Firing your flight instructor
I found Rick Durden’s article “Upgrading Yourself: Make a Training Plan” in the February 2025 Aviation Consumer on point, except for the one-page sidebar: “Fire Your Instructor.” While I agree with his CFIs’ obligations, he puts most, if not all, the onus on instructors. He should follow up with some thoughts on the instructor firing the student because students also share the responsibility of a successful instructor-student relationship.
—Luca Bencini, via email
Got a training plan?
Thank you for the insightful article on making a training plan in your February 2025 issue. Unfortunately I learned my lessons the hard way a number of years back when I bought a relatively rare experimental airplane and couldn’t find the quality training I needed. It was ultimately through the resourceful EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) that I found an instructor to set me off on the right path to safely flying the bird. If I had more thoroughly thought out the training strategies I likely would have bought a different model. In fact, in today’s market I probably wouldn’t have been able to get insurance.
—John Bette, via email
We agree that having a plan for training should be one of the first things to think about before considering any new-to-you aircraft purchase. Take it one step further and work closely with your insurer to make sure you can deliver on the demands. We can look at student responsibilities in a follow-up report.
More on the Piper PA-46
I have owned my 2008 Piper Matrix for the last eight years and can weigh in on the report you ran in the February 2025 Aviation Consumer Used Aircraft Guide. I opted for the non-pressurized Matrix PA-46 version to gain the useful load. Most of my flying does not require being above 12,500 feet and at times when needed, I have managed well with using nasal cannulas.
Anyone considering buying either version should be prepared to pay much higher maintenance bills than what they may be used to in less complex models. Basic annuals tend to be in the $8000 to $10,000 range and there is always something failing each year that adds a few more thousand dollars. This is in addition to basic maintenance.
Insurance is on the high side also, especially in this hard market we are currently experiencing. I am 66 years old with 1000 hours in make and model, instrument rated and have no incidents, accidents or violations. The hull value of $535,000 and $1 million/$100,000 liability limits results in an insurance premium of $10,000 per year.
I fly my long-distance trips at 12,500 feet, with a fuel burn of 21 GPH and 185 knots true. I wish my costs would be less, but I love how the plane performs and flies. It has a nice wide cockpit for me, and my family has lots of room in the back. It feels very solid flying in IMC conditions and it’s easy to land. I was a long-body Mooney guy prior to the Matrix and that plane was more demanding on landing. The Matrix is more forgiving with regards to speed control.
The PA-46 has good speed, ice protection, speedbrakes, it’s roomy and has air conditioning for those hot days—what more could anyone ask for?
—Dr. Stephen Saracino, via email
Thanks for the detailed feedback. This is exactly the kind of owner input we need for our Used Aircraft Guide, so if you have experience with any of the models we cover—and have suggestions for models you want to see covered—reach out to us.
