Overview of Pilot Training

Most students embark on the flight training journey eagerly anticipating the excitement of achieving a longtime goal, the ability to share that excitement with their friends and family and the exploration of destinations off the beaten path and it is my goal to help you achieve this.  As an aspiring pilot, you have the choice of either a Sport Pilot or Private Pilot certificate.  While Private Pilot is the traditional path to entry into aviation and essentially allows you to operate any small aircraft in a personal or private business setting, day or night, the Sport Pilot certificate has lesser training requirements (thus a lesser cost), but carries some additional limitations.  For instance, you are more limited in the types of airplanes you may fly (although most common small aircraft fit within these criteria) and you may only carry one passenger, plus various other limitations.  If you are unsure of which is the right certificate for you, we can discuss the particulars of what you hope to do and which would serve you best.  Regardless, whatever you choose today does not limit you in the future should your mission change.

Time

Earning a pilot certificate should not be a years-long process.  Drawing out the timeframe is the biggest danger to your success, whether it it is due to a lack of available time on your part or your instructor’s or because you lack the money to pay for regular and consistent lessons.  This is a recipe for losing motivation, becoming dissatisfied with the experience and costing much more money in the end, if you ever do finish.

In order to finish on-time and on-budget, I encourage you to commit to a minimum of 3 lessons per week with more being better.  The more often you train, the quicker you will master the skills needed and momentum fosters motivation.  I have worked with many clients who have completed their Private Pilot training in the 6-8 week range, with one in as few as 3.  These clients set aside the time on their calendars for a month or two so that they could schedule lessons several days a week (or every day) before or after work.  Developing the manual skill to operate the aircraft competently is not that monumental a task, but it is nonetheless a new skill that must be developed, along with good habits of flight planning, effective decision-making and much more.  Focusing intently on these things for a period of time without unnecessary distractions is a very effective way to develop lasting skills and habits. I limit the number of clients that I work with at one time in order to ensure that I am able to focus intently on your training until it is completed and to avoid scheduling competition among clients.

Cost

It should come as no surprise that flight training is not cheap, and since it is unwise to set out on a journey for which one is unprepared, you should have the required funds available in advance.  Many organizations provide scholarships of varying amounts for flight training.  See the ”Scholarships” page for a list of opportunities.  Below is an example of the total cost you may expect assuming regular and consistent lessons with average skill progression:

Typical Training Progression

Before beginning training for either a Sport Pilot or Private Pilot certificate, you will first need to apply for a Student Pilot certificate.  This simply requires you to fill out an application here and have your instructor endorse it.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) receives and reviews the application, issues a temporary certificate and sends you a permanent certificate in the mail.

The Student Pilot certificate is all that you need for Sport Pilot training, but if you are pursuing a Private Pilot certificate you will also need a third-class FAA medical certificate or complete the steps for certification under BasicMed rules.  The FAA medical certificate is the typical option and even if you intend to use BasicMed in the future, you will have to initially be issued an FAA medical certificate.  If you have previously held an FAA medical certificate that has since expired, BasicMed may be a suitable alternative and it is certainly easier to obtain and maintain, although it has some limitations.  Most notably, it is not recognized in Canada, so you would be unable to pilot an aircraft within Canadian airspace with BasicMed and not an FAA medical certificate.  If you are unsure of which is the best option, we can discuss the particulars of your case and what you intend to do as a pilot.

BasicMed requires you to complete an online course (found here), to keep the certificate of completion in your personal records and to visit any physician for an exam covering items typical of a routine office visit.

The FAA medical certificate requires you to visit a doctor designated as an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) who follows FAA criteria to determine if you are in acceptable physical health as defined by prescribed FAA standards.  If so, he will issue you the appropriate certificate.  Search for AMEs here.  Before the exam, complete the application for the medical certificate here.

If you choose to hire me as your instructor we will accomplish these tasks in advance of beginning training.  I will also guide you through the purchase of necessary aeronautical charts, self-study materials, reference books, pilot equipment and completion of Rod Machado’s 40-hour Private Pilot eLearning Ground School or other similar self-study ground school course (for both Sport Pilot and Private Pilot certificates).  This self-study course will be your primary (although not necessarily exclusive) means of preparing for the required FAA knowledge (written) test.  Although ground training in preparation for the knowledge test can be accomplished by one-on-one or in-person instruction, the self-study course is in my opinion the more thorough and more cost-effective option.  Rest assured, however, that I will assist you in any areas that you need additional help in order to prepare you for the test.

Once you complete the ground school course, we will begin the real flying lessons.  Your first several hours will focus on basic control of the airplane through each of the three dimensions culminating in your ability to operate competently taking off, flying through the airport traffic pattern and landing without me onboard.

We will then move into planning and executing cross-country flights to other airports.  For a Sport Pilot certificate, we will make one of these flights together.  For a Private Pilot certificate, we will make two of these together, then you will make a few more without me onboard.

After these dual and/or solo cross-country flights we will review things as needed, both skills in the airplane and technical knowledge, in preparation for your practical test with a pilot examiner.  He will issue you a Sport Pilot or Private Pilot certificate after you demonstrate your satisfactory knowledge, good judgment and skill level.

Conclusion

Flight training can be a wonderfully rewarding experience opening the door to adventure and accomplishment.  Thoughtful planning can remove common and predictable barriers to student success and will likely result in the outcome you desire.  With a good instructor guiding you, developing the needed skills and habits can be an enjoyable and successful endeavor. I look forward to working with you.