Why choose Golden State?
Golden State has been teaching new pilots how
to fly for more than Forty (40!) years. You don't get to do this for that
long, if you don't do it right
Golden State has a large fleet of
expertly maintained airplanes, including five (5) Cessna 152's (America's
favorite initial training aircraft for years), three Piper Warriors (larger,
4place trainer), A Cessna 172, and two (2) Piper Archers. Check out our
airplanes at our "Fleet" page off of the previous menu.
Maintenance: We
are very proud of the fact that all of our aircraft are equiped with Factory
Remanufactured engines, exclusively. We have our own maintenance staff, and
shop, exclusively dedicated to our own aircraft. Our expert mechanics work only
on our fleet, thus we can ensure the highest quality and timeliness in
maintenance!
Engines and Airplanes are
important, but so are instructors. We have a large and diverse staff of
instructors, each of whom are carefully standardized to assure that the
strictest standards are maintained in your training. Having a large group of
instructors gives you more choices so you can learn from someone who you
"click" with.
Location: Golden
State is located at Gillespie Field Airport in East San Diego County. Our
airport has an FAA operated Air Traffic Control Tower, and all of the
amenities, but has much less traffic than other local fields such as Montgomery
Field or Brown Field. That means you spend less time waiting for things, and save money in the
process. Less traffic also makes it a little less stressful while learning the
basics.
What do I need to take lessons?
To receive your Student
Pilot's license, you will be required to provide positive identification,
usually a State-issued driver's license or ID card is sufficient, and pass an
FAA approved flight physical. The FAA certifies certain Physicians to
administer these physical exams. Don't stress too much over this, as only basic
health and vision is required. Fees for these exams vary slightly from Doctor
to Doctor. Once you get your license, you'll need occasional re-checks to
maintain your "medical" ticket. For details, call us and we'll put you in touch
with a few Doctors we use. They can answer any detailed medical questions you
may have.
What does it cost?
YOU are a determining
factor here. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements are 35
hours minimum flight experience and pass written and oral exams. Your previous
experience, how often you fly, the type of aircraft, and sometimes your age are
all factors that impact the total cost of getting your Private Pilot's license.
We do offer is an environment where we can make
you an excellent pilot. We
also run Specials on Packages, click here for details!
Paying for Flight Training
All of our students are members of the Golden
State Flying Club. As a member, you'll have an account set up and will fly
against that account's balance. All you have to do is keep your account
current, and you can fly as often as you like.
We offer several payment
options for your convenience. First is CASH. We will also accept your personal
check. You can, if you desire, pay with your Credit Card or ATM Debit card.
We also accept financing
so you can do all of your flight training now and pay for it over time.
How long does it take to get my license?
The FAA says the minimum is 35 flying hours and pass
the written test. Most people actually fly a little more. The average is
usually higher do to the differences with each Student Pilot.
Most Students take 45 to 55 hours of instruction before they test for
their license.
How young, or old, must I be to fly?
You can fly at almost any age. If
you are lucky enough to be younger than 17, you can solo at age 16 and get your
license at age 17. Basic health is all that is required.
What can I do with my license after I get it?
Well, you can fly! You can see the world, or at least a small part of it, from a completely different
perspective. You can cut travel time by a large margin when you travel any
appreciable distance. You can enjoy just being above it all. You can put those
ground-based non-flying friends and relatives in their places. If you have to,
you can even take them for rides. In all, you can challenge yourself to learn
something new, and benefit from the effort you've put into aquiring a new
skill. Oh yea, you can also just get in a plane, for no reason, and just enjoy
it!
