Private Pilot License Exam

Private Pilot License Training Explained

2010-05-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Training Involved in getting your private pilot license in most cases will take two to 3 months. You can do an accelerated training course that you can complete in as little as 3 weeks or so. Not being prepared could cause a set back in your Private Pilot Training.

The first thing you need to know is there are two parts to your Private Pilot Training. There are Aeronautical Experience and Aeronautical Knowledge areas

( Flight Instruction) portions of each phase of your flight training.

There are three phases to your private pilot training that you will need to understand. You will need to understand that there are both Aeronautical Knowledge and Aeronautical Experience requirements. The better understanding you have of the process before you start, the more successful you will be on fulfilling your dream of learning to fly.

The first part of your Private Pilot Training is the pre solo phase. This phase you will learn to basics of flying an airplane. This phase of training will be the most difficult for most students since the habit of driving a car has been with you most of your life. You will have a great deal of conficence once you get through this phase and you will be able to conduct solo flights with limitations set by your flight instructor.
The pre solo phase of your private pilot license will also have an aeronautical requirement that you will have to meet also. There is a Requirement for a Pre Solo Written Test included. The focus of this pre solo exam will focus on the airspace and aircraft you have been training in and will be written by your flight instructor.
The next part of your Private Pilot License Training is the post solo or cross country phase. This phase of your flight training, you will focus on different types of landings, night flying and instrument flight. A good part of this phase will be solo flights so you can build your solo flight time towards the private pilot general requirements.

This part of your training does not have any specific requirements for aeronautical knowledge, however you should have your private pilot written test completed before you get into the flight test preparation phase of your training.

The final phase of your pilot training will be the flight test preparation phase. In this phase you will focus on the outline for the private pilot practical test known as the practical test standards.

The Private Pilot written test will need to be completed before you are eligible to take the test. This test will have 60 multiple choice questions on all of the subject areas that the FAA require in the Federal Aviation

Regulations.

The Private Pilot Practical Test Standards is the FAA’s outline for your practical test. Broken down into Tasks and Areas of Operation, this will be a guide for you that is published by the FAA. This will be the outline that the pilot examiner will use to conduct your flight test.

Once you have completed your Private Pilot Practical test, your Private Pilot License will be good for the rest of your life. The best thing you can do is plan your training out and understand the process before you start your pilot training.

Hope to see You in the Sky

Airfreddy

Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Information Website
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Private Pilot Requirements - Pre Solo Requirements

2010-05-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

The pre solo maneuvers are the first required for your Private Pilot License. There are a number of Requirements needed before you can do your first solo. Now in many cases I will move on to the post solo requirements if someone is not quite ready to solo yet. I do this because I am not going to sit in the traffic pattern with someone for 5 extra flights to get their landings down. The lightbulb will come on and my goal is to have you licensed and a safe / proficient pilot by the time of your flight test. Also I want you to be in your budget.

Many instructors and schools will not move forward until you have solo'ed I think this is a complete waste of money. For this reason some people may say that the pre solo phase is the most expensive. When I see someone who has 40 hours, hasn't soloed and on top of that has not done the cross countries, soft field / shortfield takeoffs and landings, night or simulated instrument time, the only thing I can think of is that poor student got ripped off.

The main reason people don't solo is they don't have their landings down. So why wouldn't the instructor move ahead. You have to do Soft Field / Short Field Takeoffs and Landings, 10 Night takeoffs and Landings, Dual Cross Countries ( Yes More Landings). This is usually plenty of time for the Landing
( Lightbulb) To come on.

Here I have listed the Pre Solo Requirements for you. Remember there are two parts Aeronautical Knowledge and Aeronautical Experience.

(a) General. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student has met the requirements of this section.
(b) Aeronautical knowledge. A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test that meets the requirements of this paragraph:
(1) The test must address the student pilot's knowledge of-
(i) Applicable sections of parts 61 and 91 of this chapter; (FAR"S )
(ii) Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed; and
(iii) Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown.
(2) The student's authorized instructor must-
(i) Administer the test; and
(ii) At the conclusion of the test, review all incorrect answers with the student before authorizing that student to conduct a solo flight.
(c) Pre-solo flight training. Prior to conducting a solo flight, a student pilot must have:
(1) Received and logged flight training for the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft to be flown; and
(2) Demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety, as judged by an authorized instructor, on the maneuvers and procedures required by this section in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft to be flown.
(d) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for a single-engine airplane rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;
(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;
(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;
(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;
(5) Climbs and climbing turns;
(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;
(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;
(8) Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations;
(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;
(10) Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;
(11) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
(12) Ground reference maneuvers;
(13) Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions;
(14) Slips to a landing; and
(15) Go-arounds.

All of the above areas need to be covered and Documented in Your Logbook. And it needs to be signed off by a Certified Flight Instructor. Yes I have seen people that have gone up with their friends, and their friends have signed their logbooks. These areas can only be given by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).

Hope to See You In the Sky

Airfreddy

About the Author: Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has owned many airplanes and owned a flight school in Mesa, Arizona . He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone.
Private Pilot Training Requirements
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The Private Pilot License Cost

2010-05-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

Telling students exactly what they are going to spend on Training for the Private Pilot License is one thing I have always tried to explain to students. I also make sure I tell them that if they don't stick with their pilot training, it will cost them more.

The National average for the private pilot training process is around 65 hours, you will want tokeep this in mind. If you dig into the flight training syllabus at flight schools, most private pilot syllabuses are between 45 and 55 hours. There are too many things that need to get covered that are required by the FAA. Planning on at least 30 hours of dual instruction is a good estimate if you want to be a safe pilot.

If you ask the right questions, most flight schools will be honest with you about the actual cost of your private pilot training. You will want to remember that the number of hous listed in the flight schools syllabus will not be used for the cost estimate, they will use the unrealistic hour requirements put out by the FAA. Since there are a lot of flight schools competing for a decreasing number of students, the cost estimates will in many cases be a bare minimum and will not be realistic.

Below I have listed what a cost estimate from a flight school will look like:

20 Hours Dual Flight Instruction $2,920.00
20 Hours of Solo Flight $1,920.00
Total $4,840.00

In a lot of cases this will be it. Some schools do try and make this a little more realistic. But in general they all will stay very competitive. Since flight training is veryexpensive, the flight schools will keep their cost estimates as compeditive as possible.

There are a number of things that are not listed in the above cost estimate. The first thing is the additional dual instruction that is probably in the flight schools syllabus. You should plan on an additional cost of around $1,460 since there should be about 10 hours of additional training that the above cost estimate does not include.

In addition to this extra flight instruction there are other things such as books, pilot supplies and headsets that you will need to purchase. Many flight schools will not include the examiner fee for the flight test. Depending on the part of the country you are in, this fee could be as much as $400.

You will want to find out what a Private Pilot License will actually cost you at your local flight school. You will want to understand the process of your Private PIlot Training, so the first thing you will want to do is plan the process out before you start flying. Flying is very expensive and if you make a mistake planning the process out, you could end up spending $2,000 more that you expected. If you are on a limited budget, this could make the difference between becoming a licensed pilot and someone who is part way through their training.

Once you start your private pilot training, don't let anything get in your way. This is the most cost effective way to keep the cost down on yourprivate pilot training. Remember that learning to fly is not like driving. You will need to be proficient in all the maneuvers and be a safe confident pilot. The quicker you can complete yourprivate pilot license training the better.

Hope to see you in the sky

Airfreddy

Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy's Private Pilot Manual
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Accelerated Flight Training, The Fastest Way To Be A Pilot?

2010-05-19T03:32:00.000-07:00

“Accelerated flight training” is a very popular way for many to accomplish the FAA required flight training and gain the skills and knowledge required to pass any pilot certificate or rating that exists. However, the title of “accelerated” pilot training or flight training is misleading in some ways that can lead to an unhappy student pilot and a loss of time and money! As an FAA certified flight instructor of more than 13 years with most of that time dedicated to the “accelerated” method of teaching I have learned what works and what does not work. I hope this article can help those seeking a pilot certificate or rating achieve their goals in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible.

Accelerated Flight Training Myth: "accelerated flight training is faster"

Not necessarily! Just because a flight school offers an “accelerated” flight training course does NOT mean you will finish in less time. Fact: The FAA requires minimum flight training, flight experience, and ground theory training before a person is eligible to attempt the required final testing for a pilot certificate or rating. For example, The FAA requires 40 hours of total flight and training experience before attempting the final test. However, the national average flight training time to earn a private pilot is closer to 70 hours! Why?!?

Here are a few reasons.
• Too much time between training flights and ground school. Skills and knowledge degrade with time. I recommend flight training at least three days per week to avoid “disuse” loss of learning in between lessons.
• Bad weather can stop training all together for days or even weeks affecting your training goals in the same way listed above.
• Poorly planned or executed course. This could be from a school that only wants your money or an inexperienced flight instructor that is only there to build time and get into an airline.
• No or little study before training begins. This is mainly for accelerated courses because the more you can learn before hand will let you concentrate on learning to fly. I do not recommend nor do I begin any accelerated flight training until any required written tests and medical exams are completed first. I also have my students pre-study the flight training syllabus sequence of events and read through all study materials first before the first day of training. Using a computer based flight simulator is also a great way to prepare before flight training begins just by flying around and having fun. I also recommend a series of self taught lessons using computer based simulation before training. Preparation is the biggest time and money saver by far!
• There are many more reasons but these are the biggest by far.
Benefits of a good Accelerated Flight Training course:
• Accelerated flight training can let you reach your goals in less time! The average training time an “accelerated” student is closer to 50 hours. 20 hours of training at $200/hr will buy a lot of hamburgers! The average for my students is closer to 40 hours only because the FAA won’t let my students take the final test earlier! This is mainly due to flight schools that jump on the “accelerated” band wagon for some easy cash drawing in students, giving them to instructors that may be good but improperly trained to handle an efficient Accelerated Flight Training course, the student doesn’t finish in the time allowed/paid for, and extending time and money to complete training. This drives the average time up to the 50s. There are very few reasons why a properly screened and prepared student cannot finish by the FAA mandatory 40 hour mark with a well designed and well executed accelerated flight training course.
• Learning and retention of skills and knowledge can be greatly enhanced with Accelerated Flight Training. Many with a bad experience (students and instructors) argue otherwise however I have first hand experience of teaching many students both “traditional” (2-3 days/week) and “accelerated” (focused and efficient) and I can attest that there is much less flight and ground review necessary just before final test time for the accelerated students in every case. Retention for the long term depends solely on the pilot to keep learning and keeping skills sharp regardless of what kind of flight training they used to achieve their goals.
• Accelerated flight training forces the student to focus solely on the task at hand. It is critical to leave the worries of every day life and work behind while training or learning will degrade quickly. As long as you can schedule a time away from the world while you train the learning and retention skyrockets contributing to a safer pilot.

What to look for in Accelerated Flight Training:
• An experienced instructor experienced with accelerated flight training. Also, make sure the school does not intend to switch instructors on you except when absolutely necessary! Finding experienced instructors is not easy these days let alone experienced in accelerated flight instruction.
• A time of the year or physical location with good weather that will not interrupt your training!
• A school that offers a pre-training course and materials AND makes it mandatory to complete any required written tests and medical checkouts BEFORE lessons begin!
• Make sure the flight school has more than one aircraft of the same make and model that you will be training in so that routine or unexpected maintenance does not extend your schedule. The school only needs two aircraft to minimize this potential slow down.
• Make sure the flight school has some kind of flight simulation capability in case there are no fly days. Simulators do not have to be state of the art full cockpit sims. Simple desktop computer simulators all work great when used properly with an experienced instructor. Communications, procedures, and aeronautical decision making are just a few things that can be learned and re-enforced using simulation.
To sum things up, properly executed Accelerated Flight Training should really be named “focused and efficient” flight training saving time and money, increasing learning and retention, and giving the student the best chance possible of passing any pilot certificate or rating final exam.

Buster Frysinger
FAA Certified Flight Instructor
ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, ASEL, AMEL
Type: CE550
Owner/Operator BK Sky and Wing Services
HTTP://HawaiiFlightAdventure.com
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii USA
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Private Pilot License Requirements

2010-05-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

The private pilot license requirements are broken down into a few different sections. In most cases you will see something like this:

40 Hours Total
20 Hours Dual Instruction
10 Hours Solo
Now in other places you may see some added information
3 Hours Instrument
3 Hours Night
5 Hours Solo Cross Country

Now this is correct and the FAA regulations for the private pilot license do state this. The things that are missed are all of the areas of operation within these requirements. Many times the student doesn't realize what is exactly required, this can add up to more flights if something is missed by the flight instructor. The worst case scenario is this is picked up by the pilot examiner on flight test day.

If you have read over my Private Pilot License Cost section you can see that I break the cost down the same way. This is because you have to realize that there is a lot of subject areas that need to be DOCUMENTED. If they are not documented in your logbook you are not qualified for your flight test.

I can't tell you how many stories I have heard from examiner friends of mine about this. It happens all the time on flight test day. In many cases the flight instructor is nowhere to be found and the student has to reschedule the flight test. This happens so often that I made some special sections in my book called ( Keeping Your Instructor In Check )

So I will point them out to you so you can double check your instructor. Once in a while a student of mine will remind me of something, even after 20 years of doing this. Better a week before the flight test than on you Private Pilot Flight Test Day.

The above requirements for the Private Pilot License are the Minimum Requirements. Within these requirements are a lot of subject areas.

In addition to the Aeronautical Experience Requirements ( Flight Time) There are Aeronautical Knowledge Requirements. Most people just look at this is the FAA written Test. You have to realize that once again your instructor has to DOCUMENT each of the subject areas. The FAA is starting to get very tough on this.

If these subject areas are not documented on flight test day, the examiner walks out. Hopefully your instructor is somewhere to be found but if he/ she isn't, then you will have to reschedule your flight test.
I will outline all of these Private Pilot License Requirements for you and try to make it as simple as possible.

So like my cost estimates I will break everything down into:

Private Pilot License, Pre-Solo Training Requirements
Private Pilot License, Post-Solo Training Requirements
Private Pilot License Flight Test Requirements

The reason I do this is so you can get an idea of what you are required to do at each stage of your training and then what is required for you to take your flight test. There are a lot of things to learn so my advice is to plan this process out before you spend a dime flying.

Hope to See You In The Sky

Airfreddy

About the Author: Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has owned many airplanes and owned a flight school in Mesa, Arizona . He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone.
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Private Pilot Training Requirements

2010-05-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

In generatl, most people don't understand thePrivate Pilot needed to complete their Private Pilot Training. There are a lot of subject areas both on the ground and in the airplane you will need to cover to meet the requirements for your private pilot training. Many people don't completely understand the Private Pilot License requirements needed and just look at the Private Pilot Training general requirements.

There are many requirements needed in order to complete each phase of your Private Pilot Training. You will have three phase of your training: Pre solo, Post solo and flight test preparation.

In most cases you will find something like this outline of the general requirements. These are the requirements listed under the general section of the regulations for you to be eligible to take the private pilot practical test.

40 Hours Total
20 Hours Dual Instruction
10 Hours Solo
Now in other places you may see some added information
3 Hours Instrument
3 Hours Night
5 Hours Solo Cross Country

Now you want to remember this is just the general requirement. The ground instruction and student pilot requirments are not included in this requirement. I have listed below the other requirements needed to complete your Private Pilot Training.

Student Pilot Requirements: When you are ready to solo an aircraft you are know as a student pilot. There are two sections of requirements that will apply to you. The pre solo requirements are the first to look at. As a student pilot, there are pre solo requirements needed before you can go up in the plane by yourself. There is also an aeronautical knowledge requirement for student pilots before they solo.

The next section of requirements that will apply to student pilots are the post solo requirements. These are the requirements that have to be met before you can go on your solo cross countries.

Flight Test requirements: In order to be eligible for the private pilot practical test you must meet the final requirements. At this point in time you will have to meet the general requirements for the private pilot license as well as all the student pilot requirements. These requirements include both aeronautical knowledge and aeronautical experience. That is ground instruction and flight instruction.

Many times the student doesn't realize what is exactly required, this can add up to more flights if something is missed by the flight instructor. The worst case scenario is this is picked up by the pilot examiner on flight test day. So you want to understand that there are more requirements than just the general aeronautical experience requirements needed for the flight test.

The reason I always explain this is so the student can get an idea of what is required to do at each stage of your training and then what is required for you to take your flight test. Before you start spending any money, you will want to plan the private pilot license process out.

Detailed Pivate Pilot Requirements

Hope to See You In The Sky

Airfreddy

Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy's Private Pilot Manual
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A Future Pilot's Buyers Guide

2010-05-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

Becoming a pilot can be a costly venture. It is actually comparable to the cost of a obtaining a four year degree to become a professional pilot. To begin with you must obtain the private, instrument, commercial, and instructor certificates. Then in order to be marketable to professional organizations you must provide logged hours that meet their specifications.

So, the first thing you should do if you are to peruse becoming a pilot is to price aircraft rentals. In these troubled times aircraft rentals rates have plummeted. It is to your advantage to shop these aircraft to find the best rate, even if it means obtaining a part time job at your local flight school. Some organizations have flying clubs and you can save thousands of dollars by taking advantage of these programs. The flight club that I am a part of rent a 172S model with the Garmin G1000 cockpit for about $55.00/ hour; a significant difference from the $150 - $200 / hour that you could be paying. After finding the aircraft you will be training on, the next step is to market. Instructor costs are not cheap, and making friends that are currently pilots can often save you a lot of expense.

So to recap, you are in a flight club that charges you $55.00 per hour to rent an aircraft and you have a friend that will instruct you for free. This puts the expense of obtaining your Private Pilot License (40 hours of flight) at around $2200.00. After that what is left? Supplies!

Often time's local pilot shops offer their supplies at list price. You can save money by shopping on Amazon or eBay for supplies, but you run the risk of obtaining out dated material. Other sites offer a slight discount of 5%-10% off list price.

So, the question arises, where do you go to save big money on pilot supplies? The answer is in your research. If you are reading this article right now then that is exactly what you are doing. There is a new online pilot resource out there and you can save 20%-40% off list price. The owner was a buyer for a very large flight school and has all the connections to ensure that you receive all your training material at a discounted rate. With his knowledge and experience he is able to negotiate prices that enable him to sell products to you for what his competitors pay. With all these factors in play, you will be on your way to obtaining you Private Pilot for less than $3000.00

Deskin is a pen name for a buyer that works in the Corporate Jet Management and Flight School industry.

He purchases all his pilot supplies from a new pilot shop called Pilotshq.

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Should Aspiring Pilots Go For Pilot Training

2010-05-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

Graduating from a pilot school is not enough to start flying passenger flights. Graduates must necessarily undergo pilot training before they are given license to fly. There are various pilot training programs offered. Students need to have some basic qualifications before they are taken into any of these programs.

Students are given at least 45 hours of pilot training before they can become a licensed pilot. If one aspires to be a private pilot, they must necessarily and successfully complete three landings and takeoffs within 90 days. Only then are they allowed to carry passengers. Another important aspect students are trained on is leadership and command. Apart from this students must complete at least 65 hours of the national average.

Qualifications necessary for private pilot license include –
• Being 17 years of age and above
• Being able to speak, write and read English fluently
• Having completed 40 hours of flight
• Passing the knowledge test
• Obtaining the medical certificate necessary for pilots
• Having completed at least 20 hours of flying on their own
• Successfully passing the practical flight and oral test
There are various types of pilot training.
• The alternate recurrent pilot training is traditional in approach and is more topic-based. The aspiring pilot is trained on various aspects such as managing crew resource, flying high altitude, flying international flights, etc after having qualified for the pilot-in-command and second-in-command proficiency. Pilots are trained to use minimum equipments as a part of their crew resource management, examining the effect of the highest altitude flight in the body of the aircraft, reviewing the international procedure, ATC, FR and ICAO weather as a part of the international flight, etc.
• Accelerated flight school and flight training is an excellent training facility located in Florida Airlines, Kissimmee and Orlando providing students one of the best and advanced training programs. This institute boasts of some of the best flying tutors and instructors.
• The Regional Airline Academy ensures students are provided with placements and financial help to undergo training apart from pilot discussions and training.
• The Advanced flight pilot training boasts of instructors who are specialized. This institute is located in the Australia airport, Queensland, and along the coast airport. Courses offered here include the pilot training, helicopter pilot training as well as ATPL airline transport for pilot licenses.
• A comprehensive course with logical and sequential study materials is offered by the Hamilton pilot training system.
• The professional pilot training offers an excellent and personalized training for pilot aspirants. Training is based on a competency based system. Pilots are assessed based on their skills and aviation psychology. The professional pilot training uses the HPT or Hawker Pilot synthetic trainers.
These are nothing but instruments for pilot training and procedural training. This system also provides internal review training for its students and new pilots.
• Balloon pilot training involves 8 hours of flight training along with 20 hours of ground training. Candidates are trained in pre flight preparation, launching, and inflation procedures apart from emergency management and difficult landings.
• The Euro copter pilot training program accepts only students with 75% or higher score. Curriculum includes aircraft systems, emergency procedures, auto pilots, and balancing of the helicopters.

John Brady is a career and job counselor, who also owns a blog on local job search. He regularly writes articles on local jobs.

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Understanding The American Aviation Certification Process

2010-05-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

For flight professionals and pilots alike, one of the most important aspects of their professional lives is maintaining proper certification in their job area. Whether it is a flight attendant, mechanic, or First Officer, everyone involved in the daily transit of the public by airplane must maintain a certain level of certification in order to remain airline staff. The problem for many pilots, especially on international airlines or regular international flights, is keeping track of the hodgepodge of certification standards across the world.

The United States offers a particularly strong model for flight certification and a quick study of their certification process can help flight professionals learn what questions to ask in their jobs. The number of certified pilots in the United States has decreased over the last 25 years, lowering from 825,000 licensed pilots in 1980 to 618,000 active pilots in 2004. There are also hundreds of thousands of flight dispatchers, attendants, mechanics, and others who are licensed by the federal government to work aboard airline flights.

Pilots in the United States must receive a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before taking off. Four different types of certification are available for American pilots looking to get in the air. Student certifications allow young aviation enthusiasts the opportunity to learn how to fly with the help of a qualified and experienced flight trainer. Students are only allowed to fly solo under special circumstances. Flight students must spend a number of hours in the classroom before setting foot in the cockpit.

The next level of certification is private flight certification. Those with a private piloting license can fly for recreation or alone but cannot take any compensation during flight except in extreme circumstances. Pilots who earn a private certification must spend 40 hours in the air before completing their license requirements.

For pilots who want to work for hire while flying, acquiring a commercial pilot’s license is paramount. Commercial pilots can work for pay in a number of capacities, including cargo flights, charters, and contracting out to government agencies. Pilots who want to earn a commercial license must learn about FAA commercial regulations, pass a test, and spend 250 hours in air to fulfill their certification requirements.
The final level of certification in civilian aviation is Airline Transport licensing. This level of certification allows pilots to attain the level of captain for major airlines and regularly schedule commercial flights. The standards are extremely high for Airline Transport licensees, with 1,500 hours in the air required to meet federal regulations. As well, there are a number of tests, evaluations, and other obligations that need to be met to acquire an Airline Transport license.

Sara Evans is the Managing Director of wynnwith aviation support, the leader provider of Aviation pilot jobs.

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Private Pilot License Requirements - Post Solo Requirements

2010-04-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

After you solo or have completed the solo requirements, your instructor should move you ahead to the next phase of training even if you are not quite ready to solo. Like I have said before many flight schools and instructors will not move you forward until you have soloed.

I personally move everyone forwards since the goal is to get you licensed on a budget without loosing quality of flight training.

Here are the Post Solo Requirements for your Private Pilot License Training. Once again they start off general and get more specific.
(a) General. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student pilot must meet the requirements of this section before-
(i) Conducting a solo cross-country flight, or any flight greater than 25 nautical miles from the airport from where the flight originated.
(ii) Making a solo flight and landing at any location other than the airport of origination.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must:
(i) Have received flight training from an instructor authorized to provide flight training on the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought;
(ii) Have demonstrated cross-country proficiency on the appropriate maneuvers and procedures of this section to an authorized instructor;
(iii) Have satisfactorily accomplished the pre-solo flight maneuvers and procedures required by 61.87( The Pre Solo requirements ) of this part in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought; and
(iv) Comply with any limitations included in the authorized instructor's endorsement that are required by paragraph (c) of this section.
This is once again a general requirement for Student Pilot Solo Cross Countries. Now I will dig into them a little more and you find the following.
(3) A student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must have received ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on the cross-country maneuvers and procedures listed in this section that are appropriate to the aircraft to be flown.
There is a lot more in this regulation. But the important part for this discussion is what is required for you to be eligible for Solo Cross Countries: As you move down this regulation you find the following:
(e) Maneuvers and procedures for cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane must receive and log flight training in the following maneuvers and procedures:
(1) Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage and dead reckoning with the aid of a magnetic compass;
(2) Use of aircraft performance charts pertaining to cross-country flight;
(3) Procurement and analysis of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts, including recognition of critical weather situations and estimating visibility while in flight;
(4) Emergency procedures;
(5) Traffic pattern procedures that include area departure, area arrival, entry into the traffic pattern, and approach;
(6) Procedures and operating practices for collision avoidance, wake turbulence precautions, and windshear avoidance;
(7) Recognition, avoidance, and operational restrictions of hazardous terrain features in the geographical area where the cross-country flight will be flown;
(8) Procedures for operating the instruments and equipment installed in the aircraft to be flown, including recognition and use of the proper operational procedures and indications;
(9) Use of radios for VFR navigation and two-way communications;
(10) Takeoff, approach, and landing procedures, including short-field, soft-field, and crosswind takeoffs, approaches, and landings;
(11) Climbs at best angle and best rate; and
(12) Control and maneuvering solely by reference to flight instruments, including straight and level flight, turns, descents, climbs, use of radio aids, and ATC directives.

Notice there are no hour requirements in this regulation. All of these areas need to be in your logbook but the hour requirements only come into play in the general requirements.

Hope to See You In the Sky

Airfreddy
You can Find all of the Private Pilot License Requirements at this link Private Pilot License Requirements.

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Pilot License Training - Why You Should Get Spin Training

2010-04-24T06:09:00.000-07:00

Back in 1992, after I had been instructing for a few years, I was in the local FBO's office where I worked. I was waiting for one of my students to come back from a solo flight. When my student came in, he looked as though he had just seen a ghost. He was shaking and sweating I asked him what happened. The answer that I got was one that most flight instructors would not want to hear: "I was practicing stalls in the practice area, and all of a sudden I was upside down, and then just spinning toward the ground I didn't know what to do, but I heard your voice tell me to pull the power back and just let go of the control column, and the plane will stabilize."

If you know anything about small Cessnas, they tend to have a forward CG and will recover if you just let go of the controls for a second-that is, if you are not in a fully developed spin. So that is what the student did. Even more upsetting was when he stated the fact that, once the plane stopped spinning and the nose started to come up, the altimeter was reading about 1,800-1,900 feet.

If you fly in the Phoenix area, you know that the ground elevation is approximately 1,500 feet MSL. So my student recovered about 300 to 400 feet about the ground. This is far below normal traffic patterns. Would you like this to happen to you? Because it can happen to you. Or would you rather have an instructor go over spin entries and recoveries with you?

I was taking aerobatic flight lessons at the time and had practiced plenty of 3- to 4-turn spins, so I got the parachutes on, and up we went. I started demonstrating spins and spin entries, and he just kept saying, "Nope, that is not what happened." It finally dawned on me what had happened, and I asked him. Sure enough, I had hit the nail on the head.

The spin my student got himself into was one of the worst cases you could imagine. He was practicing power-off stalls, so the normal recovery procedure is to lower the nose, add full power, and start retracting flaps ten degrees at a time.

Little did my student know that the plane had started to enter the spin when he added full power. The result was a torque roll that placed the plane upside down at first, then continued to spin with the help of the full-power setting. I didn't think that a 152 was capable of that, but sure enough, it was. So he pulled the power and let go of it, recovering about 400 feet above the ground.

I think every pilot out there should do some type of spin training. Now that I don't have an aerobatic airplane, I do a flight that shows students how to enter and recover from the spin. This is not a full spin lesson, but it shows the student what to expect. If the student does get himself in trouble, I will let them go as long as I can.

When I had a Cessna 152 Aerobat, I would do spins and basic aerobatics with every student who wouldn't put the plane over weight. Most students would be a little scared, but after the first of two flights, they couldn't wait to do the second one.

If you can get up and do this before you solo, I suggest not doing it in an extra 300. Yes, it will be a fun time, but you won't get the feel of the plane you are normally flying. If you can't do it in an Aerobat, try to get in a Citabria or Super Decathlon. Use a plane that will be a little sluggish to simulate the plane you are training in.

Hope to See You in the Sky

Airfreddy

About the Author: Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has owned many airplanes and owned a flight school in Mesa, Arizona . He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone.
Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Site

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5 Steps to Planning Your Private Pilot Training

2010-04-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

“You make students dreams come true” a student said to me on a training flight last week. I have never thought about this in that specific way over the years. The clients comments really made me excited and made me think of the purpose I have in life.

For the last twenty years , I have trained clients from all walks of life. From the rich business person to the student who saves every extra dime they have to get their pilot license,All of them had the same goal to become a safe confident pilot and do it on a budget.

1: Plan Your Private Pilot Training Before You Start: The first thing you do is plan your private pilot training before you spend a dime. Every aspect of your pilot training should be planned out in detail so you can be as cost effective as possible.

2: Find the right Instructor : This is one of the most Important items that should be in your private pilot training plan . There are hundreds of flight instructors out there at many of different flight training schools . Remember you will be sitting next to your instructor for the next few months. The choice you make in a flight instructor is very important.

3: Conduct Your Pilot Training In A Simple Airplane: Many flight training facilities will be promoting the fanciest plane they have. Your Brain will need to be convinced that you are not driving a car, flying an airplane is totally different and you will need to understand that. Since you will now be in three dimensions, many things are completely opposite of driving a car. Landings are a good example of this. With that said you don’t want to spend all of your pilot training time learning the complex navigation systems. Learn to fly first, then worry about the complex systems after you have a few hundred hours under your belt.
I have had many with my [friends in the local aviation community about the low time pilot accident rates and have come to the conclusion that it is because of the lack of focus on learning to fly and more focus on advanced systems. All planes fly the same once you know how to fly and have a few hundred hours under your belt; your brain will be able to tell the difference between driving a car and flying an airplane.

4: Study Ground Material along with Every Training Flight : I have seen this very often over the last 20 years , Many flight instructors will start students off without giving them any study guides or handouts.This can indicate that you have made the wrong choice in a instructor. You should have an outline for your private pilot license training on your first lesson and you should be doing homework for every flight. Your Homework lessons should also be integrated into your flying lessons so you understand everything from a practical approach.

5: Consistent Flying Lessons: If you need to stay on a budget, this is a very important thing to understand. Make sure you fly at a steady pace so you can master the skills needed to get your pilot license . If you are not consistent with your lessons, you will be conducting extra training flights . With airplane and training rates over $150 per hour , this will end up costing you a lot of extra money. You want to make sure that you have a lesson at least 2-4 times per week in order to stay proficient. This will help your total cost be lower and you will get more out of your private pilot license training .

Understand your Pivate Pilot License You can Visit Airfreddy at his fred's Pivate Pilot manual

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Private Pilot Cost - Understanding the Cost of a Private Pilot License

2010-04-18T03:56:00.000-07:00

The First thing you want to do is understand what the private pilot license is going to cost you. If you have looked around my website you can see that I have an entire section on the Cost of learning to fly and the Private Pilot License Training Cost. I will outline and explain it here in this article.
Most people don't have unlimited budgets so the most important thing to do is plan ahead so you don't get stuck halfway through your training.

With rising fuel costs, the costs per hour for airplanes is getting more expensive. You don't want to make the wrong choices. You want to research and plan all of your options before you start. Once you have your Private Pilot License, it is yours for the rest of your life. You will have to do a flight review every two years and meet some other requirements to carry passengers but once you get it, it is yours.

Many times I have seen students start and stop and start and stop again. Once they are finally licensed, they may have spent up to three times what they should have if they had committed to it in a short period of time.

First thing is, you need to understand that this is going to cost you more that most flight schools will put in their cost estimates. There is a difference between the FAA minimums for the Private Pilot License and the amount you are going to actually fly.

Many students will just go into a flight school and start flying. Half way thru their training, they will run out of money. Why does this happen all the time?... Because people don't plan. It is really that simple.

First of all you want to get a REALISTIC idea of what it is going to cost you. The quotes from most flight schools are probably at least $2,000 if not more short of what you are going to actually spend.
So if you are on a tight budget for your Pilot Training I suggest you do some planning ahead. I have broken the cost of learning to fly down into four parts. I do this so you can understand what is required at each phase of your training. I make reference to the rates that I charge for the airplanes and the instructor rates. In different parts of the country this can be cheaper or more expensive. I use the C-172 for my cost estimates.

There are many other airplanes out there that you can train in.

I have looked at some articles out there that say it will cost $4,000-$6,000. Maybe ten years ago but not now. If you are in a less expensive part of the country I would say that you may be able to get your license for $7,000 or so if you have a good instructor and stay on track.

Here in the phoenix area, I tell people to plan on $8,000- $9,000. That is on a steady schedule with an instructor who is dedicated and will commit to finish your training all the way through.

As I have said before there are many factors that can change the cost of your training. You have to look at all of your options before you start flying.

So lets take a look at the cost estimates. I have them broken into four sections. This way you can understand how the Pilot Training Process works.

Books and Materials
Private Pilot License - Pre Solo Training Costs
Private Pilot License - Post Solo Training Costs
Private Pilot License - Flight Test Preparation Costs
I have this broken down this way so you can see what it required of you and the cost associated with it. I will just give you the outline here and you can look at my individual articles about each one.
Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost: This is the cost of the things you need to study for the Private Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge required and all of the other things you will need for your flight training. There are many industry standard courses out there based on the FAA publications for the Private Pilot License. They all have the same material they are just presented differently.
Private Pilot License - Pre Solo Training Costs: These are the costs that it will take you to get through the Pre Solo Phase of your training. This is the cost of all training required before your instructor can get out of the plane and let you go on your own.
Private Pilot License - Post Solo Training Costs: These are the cost that it will take you to get through the post solo phase of your flight training. This includes your cross countries, night flights and simulated instrument flight.
Private Pilot License - Flight Test Preparation Cost: This is the final phase of your flight training. In this phase your instructor will get you ready for the Private Pilot License Flight Test.
Total Private Pilot License Cost: Here in this section I put everything together so you can get a realistic idea of what it will actually cost for a Private Pilot License.

When you put all of these together, you will see there is a little bit more involved than most flight schools will lead you to believe. When you add all of these up you get a number that is somewhere around $8,500. Remember this will depend on the Aircraft and Instructor Rates but will also depend on many other factors.

Hope to See You in the Sky

Airfreddy

For Details of the Entire Breakdown of the Private Pilot Cost, Please Visit Airfreddy at Private Pilot Cost

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How to Become a Pilot / Learn to Fly Now

2010-04-14T05:53:00.000-07:00

If you want to become a pilot and learn to fly you have to start somewhere. The best way to find out if this is what you really wish to do is go to your local flight school and take in introductory flight which takes only a half an hour and costs about $50.

If you are excited about your introductory flight and want to continue, the next step is to see an aviation medical examiner who is a doctor in your area approved by the aviation authorities (FAA) to issue a medical certificate to pilots. Class 1 is for airline pilots, class 2 is for commercial pilots (paid to fly), and class 3 is for recreational pilots. If your goal is to one day become a commercial pilot, it is good advice you to go for the class 1 or class 2 certificate to make sure you qualify.

The private pilot license, commonly called the PPL, is the first license to obtain as a pilot. You cannot fly for pay or hire using your private pilot license. You can fly all by yourself the same way a driver's license lets you drive a car by yourself.

Training for a PPL in the US will cost you about $4000-5000 through a flight school but the cost would be spread over your course of flight training. As flight training is normally charged per hour of flight and you will pay as your training progresses.

Take this into consideration; you need to have the time and money to undergo flight training at least one to two lessons per week (a standard flight training lesson is one to one and a half hours long).

You will have to pass a theoretical flight school exam, a 60 question multiple-choice test with three
alternatives.

The average part-time flight school student will complete his/her private pilot license in 3-6 months. The flight exam (check ride) is conducted through an authorized examiner and consists of an oral quizzing (typically 1-2hours), and a flight test (typically 1 and a half hours).

To become a commercial pilot, you will need to obtain an instrument rating. Through this rating instruction you will learn to fly by reference to the aircraft's instruments only. Such rating is added to the certificate you already hold at this point. Before starting the instrument rating course you have to complete at least 50 hours of cross-country flying (flying from one airport to another airport at least 50 nautical miles away). The course itself is a minimum of 40 flying hours in actual or simulated instrument conditions.

Part-time flight training students can normally complete the course in 4-6 months. A full-time student learning to fly can complete the course in 2-3 months and it will cost approximately $5000-6000 to complete in both cases. The 50 hours of cross-country flight training is not included in this flight training price estimate. The instrument rating too has a theoretical exam of 60 multiple-choice questions. The flight test (check ride) is conducted by an authorized examiner and consists of an oral quizzing (typically 1-2 hours) and a flight test (typically 1 and a half hours). Most airlines and other aviation companies conduct flight training / airline training tests and simulator checks together with interviews. The standard path of an aspiring commercial pilot is to learn to fly as a student pilot, then become a flight instructor, then fly under a regional airline, then a commercial carrier (or major cargo operations like FedEx and UPS).

Commercial Pilot License and Multi Engine Rating. To get a commercial pilot license (CPL), you have to be at least 18 years of age. There is no upper age restriction other than the ability to pass a class 2 medical exam. You must have logged a minimum of 250 hours of flight time in your logbook. The CPL flight training course can be included in these 250 hours. You also have to complete at least 10 hours of training in a complex aircraft (an aircraft with retractable landing gear, flaps and variable pitch propeller). There is also a 100 question, multiple-choice, theoretical exam.

In the learning to fly process, a flight training examination (check ride) must be passed comprising of an oral quizzing (typically one-to-two hours) and a flight test. The flight training test is often broken into two flights; one flight in your regular training aircraft to demonstrate your general flying skills, and one in a complex aircraft. After getting your commercial pilot license many students add the multi engine rating to their certificate. A standard flight training plane is a small, two engine aircraft. The multi engine flight training course student learning to fly takes approximately 10 hours. The flight examination (check ride) consists of an oral quizzing and a flight test by an authorized examiner.

Becoming a flight instructor. There is a large gap between the experience level obtained as a newly examined commercial pilot and the experience level required to be an airline pilot. Most aspiring professional pilots fill this gap by becoming a flight instructor. The idea here is you learn best by teaching others.
There is one more certificate you can obtain after your commercial license (CPL) - the Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). Such is needed for any captain or pilot on any aircraft with more than one pilot. This is true for all airlines and commercial carriers. Literally anyone can learn to become a pilot. It is mostly a question of motivation, determination and discipline. But before you do anything - do like all great pilots do - do your research and proper planning. Your first step should be to visit your local flight school, aviation school, aviation college, etc., talk with pilots, shop around for the flight school or aviation college you think suits you.

Hope this helps and Best of Luck to you on learning to fly!

Learn to Fly with Orion Aviation Visit the Official Website Here: www.orionaviation.netPhone: 760-476-9028

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Private Pilot License Training Explained

2010-04-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Training Involved in getting your private pilot license in most cases will take two to 3 months. You can do an accelerated training course that you can complete in as little as 3 weeks or so. Not being prepared could cause a set back in your Private Pilot Training.

The first thing you need to know is there are two parts to your Private Pilot Training. There are Aeronautical Experience and Aeronautical Knowledge areas ( Flight Instruction) portions of each phase of your flight training.

There are three phases to your private pilot training that you will need to understand. You will need to understand that there are both Aeronautical Knowledge and Aeronautical Experience requirements. The better understanding you have of the process before you start, the more successful you will be on fulfilling your dream of learning to fly.

The first part of your Private Pilot Training is the pre solo phase. This phase you will learn to basics of flying an airplane. This phase of training will be the most difficult for most students since the habit of driving a car has been with you most of your life. You will have a great deal of conficence once you get through this phase and you will be able to conduct solo flights with limitations set by your flight instructor.

The pre solo phase of your private pilot license will also have an aeronautical requirement that you will have to meet also. There is a Requirement for a Pre Solo Written Test included. The focus of this pre solo exam will focus on the airspace and aircraft you have been training in and will be written by your flight instructor.
The next part of your Private Pilot License Training is the post solo or cross country phase. This phase of your flight training, you will focus on different types of landings, night flying and instrument flight. A good part of this phase will be solo flights so you can build your solo flight time towards the private pilot general requirements.

This part of your training does not have any specific requirements for aeronautical knowledge, however you should have your private pilot written test completed before you get into the flight test preparation phase of your training.

The final phase of your pilot training will be the flight test preparation phase. In this phase you will focus on the outline for the private pilot practical test known as the practical test standards.

The Private Pilot written test will need to be completed before you are eligible to take the test. This test will have 60 multiple choice questions on all of the subject areas that the FAA require in the Federal Aviation

Regulations.

The Private Pilot Practical Test Standards is the FAA’s outline for your practical test. Broken down into Tasks and Areas of Operation, this will be a guide for you that is published by the FAA. This will be the outline that the pilot examiner will use to conduct your flight test.

Once you have completed your Private Pilot Practical test, your Private Pilot License will be good for the rest of your life. The best thing you can do is plan your training out and understand the process before you start your pilot training.

Hope to see You in the Sky

Airfreddy

Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Information Website

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