Question:
I've been reading these threads about extreme accelerated courses that get you passed the written and through the check ride on these groups now for six years. I've been involved in flight instruction for over fifty years. I've seen a lot of pilots in that time; taught literally hundreds, and , checked out many more in all kinds of airplanes . I have no idea what the experience of other CFI's has been concerning this issue, but I'm absolutely certain that the result of my personal experience on this issue has been more than conclusive to me. I should state that I consider the subject of accelerated courses for advanced tests and ratings such as multi, instrument, and ATP to be a separate issue. In my opinion, an argument can be made for accelerated courses dealing with higher ratings and written test prep when the insertion point for these programs assumes a certain existing level of experience and demonstrated performance.
Learning to fly an airplane PROPERLY, is a process that begins at point A and never ends. This learning process goes on to infinity. Right here you have a problem if you are attempting to view the entire process as a whole. The system rewards demonstrated performance and rewards that demonstrated performance, but REALITY dictates an ACTUAL level of performance. Now, where does that leave us in discussing accelerated courses for new pilots?
Answer:
First of all, if the ACTUAL performance level can be consistently matched with the DEMONSTRATED performance level at the time of testing, we have no problem and the issue is moot, but I can tell you that from my personal experience, viewing the accelerated course for the beginning pilot, NOT the case at all!! Now, is this indicative of the fact that I might be conservative in what I expect from a new pilot I'm checking out in an airplane? It could be, and I am indeed quite thorough in my checkout requirements, but this really isn't the issue with me. It goes a bit deeper than that. What I was finding in these pilots coming out of accelerated courses was a common trait that deeply disturbed me...a common denominator. A great many of these pilots could demonstrate on command, but when taken deeper into the problem, had little ACTUAL understanding. This, I believe is the crux of the issue on accelerated courses for beginning pilots. Let's face it, the purpose of the course isn't to make you into a safe pilot. It's to get you though the process safely in a minimum amount of time. In other words, you are cramming what you need to know in order to satisfy the legal requirement. What ACTUALLY happens to you when taking these courses is that when you finish, you can DEMONSTRATE what has to be demonstrated all right, and at that point, if you are a normal person with normal intelligence and abilities, you then go forth and BEGIN the catching up process that will eventually lead you to the meeting between your ability to demonstrate something and your understanding. Somewhere down that long unending learning curve, your understanding catches up to you. THIS is the way accelerated training works. Is this a good way to do things in flying? Who knows! Most pilots who go through these "courses" go on to catch up on the comprehension issues and do just fine. Some don't! Some never make it to that all important comprehension level that is so important to a SUSTAINED career as a pilot....pleasure or professional. My experience with pilots coming out of accelerated courses hasn't been that good. In my opinion, the ability to demonstrate without complete understanding is a real potential problem for a new pilot.
