh!

But, yeah, I'd rather be watching it from my back door than be caught in it.

Here's another bummer - re-doing ground school at $45/hr. A while back I
completed PP ground school under part 141, courtesy of my employer, and
passed my written with 98%. Come to find out, since my flight school is
part 61, they cannot accept my 141 schooling at face value! Dang.
Ironically, my flight school is applying for 141 status, but hasn't been
approved yet.

But at least the "ground review" goes fairly fast, and it's not a bad thing
to revisit those areas that I didn't have nailed down. Plus, it's fun to
see that my CFI has very different behaviors when I'm actually wrong vs.
when I'm right and he's just trying to screw with me. Must figure out how
to make a good prank out of that....

[Mark Hansen]

Post by Scott
I'm beginning to develop a very dim view of the weather.
After just two training flights, this unbelievable weather system moved in
and started making thunderstorms EVERYWHERE. For more than a week now, I
wake up in the morning to entire herds of cumulus in the southwest; when
they pass by there's another batch waiting right behind them. If it's not
raining, it's either just finished raining or is about to start raining (or
both). And there's no reason to expect any improvement for at least another
week. Argh!
But, yeah, I'd rather be watching it from my back door than be caught in it.
Here's another bummer - re-doing ground school at $45/hr. A while back I
completed PP ground school under part 141, courtesy of my employer, and
passed my written with 98%. Come to find out, since my flight school is
part 61, they cannot accept my 141 schooling at face value! Dang.
Ironically, my flight school is applying for 141 status, but hasn't been
approved yet.

Hmmm, I don't understand this. If they can't accept the test results, the
most you should have to do is take another test. All you need is an instructor
to sign you off. If you already know the material (which they should understand)
they should have no problem.

I have to wonder if you're getting fleeced some here.

Of course, if you want to re-take the ground school, that's another
matter, but you shouldn't *have* to.

Post by Scott
But at least the "ground review" goes fairly fast, and it's not a bad thing
to revisit those areas that I didn't have nailed down. Plus, it's fun to
see that my CFI has very different behaviors when I'm actually wrong vs.
when I'm right and he's just trying to screw with me. Must figure out how
to make a good prank out of that....

[Steve]

Post by Mark Hansen
I have to wonder if you're getting fleeced some here.
Of course, if you want to re-take the ground school, that's another
matter, but you shouldn't *have* to.

My thoughts exactly. There is no requirement that you take a formal ground
school at all, a self study course will suffice And if you have passed the
written within the last 24 months prior to your checkride, you don't need to
retake that either. Sounds like something is up.

[Peter Dohm]

Post by Steve

Post by Mark Hansen
I have to wonder if you're getting fleeced some here.
Of course, if you want to re-take the ground school, that's another
matter, but you shouldn't *have* to.

My thoughts exactly. There is no requirement that you take a formal ground
school at all, a self study course will suffice And if you have passed the
written within the last 24 months prior to your checkride, you don't need
to retake that either. Sounds like something is up.

To my eye, it looks like "revenue enhancement."

In any case, your local FSDO should be able to answer this sort of thing, as
should AOPA if you are a member--and if not you can join for less than $45
per year...

[j***@specsol.spam.sux.com]

Post by Scott
I'm beginning to develop a very dim view of the weather.
After just two training flights, this unbelievable weather system moved in
and started making thunderstorms EVERYWHERE. For more than a week now, I
wake up in the morning to entire herds of cumulus in the southwest; when
they pass by there's another batch waiting right behind them. If it's not
raining, it's either just finished raining or is about to start raining (or
both). And there's no reason to expect any improvement for at least another
week. Argh!
But, yeah, I'd rather be watching it from my back door than be caught in it.
Here's another bummer - re-doing ground school at $45/hr. A while back I
completed PP ground school under part 141, courtesy of my employer, and
passed my written with 98%. Come to find out, since my flight school is
part 61, they cannot accept my 141 schooling at face value! Dang.
Ironically, my flight school is applying for 141 status, but hasn't been
approved yet.
But at least the "ground review" goes fairly fast, and it's not a bad thing
to revisit those areas that I didn't have nailed down. Plus, it's fun to
see that my CFI has very different behaviors when I'm actually wrong vs.
when I'm right and he's just trying to screw with me. Must figure out how
to make a good prank out of that....

If you have to retake the test, you have to retake the test.

But how you prepare for it is entirely up to you, including 100% self
study.

At most, you should only be required to prove to the CFI that you are
ready, which can be done by taking a "practice test".

[vic20owner]

Post by Scott
I'm beginning to develop a very dim view of the weather.
After just two training flights, this unbelievable weather system moved in
and started making thunderstorms EVERYWHERE. For more than a week now, I
wake up in the morning to entire herds of cumulus in the southwest; when

I feel your pain, I have been training in gliders every other weekend
for the past 4 or 5 months. Lately it's been raining almost every
day. This sucks for a glider, no thermals in the morning, and rain as
soon as the thermals start to form. I've been hesitant to schedule
anything knowing that it could be a wasted 1 hour drive.

But this Sunday I am going EARLY just to do some patterns, box the
wake, that sort of thing. Hopefully I will not get rained out. I
figure I have to do something, it's been 4 weeks now and I am getting
rusty.

-tom

[Scott]

(re: retaking ground school)

Post by Peter Dohm
To my eye, it looks like "revenue enhancement."

That does seem to be the consensus. I have my written test done, and it's
valid until next December. According to my reading of 14 CFR 61.39, that's
all I need (except for the brush-up clause in 61.39(a)(6)(iii), and since I
only missed one question that shouldn't take long at all).

I feel like a rules-lawyer getting into this, but of course the entire
regulatory end of aviation is rules-lawyering. The next time I meet with my
CFI, I plan to lay out my misgivings about his method and his carelessness
with my limited training budget. I don't necessarily want to abandon this
school, since they've otherwise got one of the best deals in the area, but
they're certainly not the only school around.