Getting your license
For thousands of years, people have dreamt about flying. Many have tried, but it wasn't until the days of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk that Man was able to take flight.
By getting yours, you'll be able to take joy rides with your friends and family, take part in volunteer search and rescue missions, fly yourself to business meetings, and become an acrobat of the sky. Okay, maybe not. But here's how to get that precious license.
By getting yours, you'll be able to take joy rides with your friends and family, take part in volunteer search and rescue missions, fly yourself to business meetings, and become an acrobat of the sky. Okay, maybe not. But here's how to get that precious license.
requirements |
First of all, you must be at least 16 years old to get your student pilot certificate so you can fly solo, all alone in the plane. You can start your lessons before you are 16, so that you can solo on your 16th birthday. You'll need to be 17 in order to receive the regular pilot's license. There's no upper age limit for you to fly.
You must be in acceptable health. Everyone who wants to be a pilot needs to pass a medical exam in the early stages of the process, but it is not strict, almost everyone passes. You are allowed to use your glasses during the eye exam. Finally, you must have an adequate grasp of the English language, being able to read, speak and understand it perfectly (English is the international language used by all airports and control towers in the world). |
license |
Even though everyone refers to this piece of paper as a license, the technical term is, in fact, certificate . However, only the FAA calls it that.
Getting your private pilot's license will allow you to fly under certain restrictions. You'll be able to fly a single-engine airplane under visual flight rules (VFR) — which means with a visibility of at least three miles — as well as at night. You may also be permitted to take passengers along, but you can't charge them for the ride, although you may split costs with them. After you've received your private pilot's license, you'll be allowed to work your way up and get other certificates that will allow you to pilot commercial airlines or act as an instructor. Furthermore, you can also get different ratings to add to your license. These ratings might allow you to fly multi-engine airplanes, navigate in bad weather, or fly different contraptions like helicopters, seaplanes, balloons, and gliders. |
Get medically
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Before you fly solo, you need to be qualified as being in acceptable health by an FAA-designated Airman Medical Examiner. To find such a doctor, ask your flight school for a recommendation or visit http://ame.cami.jccbi.gov for listings. This exam typically costs $125.00.
After you've filled out a questionnaire, the doctor will test your equilibrium, nose, throat, hearing, and vision. Once you're issued your third-class airman medical certificate, it will be valid for five years if you're under 40 years old, and two years if you're older. If you have a serious medical condition, you may still be able to fly, sometimes under certain conditions, but it's imperative that you disclose any and all information to the physician. Once you have your medical certificate, you will need to apply for your Student Pilot Certificate, which involves a two to three week background check by the TSA. |
ground school |
You will study flying regulations, aerodynamics, radio communications, navigation, airport operations, physiology, weather reports, aircraft systems, and weather theory.
While this knowledge will be tested in the final licensing step, it's also what constitutes the core of flying. Our ground school is an 11 week course that meets every Tuesday and Thursday night at 6:30 pm. Our course costs $455. |
Train in the AIR |
Practical in-flight training is an inherent part of learning. Over the course of your education, you'll fly 30+ hours with your instructor and many hours of solo practice. Each lesson will take about two hours, although you'll often spend only one hour in the air, considering pre- and post-flight briefings. Most students take an average of 55 to 70 hours of flight before finishing the program, making certain that they know the aircraft inside and out. We have had some students get their license in less than 30 days, but students generally take about five months to complete the training.
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Fly solo |
Early in your training you will be sent up for your first solo flight. Your instructor steps off the plane and lets you fly by yourself. Then you can practice flying by yourself and hone your skills without having to pay for instruction while you are up practicing your maneuvers.
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Take the written TEST |
We are approved by the FAA to administer the airman knowledge test here at our club. The airman knowledge test will assess how well you remember what you learned during ground training.
You get two and half hours to answer 60 multiple-choice questions. In order to pass, you'll need to get at least 70% of the questions right. Once you pass, you have two years to take the in-flight practical test. |
FLIGHT TEST |
The last phase of licensing is called the check ride . You'll meet an FAA examiner and he'll start by asking you questions vocally for one to two hours, once you've provided a written recommendation from your flight instructor. Then, you'll both climb aboard an aircraft and he'll see how you handle things in the air.
If the guy thinks you did a fantastic job, you'll be issued a temporary pilot certificate. Within a couple of months, the FAA will send you your permanent pilot's license in the mail. Your license is good for life and doesn't ever expire! |
TOTAL COST OF LICENSE*:
* Prices are subject to change please call for latest pricing.