You can buy either radio, it really doesn't make a diff. I only fly PCM on 90% of my planes. I fly PPM(FM) on a few of the gliders and small power planes. As I said, Lots of reasons we don't need to go into. If you are worried about programing them, Anne Marie Cross wrote a good book about programming the C radios. It is a big help. If you want to save a few bucks, buy the PPM(FM) system. For a trainer, it won't make a big difference. You won't notice a difference. The important thing is to get a good radio, a good instructor and have fun.