Airport Size: Rural vs. Busy
You may be able to train in a major city airport or a rural airfield in your search for a flight school and an instructor that work well for you. Which airport is best for training, then? Remember that your top objective should be finding a decent flight school and instructor. Choose the flying school and instructor that best suits your needs based on your research, regardless of whether it's a busy or rural airport. But as you look into the finest places to train, you might wonder if a crowded or remote airport is the ideal location to train. The answer is that both have advantages and disadvantages, so let's examine these possibilities.
Congested Metropolitan Airport: Advantage
Exposure to a Variety of Aircraft for Training
Flying at a busy or urban airport allows you to experience a wide variety of aircraft, which is ideal for training. Along with corporate jets, regional airlines fly out of several metropolitan airports. You get plenty of experience in a busy and complicated airspace because these airports are typically located in more complicated airspaces. As a result, the intricacy of large airports and extremely crowded airspace won't scare you. It is essential that you feel at ease in a complex airspace if you are preparing to become a professional pilot.
Better Prepared for Professional Piloting and Advance Ratings
You will gain experience communicating with Air Traffic Control by flying at a busier airport, which is necessary for your more advanced ratings, such the Instrument rating. Compared to smaller airports that might not even have an airport tower for communication, larger airports have additional communication standards that need to be adhered to. You will be better prepared for your advanced ratings, including the instrument rating, commercial license, and airline transport rating, if you fly in crowded airspace.
Congested Metropolitan Airport: Disadvantage
Increased Training Costs as a Result of Takeoff Wait Times
You could have to wait longer for takeoff and land in crowded airports, which takes up more time. The aircraft's Hobbs meter calculates the time you pay for the flight in tenths of an hour. According to the aircraft Hobbs meter, five takeoffs and landings at your crowded airport can take 1.2 hours. At a smaller airport, the same number of takeoffs and landings might only take an hour. That's an additional $20 to $30 for a single class.Small, Rural Airport: Advantage
Reduced Training Expenses
An hour of training time can accommodate more training activities due to shorter takeoff wait times and less aircraft traffic. As a result, you will need to spend less money and put in fewer hours to finish your pilot training.
More Welcoming Training Environment
Smaller airports frequently have more amiable flight schools and instructors. This creates a sense of community and makes your training feel less daunting and more enjoyable.
Reduced Interruptions
It can be overwhelming to learn to fly, especially in the initial hours of training. There are significantly fewer flights, people, and other distractions. Learning to fly at a smaller airport with fewer distractions might be your best bet if you have attention deficit disorder.
Small, Rural Airport: Disadvantage
Small Airport Generally Have Limited Exposure to Intricate Airspace and Heavy Traffic
You will be assessed on those training activities and taught how to fly in all kinds of airspace, including busy airports, in accordance with the private pilot curriculum. Completing your training and passing the FAA certification is one thing, but feeling at ease in crowded airports is quite another. You have less exposure to crowded airports and frequently complicated airspace at small airports.
Conclusion
In the end, the decision is based on your individual goals and tastes. If you want a more relaxed learning environment and are willing to accept fewer resources, a smaller airport can be a better choice. If you want a more immersive experience with a range of training scenarios and are prepared for the extra challenges that come with them, a busier airport might be your best bet.
