So you want to learn to fly?
Many don’t know where to begin. If you’re like
I was, until someone points you in the right direction it’s really hard to
believe that it’s even possible. So what does it entail? Lots. Not to worry, it’s easy enough to show you
where to start.
To give you a little bit of background, the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that certain minimums be met
before you ever become a private pilot. Their regulations require that a person
who wants to become a private pilot must
·
Log at least 40 hours of flight time
o
20 need to be
with an instructor in the airplane
o
10 solo (no
instructor on board)
The 10 hours solo is similar to a teenager with
a permit who is required to “log” so many hours with his/her parents. The main
difference being that once your instructor feels you are ready to solo, he/she
signs you off and sends you up on your own, usually for a short amount of time.
During these hours, while you do not need your instructor with you, you cannot
carry any passengers (sorry no friends or family just yet!).
What is important to remember is that while the
minimum is only 40 hours to test for a private pilot certificate (in some cases
that can be shortened to 35), the average I see is usually
anywhere from 65-80 hours and depends on a variety of
factors. You will be able to apply for your private pilot license in a shorter
amount of time if you fly 3 times per week versus once per week. If you’re older
you will most likely take longer to learn the fundamentals than the
newly-graduated high school student. And then, sometimes it just comes down
to…having a “knack” for it (and in that case sometimes these other factors
don’t matter!). Some just pick up new skills faster than others, and most know
where they stand. I’m probably as average as average can be. Not too fast but
just not quick enough to brag either (bummer…)!
Alright, so there’s clearly A LOT of flying to
be done…but not so fast! There’s a catch. There’s studying to do too.
Don’t panic yet, if you’re not one that was ever great at self-study, there are
ground schools and of course your flight instructor to sit with and learn in a
classroom environment. Yes, you will have homework (you should), and while
there’s no letter grade system (usually), you do need to give your instructor a
reason to be confident in you, your ability, and your knowledge. When your
instructor feels you are ready, he (or she) will sign you off to take the FAA
Private Pilot Written Test which is required to be done and passed before you
meet with an examiner to take your private pilot test (“checkride”).
There are some key milestones on your journey
to becoming a pilot. The first (and most exhilarating in my opinion)? Solo. No
more instructor sitting next to you, at least not in the short 30 minutes that
it may take to do your first three takeoffs and landings all by yourself. Next
are your two solo cross countries and last is your private pilot checkride.
Let’s tie everything together here for a moment
before we get into the last stages of your training. The following is what you
accomplish along the way and the order, more or less, which you do it in:
·
Introductory flight lesson
o
Most flight schools offer a discount, flat rate,
so you can “get your feet wet” and decide if flying is for you
o
Usually after this lesson, if you’ve decided you
loved the flight, you schedule your next lesson and set up a plan with your
instructor
o
The introductory lesson is often done with an instructor
that is available on the spot, and doesn’t have to be the instructor you
continue on with, but once you choose your instructor (whether it be that first
guy, or the guy that looks really experienced!) it would be best for you to
stay with that instructor for the remainder of your training (unless you’re
just not “meshing”, and even then you should try to work through it)
·
Pre-solo flights with your
trusty instructor
o
This is more a stage that anything else, in this
portion of the training you are flying with your instructor and accomplishing
all the flight training that is required prior to you being endorsed to go solo
·
Pre-solo written test
o
Usually done a lesson or two prior to the lesson
you are expected to solo on
o
The test is administered by your instructor. It
is not an “official” written test that the FAA gives, it is simply a required
test that must cover regulations applicable to a student pilot, questions on
your home airport, and questions specific to the airplane you will be soloing
in. Once you are done, your instructor will sit down with you and go over it,
correcting it to “100%” as you go – and that’s it!
·
Solo flight
o
The morning, afternoon, or evening you solo,
your instructor will have flown with you and made sure that you could land
without him/her saying or doing anything – and all done safely without any
doubt of your abilities (I like to say proof beyond a reasonable doubt! We want
to be sure you’re going to come back safe and sound!)
o
After the short flight with your instructor
he/she typically signs you off and sends you right back out again
o
Don’t be worried if your knees are shaking when
you get out of the airplane, you’ve just done what most have never done!
·
Cross country lessons (ground
and flight)
o
What does the FAA define as cross country flight that you
can use toward your license?
§
A flight with a landing at an airport more than
50 nautical miles from the original point of departure
§
The rules you will follow as a student pilot and
that you need to meet to take your private pilot test are more strict than this
but when you hear cross country, this does not mean traversing across the
entire country or multiple states (although it could!); it can be as short as
flying from one airport to the next nearest or as long as around the entire
world
o
These lessons include (not limited to)
§
Learning new takeoff and landing techniques
§
Learning to fly (and land!) at night
·
You will log flight training at night including
a night cross country and 10 night takeoffs and landings
§
Cross country planning and procedures
·
You must receive and log a minimum of 3 hours
cross country flight training
·
Cross country solo flights
o
After you receive the proper cross country
training (both ground and flight) you will be endorsed to fly cross countries
solo
o
You will need to log 5 hours cross country time
solo
·
Checkride prep
o
Your “checkride” is the practical test that
comes at the end of all your training and is described in the paragraph below
o
When you’re ready for your practical test you’ll
be endorsed to take it and usually during this “checkride prep” stage of
training the checkride will be scheduled
o
This portion of your training will include
flight and ground training as your instructor sees necessary to prepare you for
your private pilot test
o
The only requirement that you would fulfill in
this step is to meet the practical test rule which states that you must receive
and log 3 hours of flight training in preparation for your practical test
within the preceding 90 days
§
English translation: your instructor will make
sure that you have flown with him/her for at least 3 hours in the 90 days
leading up to your test
·
The Practical Test
o
Here’s where you get to brag about your vast
knowledge and display your amazing flying skills!
o
More explained below
Your flight instructor will sign you off for
your “checkride” when he/she feels confident in your abilities, knowledge, and
decision-making. Your checkride will be with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner
and includes both an oral and a flight. For completion of the oral you and the
examiner sit down together and the examiner questions you on a variety of
topics (your instructor will prep you on what these can and will include). The
examiner will quiz you until they feel they have an understanding of your
knowledge.
The oral can be as short as a couple hours or
as long as three or four or more. The reason for the vast differences in
length? One big one is your answers. Are you answering well? The oral
will usually be shorter. The other
difference is in the examiner.
Is the examiner like your Uncle Ernie who can’t
stop talking and adding in personal stories and experiences? If so your oral
will no doubt be longer than “normal”. I prefer this guy! On the opposite
scale, some examiners are strictly business, and this might suit you
better…you’ll certainly be done sooner. If you have the option to choose an
examiner then…examine yourself
– you know you the best. Do you want to be in a stressed or relaxed
environment? Which do you perform better in? Do you like stories and a
conversationally-driven test, or do you like to get to the point, and so on…
After the oral (usually on the same day), the
examiner goes flying with you in the airplane you’ve been training in and tests
you on various procedures and maneuvers. This flight is usually around two
hours. Afterwards, if you’ve passed both the oral and the flight, you will be
an FAA licensed private pilot! You’ll deserve it too!
The last question usually comes down to cost.
How much is all of this?
It depends largely again on factors I mentioned
earlier, such as frequency of lessons, learning ability, and the airplane you
fly in (what the hourly rate is). Plan on $8,000 to
$10,000 and don’t be surprised if you go over budget for
an unexpected reason such as weather delays. Keep in mind too, I’ve seen guys
pass in the bare minimum 40 hours and I’ve heard of one guy taking 200 hours.
The number mentioned is based on 50 hours and can vary depending on the flight
school, their airplanes, and the instructors they have.
·
Does the school have newer or older airplanes?
·
Does the school cater to a “get ‘em in and get
‘em out” mentality or is it focused more on quality and customer service?
·
Are the instructors there more experienced /
considered life-instructors or are they on their way to an airline (i.e.
working for cheap)? Such differences can make thousands of dollars in
difference.
·
No two schools are created alike.
·
Don’t believe that the cheapest one is the best,
and don’t believe that the one with the greatest pitch or the largest number of
students is either.
o
Schools cater to different kinds of customers.
Find the school that fits you.
o
The school with more students is more often
airline-driven – maybe this fits you if you’re looking to pursue a career in
aviation.
o
The smaller school that costs a little more but
has beautiful new airplanes and a customer-oriented staff may be for you if
you’re looking to fly for business or recreationally
§
Looking to buy your own airplane? These schools
often allow their instructors to teach in “outside” aircraft, i.e. an airplane
not provided by the school itself
You have to think of flying as a lifetime
experience. Once you have your license, you will always have it, it never
expires! There are also many uses for it: business trips (see my July 1, 2010 “To
Fly or Not to Fly: The Benefits“), leisure trips to exclusive fly-in resorts
and camping sites, day trips to visit friends for golf or to grab a bite to eat
(breakfast, lunch, or dinner and back), simple “get-out-of-the-house-itis”, and
many more I’m forgetting! Think of flying as a hobby. You wouldn’t necessarily
give a second thought to the “costs” of your RV, boat, vacation home, or new
car…it becomes a part of your lifestyle, and as such you see it in terms of
value, and not cost.
Still interested in lessons?
Your first step is to find out as much as you
can about your local airport. Is there a flight school on the field? There are
several sources you can go to in order to find out: You can start with a simple
google search. Try “flight lessons [city, state]” and see what you get. You may
also try www.aopa.org/learntofly/school/index.cfm
– a database of flight schools, but not a complete list just yet. If you’re not
having any luck try http://www.airnav.com/,
click on “Airports” and type in your city and state. Scroll down to near the
bottom and you will find businesses on the field listed. Flight schools aren’t
ALWAYS listed there, but it’s a start. If you find a flight school through one
of these methods, but it’s the wrong airport, try calling the place and see if
they know of any flight schools in your local area – they should be more than
glad to help! The same goes for any businesses you may find on the airport,
i.e. a maintenance shop, fixed base operator (FBO), or pilot shop. Any of these
places should be more than willing to help an aspiring pilot!
Step two: Go to the flight school and ask
questions. If the person you are greeted by doesn’t know all the answers to
your questions, they will certainly try to find someone who does. This will
usually be a flight instructor or manager.
Lastly, if you have any questions or comments
you can also comment below and I will get back to you!
Happy flying,
Up in the Air
Up in the Air
