Naw, No changes. You can rent a new 152 for about $28/hr and the instructor gets $5. New 172s rent for about 10 bucks more.
No changes to TCAs, Positive controll airspace, or Airport Traffic Areas.
Weather hasn't changed either SA and FT can all be obtained from your local Flight Service Station. I think every field has one now! How much research could have been done in the last 20 years anyway. A thunder storm is a thunder storm.
Regulation are still the same. Most students solo between 7 and 9 hours and take there check ride at about 40 hours. I know this examiner (Wilbur) for about 50 bucks and an hour of your time you can get your rating.
You still need 250 hour before you can get your instrument rating and they still recommend you combine it with your commercial rating. As far as books, I recommend the latest jep books, I think it has the red cover. The yellow ones are the old ones.
With the price of flying going up, I would recommend to your friend this new type of aircraft, it's just coming out its called an ultralight!
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Regards,
Your local PATCO rep