Training at a Controlled Field

[PGA07]

I am just curious what the opinions are towards training at a controlled field vs. and uncontrolled field.

The reason I bring this up is because I am finalizing my school choice. One has newer (2001 or newer) aircraft at a controlled field, no fuel surcharges and no membership fees or dues. The second one is at an uncontrolled field and has older aircraft and it does have membership dues and fuel surcharges.

After stating the above, the first school has instructor rates at $60/hr., for all ratings (which the instructor sees all of) but offers PVT. ground for $300, flat. Their 2001 Archer is $100/hr. and thier 2004 Saratoga II TC is $250/hr. Those are flat rates.

The second school has older Archers for $104/hr. and Arrows for $122/hr. Instructor rates are $41/hr., $48/hr. and $56/hr. (not sure what the instructor receives. Those rates include fuel surcharges.

In the end, I know I can save some decent money with option two, however, I am not sure that I want to fly out of an uncontrolled field. Did it for a long time growing up with my father, however, I am a believer that that more experience we have with Ground and Tower crews, the better off we are.

I appreciate any an all input. Thanks!

[ASpilot2be]

I did my my training at a non controlled airport and loved it. But I loved having tower controlled airports close.

I dont know if it really matters though, as you will probably use both during training. Maybe.

[killbilly]

I've been doing my PPL training at both. Normally, we're in a controlled field, but we had to move to an uncontrolled field during runway resurfacing ops, so I got a good amount of instruction in both.

Personally, I prefer a controlled field. I like having the controllers keeping us all sorted out, and the extra set of eyes is welcome. On my first solo flight, I sort of botched the pattern and accidentally cut someone off, and I got very nervous - the controller very calmly told me what I needed to do to sort things out and I was VERY appreciative of that. Gotten better at both since then.

Also - at least where I am, the controlled field has a lot of varied traffic. Students, experimentals, bizjets, helos, etc, and learning to fly among all of them has been a good experience for me.

Just my personal experience. I prefer controlled fields.

[bike21]

I would go with whichever option is better in your opinion in terms of experience and cost factors. Basing it off controlled/uncontrolled would be further down my list. I did my PPL at an uncontrolled field and did have a harder time adjusting to a controlled environment, but mainly because my CFI didn't take me over there much. I see that you are in Chicago, so it shouldn't be too hard jumping over to a controlled field or vice versa to get other experience. When I taught, I always made sure I took my students to lots of various controlled/uncontrolled airports to gain experience.

Good luck and have fun!

[gator4798]

I trained at Reid-Hillview. Its controlled class Delta. I loved it. Doing pattern work you can think more about the plane and less about nailing the radio calls. Then once you have that down a quick trip from most controlled fields is a non controlled to practice at. I felt more comfortable working in class C and B after working in Class D for so long. But its what you want to do and I have only ever trained at one. Who knows I might be missing out. And Im sure its different for different fields. Take a few lessons at both would be my suggestion. Then see which one YOU like more. The field and instructor both. Good luck!!!!!!!!

[ElyJs]

I did my training at an uncontrolled field and was not near as proficient talking to ATC as my counterparts that did their privates at a controlled field. However after 100 hours or so there was no difference at all.

You will get more touch-n-goes per hour at an uncontrolled field and can worry more about flying the airplane at a sleepu field then at a busy D or C. I think it is an advantage to have one less thing going on (ATC) when you are just learning to fly a stabilized approach. You will also probably get your private done for less money.

Either way by the time you get your instrument done it really won't matter whether you did you PPL at an uncontrolled or controlled field.

Choose the place with better instructors. Sit down, talk to an instructor. Whoever has better communication skills and seems to have the knowledge is who you should choose.

-Jason
www.flyboulder.com

[sdfcvoh]

Just my $.02. I am grateful my training has been done at a controlled (D) field. I see other students from uncontrolled fields come to our place, and they are not so sure of what to do.

You can't go wrong with having the additional learning curve, needing to use that radio. Sooner or later you might want to go into C or B. Those will blow you away if you aren't used to other regular traffic.

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by bike21

I would go with whichever option is better in your opinion in terms of experience and cost factors.

Bingo. There is rarely a training advantage to one of the other, except perhaps for the fact that training at a towered tends to help a lot of pilots overcome communication fears. Of course the downside is that they sometimes become so dependent on that set of eyes in the tower that they become afraid of non-towered airports where they need to listen for other aircraft (that might not be transmitting) and see and avoid on their own.

BTW, my perspective on this is based on having done my private and IFR at a non-towered airport and my commercial and CFI at a towered one

[PGA07]

I appreciate all of the great insight and you all have helped confirm my decision to pursue my training at a controlled field.

Sure that FBO my be a bit more expensive and a few miles further from home. However, in my opinion, this is not a field or career in which we should short change ourselves or our training. If we do, we may unwillingly be jepordizing ourselves and others. That statement may be over the top, but it is my opinion.

Again, thank you all for your input.

[PGT]

It doesn't matter after about 10-15hours anwyway...

go with the cheaper one.

Just for the record, I flew at an uncontrolled but just on the edge of a Class C airport so I had a controlled field close.

[B767]

Originally Posted by PGT

go with the cheaper one.

Just for the record, I flew at an uncontrolled but just on the edge of a Class C airport so I had a controlled field close.

I was faced with the same decision. Uncontrolled on the edge of Class C or the Class C airport. Uncontrolled airfield was cheaper and if I wanted, or my instructor wanted me to have some ATC comm practice we just flew to the Class C and did take offs and landings there.

[Pietrantonio]

I think it's just personal preference. You gain lots of skills from flying at both.

[BigGuyFlying]

I've done all of my training at a controlled field (KPIE) and aboslutely love it. You become a lot more comfortable with ATC and it always helps having another eye watching you. The only thing was that I lacked in uncontrolled airport flying... Took me a little to get used to pattern entry etc.

[moxiepilot]

bike & midlife have it nailed.

[bhh1128]

Originally Posted by PGA07

After stating the above, the first school has instructor rates at $60/hr., for all ratings (which the instructor sees all of)

Wow. That sounds great for the instructors.

[Capt. Caucasian]

I probably have some good insight to your dilemma. I started my training at the ripe ol age of 16 back in 1991. Later in college, I finished everything thru CFI, CFII, and MEI. I then instructed for my last two years at school and one more year thereafter. In all that time I trained at three airports (one uncontrolled under class B, one uncontrolled fifty miles from class B, and one class D under class B). I then instructed at an uncontrolled in BFE, a controlled with a TRSA (an Air Force Base) and two uncontrolled under class B.

So, now you know my life story. That was a mouth full wasn't it? Anywho, in all that experience my preference as both a student and instructor was to use an uncontrolled field for most pattern stuff. It did not matter if we were based there or not. I would just go to the low density uncontrolled field. Much less distracting.

Once you move on to instrument, commercial, etc. It matters not where you do everything. You will have plenty of chances at talking to ATC. Just remember these two things when dealing with them: THEY DO NOT FLY THE PLANE FOR YOU! And, talk to them in plain English, pardon the pun.

Overall, choose whatever is easiest, less demanding, and less stressful. Cost would be the next factor with age of aircraft and class D or G WAY down on the list.

[Screaming_Emu]

I would say in the long term it doesn't matter if you do it right. If you train in one, make sure you get exposure to the other.

I would say there is probably a very very slight advantage for doing your PPL stuff out of an uncontrolled field and everything else out of towered. At a non towered you can really operate at a pace that suits you without feeling hurried by the people in the tower. Slightly less stressful environment for the student, but it all pretty much evens out later on.

[Capt. Caucasian]

Something else to add: nothing sucks more than having to wait in line for takeoff or "extend downwind", "make a right 360", or any other delays given by ATC when you are paying by the minute. This is also true at high density uncontrolled fields.

[bhh1128]

Originally Posted by Capt. Caucasian

Something else to add: nothing sucks more than having to wait in line for takeoff or "extend downwind", "make a right 360", or any other delays given by ATC when you are paying by the minute. This is also true at high density uncontrolled fields.

Or when controllers start getting a bit frustrated. "Aircraft calling from the northwest, tell you what. Just remain clear of the delta airspace and I'll call you back in about five minutes"

Or they get overworked and start messing up call signs, then blame the poor student for reading back an instruction that doesn't even make sense.

Or when they get angry. "Do you know which way west is??? Fly due west and enter left downwind for 10L"

Of course, some amount of that experience is priceless, and you'll learn very quickly the importance of concise and accurate communications. On the busy days you'll go to another airport anyway.

[skidz]

I started at the controlled field and it was busy at times and as a new student I had to worry about more than I could chew at the time. After a first solo I switched schools and did the rest of my private on uncontrolled field. It doesn't really matter I think, because over time people eventually get to fly out of controlled fields anyway. I would go with a cheaper option. For private it's important to master those basic stick and rudder, see and avoid skills first. A busy controlled field can just add more time on hobbs and confuse the heck out of a new student. It's a good experience though, some people just learn better under stress.

[skidz]

Originally Posted by Capt. Caucasian

Something else to add: nothing sucks more than having to wait in line for takeoff or "extend downwind", "make a right 360", or any other delays given by ATC when you are paying by the minute. This is also true at high density uncontrolled fields.

I was put in three 360's and an extended downwind on my first solo, it was totally unexpected but somehow I managed

[Fly_Unity]

Its was always fun to hear my students brag to other students that they had to do 360's on their first solo.