Episodes
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Here's video 3 of our 4 episode series on choosing a flight school. Mike and Sean sit down with Jay and Rick from Lunken Flight Training Center to discuss Part 141 vs Part 61 and the importance of flight schools following a syllabus for your flight training.
Lunken Flight Training Center is located at Lunken airport in Mike & Sean's home town in Cincinnati, Ohio. https://flylftc.com/
Be sure to go to the app store and DOWNLOAD OUR APP!
Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer that you think is episode worthy, and we prefer video questions, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:36 Structure of flight training
02:10 Syllabus use
04:50 Part 61
06:18 Part 141
08:15 Part 61 vs part 141 differences
09:59 Flight school's pass rate
13:47 How to choose part 61 or part 141
15:05 Financing: part 61 or part 141
17:30 Scholarships
18:25 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
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Here's the 2nd of our 5 episode series on choosing a flight school. Mike and Sean sit down with Jay and Rick from Lunken Flight Training Center to hash out choosing the best airplane for flight training and what other equipment and resources your future flight school should have.
Lunken Flight Training Center is located at Lunken airport in Mike & Sean's home town in Cincinnati, Ohio. https://flylftc.com/
Be sure to go to the app store and DOWNLOAD OUR APP!
Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer that you think is episode worthy, and we prefer video questions, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:01 What to look for in aircraft for flight training
04:02 Differences in flight training aircraft
07:40 High wing vs low wing aircraft
11:28 Simulator
14:05 Sim for Private Pilot Certificate
18:06 Onsite aircraft maintenance
23:07 Access to aircraft maintenance records
24:55 How many airplanes does the flight school have
28:40 How far should you drive to a flight school
33:03 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
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Missing episodes?
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This is the first of a 5 episode series on choosing a flight school. Mike and Sean sit down with Jay and Rick from Lunken Flight Training Center and discuss the most common initial questions aspiring aviators have when seeking out a flight school.
Lunken Flight Training Center is located at Lunken airport in Mike & Sean's home town in Cincinnati, Ohio. https://flylftc.com/
Be sure to go to the app store and DOWNLOAD OUR APP!
Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer that you think is episode worthy, and we prefer video questions, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:06 The #1 question
05:04 Comparing flying to driving
06:20 Online ground school
08:10 Cost is connected to student's work ethic
09:38 Cost & time dependent on pre-solo stage
11:30 Average cost to get Private Cert
12:53 Some schools costs could be hidden
14:14 How many flight hours are included
15:33 Average time for Private Pilot Certificate
19:01 Average time for Instrument Rating
23:58 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
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Mike and Sean welcome Brendan to the show to share his expertise on the subject of Flying Club Memberships and how it can save you money while flight training and building time to acquire your dream job as a professional pilot.
Flying Club Finder: https://youcanfly.aopa.org/flying-clubs
Be sure to go to the app store and DOWNLOWN OUR APP!
Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:23 Meet Brendan
06:25 What is a Flying Club
07:29 Cessna 150 Aerobat
10:40 Advantages of Flying Club Membership
13:55 How Flying Clubs work
19:00 Cost /hour & Membership price
24:30 Can you flight train in a flying club airplane
26:29 What are the cons to a Flying Club
32:25 Flying Club planes are nicer than rental planes
34:19 Where to find a flying club
35:47 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
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Mike and Sean answer Randall's question concerning him leaving his career as an educator to chase down his dream of becoming a professional pilot.
Be sure to go to the app store and DOWNLOWN OUR APP!
Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:20 Catching up
02:50 Randall's question
07:32 Our response to Randall
14:21 Doing it right
18:23 Other tactics
21:10 Mix in some accelerated flight training
22:50 Offer flight training to the students at your school
24:45 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
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Mike and Sean discuss the most difficult aspects of obtaining your Private Pilot Certificate and the common pitfalls that make over 80% of people quit flight training.
Be sure to go to the app store and DOWNLOWN OUR APP!
Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:12 DOWNLOAD OUR NEW APP
02:40 Sean's sightings
05:10 Episode intro
06:05 80% of of people quit flight training
09:32 Money
11:26 Need to commit
12:09 Time
13:33 Lack of motivation
17:05 Rare that students can't figure it out
20:37 Serious business
22:57 Math requirements
26:50 Final tips
28:12 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
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Mike and Sean answer a question about dealing with having to tell passengers no and discuss other situations that can cause you to have a difficult day as a pilot.
Go to the app store and download our new app!
Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:01 Viewer/listener's question
02:29 Corporate pilot vs Airline pilot perspective
04:59 Sean's 3 step process for dealing with passengers
06:52 Mike's advice for dealing with bad situations as a pilot
08:06 Common problems pilots deal with
15:53 "Get Home-Itis"
17:50 " Reverse Get Home-Itis"
19:52 New products at https://www.propilotplaybook.com/
20:04 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
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Mike and Sean interview Brandon after recently failing his Private Pilot Checkride. However, there's a lot more to this story than what you might think. This is a great story for anyone who is getting close to taking their first Practical Pilot Test.
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:23 Brandon's introduction and background
05:56 Brandon's flight training
11:00 Private pilot checkride
20:54 No sleep
23:20 Weather
27:00 Ferry pilot problems
32:50 The oral starts
36:00 Family friend died
40:35 Plane doesn't start
43:50 Flight portion begins
44:10 Cross-country snafu
46:40 Engine out procedures
51:05 A huge learning experience
1:00:10 Won't see these stories on the internet
1:02:53 We learn from failing
1:04:40 Brandon's shout out to Pro-Pilot Playbook
1:06:05 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
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Mike and Sean jump a little off the career path rails to discuss a technical topic involving the use the very popular ForeFlight aviation app from the point of view as a professional pilot. We also address the possible downsides of using this powerful application early on in your training especially working towards your Private Pilot Certificate.
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:47 Sam's question
05:02 What is ForeFlight?
06:53 Not for primary Private Pilot training
09:33 Sean's day-to-day using ForeFlight
12:00 Fuel planning
16:01 Back-up instruments
18:55 Poor man's TCAS
20:20 All charts are included
21:46 Logbook function
23:28 Runway analysis data
25:45 Airlines using ForeFlight
26:35 Other aviation apps
28:38 Wrap up- TAKE ACTION!
29:00 New products released on the Pro-Pilot Playbook site
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Mike and Sean answer two viewers questions this week concerning how to become an ultra successful corporate pilot and earn a comparable salary of our major airline counterparts. Basically a step-by-step guide to start an aircraft management company.
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
03:08 Bryan's video question
05:55 Answering peoples email
06:33 What is a contract pilot
11:19 Using Facebook groups to find contract pilot jobs
12:40 Buying a type rating to do contract pilot work
15:04 Adam's email question
17:55 How to start an aircraft management company
22:07 How to be a good contract pilot
24:00 It all comes back to networking
26:30 First steps as a low time pilot
30:12 New products released on the Pro-Pilot Playbook site
30:45 Take action!
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Sean & Mike sit down with John Zimmerman from Sporty's Pilot's Discretion Podcast which is possibly the most downloaded aviation podcast in history.
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
Are the latest headlines about slowing airline pilot hiring just a temporary pause or the start of a downward trend? In this episode, aviation career mentors Mike Martin and Sean Richey explain what the real state of the industry is. They also talk about the right approach to flight training, how to build time, and whether airline interviews still matter. Mike and Sean have lots of experience as corporate pilots, so they share tips from the world of private jets, including the different skills required for that type of job. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll hear about tough checkrides, how to be a good copilot, and the best airports in America.
QUOTES:
- Current hiring trends: “There’s a difference between the hiring surge that we had and the true pilot shortage that’s going on in the background.”
- Airline hiring 25 years ago: “Your first year you made like $22,000; you had to pay $18,000 back to them for your training.”
- Where we are now: “There is no greater time in the history of man, since the Wright brothers first flew, to become a professional pilot.”
- What type of flight school is best: “At the end of the day, you’re going to get the same certificates and ratings no matter what you do.”
- Why waiting to start flight training can cost you: “For every year you wait, you gotta think about those big bucks on the back end of your career.”
- Competition between employers: “This large airline hiring is sucking pilots out of the corporate world like a vacuum cleaner.”
- Corporate jobs vs. airline jobs: “The actually volume of flying you is way less. There are many corporate pilots that fly as many hours annually as an airline pilot does in one month.”
- How to break into corporate flying: “Be at the airport… you need to be at these airports and you need to see yourself seen and known.”
- What makes a good copilot: “The ability to distinguish what’s important from what’s not important.”
- Flying celebrities: “I had a perception before I did this… [that] money doesn’t buy happiness and all that. I actually think after years of doing this that that’s a coping mechanism that us poor people say.”
SHOW LINKS:
- Pro-Pilot Playbook: https://www.propilotplaybook.com
- Boeing Pilot Outlook: https://www.boeing.com/commercial/mar...
- Pilot Training+ Membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot... Explore the podcast
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Sean & Mike talk with Daniel Smucker on how he was able to achieve his Instrument rating in just 10 days.
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
03:10 Daniel's story
11:02 How Daniel financed his training
14:50 How he achieved Instrument rating in 10 days
18:20 Accelerated commercial pilot license
21:38 Hacks for sharing time via Face Book groups
24:40 Owning a plane for training
29:40 Borrowing an airplane for training
33:04 Accelerated Multi-engine rating
38:28 Flight training with brother as CFI
42:20 Working on CFI and Networking
46:11 Daniel idea for starting a flight school
47:40 Is ATP flight school accelerated training?
49:00 How did it all cost?
52:00 Right seat in a jet
54:30 Daniel's advice to aspiring pilots
56:20 Networking at the airport
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Sean & Mike answer two listeners video questions on the pilot marketing softening and whether it's worth buying your own type rating in an aircraft.
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:56 Steve's question
09:02 Truckers becoming professional pilots
10:53 Ground school before flight training
14:25 Skipping the regional airlines
14:58 Hiring slowing down at the airlines
16:56 Buy your own type rating?
22:32 Good companies want good people
25:06 Expensive training on speculation
25:51 Finance it and accelerate it
27:00 Take action
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Sean & Mike talk to Ben Roller, former FAA Operations Inspector and Designated Pilot Examiner, to get the inside hacks on passing your pilot checkride. We also discuss common mistakes pilot applicants make on checkrides and how or if discretion actually exists when it comes to your checkride.
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:23 Ben's background
08:30 Pilot hiring in early 2000's vs today
19:10 Pilot job market up's and down's
20:44 Shortage of designated pilot examiners
24:41 Requirements to be a DPE
26:35 Who's the DPE's DPE?
28:38 Do pilot examiners have a pass/fail ratio quota to maintain?
30:57 Examiners discretion on a pilot checkride
34:42 Examiner knows in the first 5 mins of meeting applicant outcome of the checkride
35:48 Ben's advice to private pilot applicants
39:55 Common problem areas on pilot checkrides
48:19 Checkride with highest fail rate?
56:30 Take Action!
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Sean & Mike talk to Jamal again as he updates us with his progress at ATP flight school where he was able to get his Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate, and Multi-Engine Rating in under 5 months. Jamal had also used the financial aid which means he started his training at ATP with no money being paid up front.
Jamal's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Jahmalthepilot
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:23 Recap on Jamal's story
07:02 How long and how much
12:05 Can you fail at ATP
14:25 What are the Cons of ATP
18:58 Jamal has a JOB!
26:20 Companies paying students at ATP Flight School
28:16 Ages of other student pilots and CFI's at ATP
30:58 Mike & Sean on the road
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Mike and Sean break down the crash of a Challenger 604 on approach into Naples, Florida (APF) airport that experienced a dual engine failure on final crashing on I-75 killing both pilots. We talk about operating the challenger and possible causes of the accident including introducing a new theory that doesn't include fuel starvation or birds.
Here's some links to other YouTuber's videos on the Naples Challenger crash:
https://youtu.be/EKAw1ioDcAE?si=7u9aJbwSSOwTmujH
https://youtu.be/OfEl6clsW_M?si=CF2Uz3bsfq3vyL8W
https://youtu.be/icKVGG9QiS0?si=F7LqLWJs8oLlPGbZ
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
03:32 Facts surrounding Naples crash
05:02 Challenger 604 business jet
08:54 ATC audio
10:37 Video of jet crash in Naples, Florida
13:15 Dual engine flameout in jets
19:52 Theories of what could have caused Naples crash
26:07 Alternate theory for Naples Challenger crash
34:07 Pilots of Naples, Florida crash heros
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Sean and Mike revisit this fatal accident with a fresh perspective on the loss of Youtuber TNFlyGirl in her newly acquired Beech Debonair. It appears there is evidence pointing to this crash being part of elaborate internet stunt that went horribly wrong resulting in the loss of two lives.
Here's the links we reference in the video, also links to Juan Brown's Youtube channel "Blancolirio" for a detailed analysis of this fatal crash:
https://youtu.be/R1W1ml-uRT0?si=WthzaO5xUvjU9PKD
https://youtu.be/kQUS-6SBZzM?si=NLPXLCDIgrX01JLB
https://youtu.be/JDSJ_PyGNG8?si=YuoGpfQvZ_BRytoS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViO1j1iYn18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66z726rQNxc
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Rip-offs" and access to free lesson from our course. If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:25 TN Fly Girl story is worse than we thought
03:03 Pro-Pilot Playbook student's plane crashes
05:20 Consequences of bad judgement piloting aircraft
06:05 Other Youtubers' videos about TN Fly Girl accident
07:01 Non-stop examples of bad piloting skills displayed by Jen Blalock
16:30 Mike's advice for student pilots and flight instructors on cross-country training flights
18:14 Sean's advice for student pilots in primary flight training
20:01 What can happen to us using automation even with driving a car
22:04 What navigation equipment Jenny Blalock TNFlyGirl actually needed to complete the simple 40nm flight on a VFR day
23:32 Money can sometimes allow a pilot to buy an airplane beyond their experience and skill level
25:15 Final words of advice for anybody currently working on their Private Pilot's certificate to become a professional corporate or airline pilot
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Sean and Mike have a chat with the YouTube sensation, Fly with Trent https://www.youtube.com/@trent_dyrsmid We talk background, accelerated flight training, and his rise as the go-to guy in the "Career 2.0" space for folks wanting to become professional pilots.
Use these link's to check out some of Trent's videos on his YouTube channel "Fly With Trent":
https://youtu.be/2hxgwwS0PMo?si=ifttKfgwe7_vCH7U
https://youtu.be/9j4hRPi-C7Q?si=ZMWhibWXbU_9IbLf
https://youtu.be/CIRyt0Rq8_A?si=rM56HULFrNxUVmZK
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Ripoffs" and access to free lesson from our course. If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:30 Trent's back ground
07:45 Trent gets into flying
16:37 Fly With Trent
18:08 Trent decides to be a professional pilot
19:41 Career 2.0 people can do anything, but want to become pilots
22:52 Accelerated flight training- Four checkrides in 2 weeks
27:02 The Fly With Trent YouTube channel
30:05 What's next for Trent- Airlines or Corporate Pilot
35:45 What's next for the Fly With Trent YouTube Channel?
37:02 Wrap up
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Sean and Mike's take on the tragic news concerning the loss of Youtuber TNFlyGirl. There are lessons to be learned from what we know at this point in the investigation that every aspiring pilot should embrace.
Use these link's to check out Juan Brown's Youtube channel "Blancolirio" for a detailed analysis of this fatal crash:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViO1j1iYn18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66z726rQNxc
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Ripoffs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
Chapters: 00:00
Intro 02:15 TN Fly Girl story
03:13 Juan Brown - Blancolirio
06:37 Beech Debonair auto-pilot
09:03 Personal limitations
10:18 Getting proper flight instruction
14:05 Brandon's solo flight - aeronautical decision making
17:02 Consequences of bad judgement piloting aircraft
18:36 Aspen (ASE) Airport Operations
22:08 Sometimes paid to say no as a pilot
25:44 Automation causing aviation accidents
27:29 Flight instructor advice
35:19 Jim Rohn Quote
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Our first podcast of 2024 is all about getting you off your butt and taking the right action in the right direction. This episode is packed full of useful insight to get you headed in the right direction to achieve your dream of becoming a professional pilot. There is no better or easier time in history to become an airline or corporate pilot. Make this your year by taking action and change your life.
DON'T MISS THIS! Go to https://www.propilotplaybook.com and enter your email to get access to our list of "The Top 10 Flight School Ripoffs" and access to free lesson from our course.
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, you can email us at: [email protected]
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
04:25 Take action with self discipline
06:47 Quotes for aspiring pilots
08:45 Thermostat theory
11:38 Paralysis by analysis: Goals & Habits
14:37 Inspiration vs. Information
16:35 Take an introductory/discovery flight
19:18 Waiting for the time/money to be "right"
21:44 Will flight training be easy?
23:02 What's coming up for the Pro-Pilot Playbook
25:20 Make this your year to become a pilot
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