The Flexibility of In-Aircraft Type-Rating Training

Pilots know that in-airplane training offers the flexibility to train in their own aircraft at their home airport on their schedule when compared to simulator training. I have been training customers in their Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 aircraft for the past ten years and have an insurance company-approved initial type-rating training program.

As one can imagine, training results will vary depending on the customer being trained: their experience level, adaptability and time spent in study in preparation for training in the new aircraft as well as the weather, the area and airspace used for training. Some variables to consider: does the local training airspace allow easy access to a working area, is an airport with suitable instrument approaches nearby with a low volume of traffic in order to facilitate training, etc. I recently completed training with a customer that offers an insight into what training looks like to one considering in-aircraft training for themselves or for the owner looking for training for their pilot.

A recent Phenom 100 type-rating customer came out of a single-engine turboprop with no previous type ratings. He enrolled in my 7-day course for folks with no previous jet experience or type ratings and we trained for a day and a half on the ground and the next 5 and a half days were spent flying, for a total of 7 flights. He took his check ride with a designated examiner on the 8th day and passed with an outstanding performance.

We put 12.5 hours on his Phenom and burned approximately 10,000# or just under 1,500 gallons of Jet-A. This included local flights at his home airport in Texas and one cross country of 2.5 hours in order to finish his training flights and check ride at my home airport in South Carolina.

As a side note, this customer requested to complete his training in South Carolina instead of at his home airport in Texas. When I asked him why he said that he thought I’d know my local area better and he’d be better prepared than if he finished his training at his home airport. After completing the flight from Texas and landing in South Carolina he said that he was glad that we flew that trip together as it helped him to experience how he’d actually be flying the airplane after he finished his check ride.

Whether you’re a pilot new to jets or you’re one who has been flying them for years with multiple type-ratings, let me tailor a training program to fit your needs while giving you the convenience and flexibility to train at home.

Don’t have an airplane yet but thinking about getting one for the comfort, convenience, and safety of avoiding the airlines and charter game? Let me put you in touch with industry experts who acquire single-engine piston aircraft and light jets as well as Boeing Business Jets and Gulfstreams for their corporate flight department clients.