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 The Pilot's View (click to enlarge)
What is involved?
The process of becoming a pilot is defined by FAA regulations that specify the training hours needed and the topics to be covered. For a non-pilot looking for information, it's often hard to find it explained in simple terms. That's where we can help! Read on for a clear, straightforward summary of what it takes.
You will work with a Certificated Flight Instructor ("CFI") who will teach you 1-on-1 what you need to know to become a safe and skilled pilot. Some of this teaching will be classroom-type ("ground") instruction, the rest will be in the airplane, in the air.
You can chose to do the ground training before the flight training, or concurrently. For your Private Pilot training, it is recommended to do the ground training at the same time since it is coordinated with the flight lessons.
At the end of your training, you will take a written test administered by the FAA (at a designated testing center), and a checkride (with a designated Flight Examiner) where you will demonstrate to the Examiner that you meet the knowledge and skills standards for a Private Pilot. When you land after successfully completing that checkride, the examiner will congratulate you and hand you your new Private Pilot certificate!
After about your first 10 or so hours of flight instruction, you will be ready to 'solo'. This means you will take off, fly, and land without the instructor in the airplane. That is the first big milestone in your flying life! Once you solo, you will still fly with the instructor to learn the rest of the Private Pilot skills, and you will also fly solo (just you in the airplane) to practice what you have been taught.
You must have a minimum of 40 hours of flight time logged -- 20 hours of instruction in the airplane (referred to as "dual"), and about 20 hours of solo practice in the airplane -- before you can take your checkride. Most people take slightly longer than that, it varies from one person to another. That's why most flight instruction is like having a private tutor.
Mixed in with your dual instruction will be a few hours of night flying, and 2 'cross-country' flights, which means flying to an airport at least 50 miles away from where you take off. Mixed in with your solo practice time will be some solo 'cross-country' flights, and lots of 'touch-and-go' where you practice landings and takeoffs until you're an expert!
You may not carry a passenger, other than your instructor, until you pass your checkride and have your Private Pilot certificate.
What can I do once I'm a Private Pilot?
As a Private Pilot you can fly yourself, your family and your friends for personal enjoyment and on personal or business trips.
Your Private certificate grants you the privileges to fly single-engine airplanes, day or night, in "VFR" (Visual Flight Rules) weather conditions. That means staying away from clouds and within the visibility standards.
 C-172 Instrument Panel (click to enlarge)
Most pilots choose to add on an Instrument rating to their certificate. This takes quite a bit of extra training (both ground and flight), and allows you to fly strictly by instruments in and above clouds. You can start on this training after you become a Private Pilot, and you will find it to be both demanding and very satisfying! You will be able to fly in clouds and poor visibility with the same skill and precision as an airline pilot.
You may also chose to add a Multi-engine rating to your certificate, and experience the thrill of commanding a powerful, twin-engine airplane. We have the aircraft and skilled instructors to train you for both of these ratings.
Private or Commercial Certificate?
The FAA uses the term 'certificate' instead of 'license'. There are different types of certificates. The Private certificate lets you fly yourself and other people, but not for hire - you cannot get paid in any way to fly someone. Everyone starts off as a Private Pilot, even those who may someday earn a Commercial Pilot certificate to become professional pilots, since the Private certificate is the first prerequisite for a Commercial certificate. There is no difference in the quality of training or the standards to be met regardless of your ultimate goals - everyone must meet the same standards for the Private Pilot checkride. It's a level playing field for everyone.
Once you have built up the required minimum "Pilot-In-Command" time as a Private pilot, we will be glad to provide the necessary training for you to earn a Commercial certificate as well.
What is a 'medical'?
Every pilot has to have a periodic physical exam by a doctor who is also an Aviation Medical Examiner. It's pretty simple - vision, hearing, color blindness, and general health are all checked, along with a drug screening. There are some conditions which would disqualify you (blackouts, seizures, vertigo), but many do not (deaf people have become pilots, with some restrictions). The best thing to do is to get a flight physical - we recommend getting a "First Class" medical - answer the questionnaire honestly, and discuss any concerns with the doctor.
Unless your usual doctor is an Aviation Medical Examiner, s/he will not be able to perform your flight physical. We can direct you to AMEs in the local area.
When you get your medical, you must tell them that you need a Student Pilot Certificate along with it. This is necessary before you can solo, and we need to have it on file by your 3rd flight with us.
How do I get started?
Come in to see us, and bring photo ID & proof of citizenship (or permanent residence, or student visa). We are required to keep these on file. We'll schedule a convenient time for your first lesson based on instructor and airplane availability, and set you up to schedule yourself over the internet. You should get the Jeppesen Private Pilot Kit at this time, which contains most of the instructional materials you will need.
 Landing at New Castle Airport - KILG (click to enlarge)
How long will it take?
There are a minimum number of hours required by the FAA for your training. Most people take a bit longer, but how much longer really depends on you. If you are diligent about meeting with your instructor at least three times per week, you can progress very efficiently. On the other hand, a student who meets with the instructor once every two weeks or so will not retain what they have learned very well from one lesson to the next, and will require many more hours of instruction to eventually meet the standards and take the checkride.
So, the more frequently you fly, the fewer hours (and therefore less calendar time) it will take, and it will cost correspondingly less.
How much will it cost?
This depends on two things: How many hours it takes you to complete your training, and the aircraft & instructor rates.
The airplanes are rented based on 'engine-running' hours, not clock hours. When the engine is started, a meter in the airplane starts counting up hours and tenths. When the engine is shut down, the meter stops. If the difference between the meter's stop and start times is "1.2" for example, then you would be billed for 1.2 x the hourly rate of that airplane. If the flight was with an instructor, then you will also be billed for 1.2 x the instructor's hourly rate. Ground instruction is billed at fractional hourly instructor rates.
Aircraft rental is "wet", meaning fuel and oil is included. Due to fluctuations in the price of fuel, we have decided not to post our prices online. Please contact us for our current rates.
In addition to the hourly rates, there are some books, materials and equipment you will need. We sell the Jeppesen Private Pilot kit, and the Jeppesen Instrument/Commercial kit, which contain most of the books & training materials for the respective courses. The other significant piece of equipment is an appropriate aviation headset: Telex and David Clark are recommended brands. Active noise reduction is highly recommended for hearing protection and improved learning comfort.
Our aircraft are fully insured, but there is a deductable that the renter is responsible for in case of any incident (much like renting a car). We highly recommend getting Renter's insurance to cover the deductable.
There are financing and scholarship opportunities available for student pilots:
Can I really do this?
Yes, you can! We have people of all ages and all walks of life among our students. There's no reason why you shouldn't come in and talk to us about your interests and see what it's all about!
We'd love to show your our airplanes, and we have brief (about 30 minutes) "Discovery Flights" available.
For more information about learning to fly, see AOPA's "Let's Go Flying!".
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