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From: psfales@ihuxq.UUCP (Peter Fales)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: FAA Exams
Message-ID: <1124@ihuxq.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Aug-84 21:41:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxq.1124
Posted: Wed Aug  8 21:41:46 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Aug-84 04:51:11 EDT
References: <600@inuxd.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 39

> Has anyone out there had any experience with those two day seminars
> that guarantee you safe passage through an FAA exam?  I am headed
> towards my private pilot exam and am trying to evaluate the
> cost/quality/convenience trade-offs between the cram
> (never say "crash" to a pilot) courses and the traditional route.
> Specifically, I am considering a seminar offered here in Indianapolis
> later this month by Aviation Seminars based in New Jersey.
> Any information you could supply would be greatly appreciated.

I took one of these courses when I was about 15 hours along toward
my private license, and in general I think it was a good way to go.  It
is no substitute for actual discussion and practice with an instructor
because (despite any claims to the contrary) in such a short time they
have very little choice but to "teach the test."  However, the benefits are

1)  It provides a good introduction to a lot of areas which will be
    reinforced a second time when you have them from the instructor.
    After seeing everything twice, I tend to retain it much better for
    the FAA oral and beyond than I think I would otherwise.
2)  The cost of the course is partially offset by eliminating the need
    for a few hours of ground school with your CFI.
3)  If you work reasonably hard, and take the exam within a few days of
    the course, you will probably get a good score.  I think this and
    the fact that I also did well on the oral exam tended to bias the
    FAA examiner in my favor a little and get me past a few mistakes on
    the flight test.
4)  It is a very pleasant feeling to go into the written exam knowing 
    exactly what it will be like and feeling confident about it.

-- 
Peter Fales

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