| How old do I have to be to start learning to fly? |
| You may take flight instruction at any age, but to be eligible for a student pilot certificate, a person must be at least 16 years of age, or at least 14 years of age for a student pilot certificate limited to the operation of a glider or free balloon. You need a student pilot certificate in order to fly solo, but it is not required for dual instruction. |
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| What is the age limit to fly as a private pilot? |
| There is no age limit as long as you can pass the medical exam. |
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| Do I need a medical exam? |
| You may take instruction without a medical exam, but in order to solo, you must have a medical examination by an authorized physician. The exam is not very difficult, and most pass easily. It is good advice to take your medical exam and get your combination medical certificate and student pilot license as soon as possible. |
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| Do I need to speak English? |
| Yes, you must be able to read, speak, and understand the English language. It doesn't mean your English has to be perfect, but it must be easy for you to understand instructions and to be understood when you communicate. |
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| How old do I have to be to get my private pilot certificate? |
| You must be at least 17 years of age to be licensed to fly airplanes. |
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| What tests are involved? |
| There are three parts to testing. First, you must pass a written test on the subject areas on which instruction or home study is required. Secondly, you must pass an oral exam given by an FAA inspector or examiner, and lastly, pass a practical test on procedures and maneuvers selected by an FAA inspector or examiner to determine your ability to competently fly the aircraft and perform certain maneuvers. Thousands of people each year successfully pass all the tests. I'll bet that you can too! |
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| Do I need some sort of ground school? |
| No. Thanks to PCF Aviation’s status as a Cessna Pilot Center, our state-of-the-art Computer Based Instruction kits eliminate the need for a traditional ground school. The interactive CD-Roms in the CBI kit give you all of the information you will need to pass the FAA Written Knowledge Test. You will work closely with your instructor as you progress through your training to make sure you learn everything you need to know. |
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| Is the test difficult? |
| No, it is not difficult, but does require that you put time into studying and learning the material. The FAA publishes all the possible questions they could ask you. Your test will only involve approximately sixty multiple choice questions. Taking several practice tests will assure you are prepared and will most likely have seen the question (and answer) beforehand. |
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| How many hours are required to get my pilot certificate? |
| The FAA says you must have 40 hours of total flight time including at least 20 hours of instruction and at least 10 hours of solo practice. However, most people require a bit more than that. The average is around 60 hours total. It is possible to do it in less time though if you fly frequently. |
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| How much does it cost? |
Not an easy answer here. Prices vary for the airplane and for instructors. On average, your flight instructor will charge you about $40/hour for flight instruction, and probably around $30/hour for ground instruction. Usually, trainers such as Cessna 152s or Piper Warriors are used for training, and they cost about $70 to $115 per hour. Normally you are charged by time on a meter in the airplane called a Hobbs meter. It clicks off tenths of hours only when the engine is running. Here is a summary and a range of costs:
- Airplane: $70/hour X 50 hours $3500
- Instruction: $40/hour X 50 hours $2000
- Written Test $90
- Cessna CBI kit $329
- Flight Test $300
- Miscellaneous Supplies $150
- TOTAL $6,369
You normally pay as you go so it is not necessary to come up with all the money at once. Again, this is just an estimate and your costs may vary. Most people train over a six to twelve month period. Flying is a physical skill as well as a mental skill. The greater the intensity of your training, the faster you will progress, and usually, the more money you will save. If you were able to fly a couple of hours every day, five days a week, you could complete your training in less than two months. I know of one gentleman who took only 17 days from start to finish! |
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| When will I be able to fly solo? |
| That is entirely up to your instructor and your progression in training. Many students solo with approximately 10-15 hours of training. It could be more or less depending on how often you fly, and what you have been able to accomplish. Your instructor is required to provide you with specific training and must judge your abilities before he/she can allow you to solo. |
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| What types of things will I be trained in? |
There are many categories involving both physical flying skill and knowledge. Here are a few:
- Preflight Inspections
- Certificates and Documents
- Airplane Servicing
- Aircraft Systems
- Radio Communications
- Straight and Level Flight
- Medium and Steep Banked Turns
- Airport Pattern Operations
- Flight at Approach Airspeeds
- Approaches and Landings
- Climbs and Descents
- Airport and Runway Markings and Lighting
- Aircraft Performance and Limitations • Power On and Off Stalls
- Emergency Procedures
- Maneuvers with Reference to the Ground
- Navigation
- Crosswind Takeoffs and Landings
- Short and Soft Field Takeoffs and Landings
- Flight Planning
- Flight Publications
- Air Traffic Control
- Aeromedical Factors
- Weather and Weather Forecasts
- Night Flying
- National Airspace
Although the list seems daunting, be assured that the material is easy to understand and is presented to the student in a logical flow. The knowledge and skills required build on one another and complement each other. |
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| What if I'm not sure I'll like it or I don't have "the right stuff"? |
| The introductory lesson is a time honored tradition. Come out to PCF Aviation and take an introductory lesson. For just $59 you will go up with an instructor and actually fly. After an inspection of the airplane, your instructor will get you airborne and begin your instruction in the four fundamentals; flying straight and level, turns, climbs, and descents. You'll probably be nervous but excited at the same time. My bet is that after you return, you'll have a smile on your face and be ready to start your training. I'll also bet that you DO have the right stuff. There are no extraordinary personal skills involved. Go for it! |
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| Does PCF Aviation offer helicopter flight instruction? |
| PCF Aviation does NOT offer helicopter Flight Training. But we recommend the fine folks at HeliPro. You may find them on the web at www.helitraining.com |
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