Private Pilot License – Pre Solo Flight Training Costs
March 12, 2010
Your Pre- Solo Training is the first Part of your Private Pilot License Training. In order for you to solo you have to be instructed and be found ” COMPETENT” in the areas listed in the Student Pilot Regulations of the FAA. I Have them listed in the Private Pilot License Requirements in my other articles.Now there are 15 Aeronautical Experience areas that need to be covered and you need to be proficient at them. I am finding two different types of students have two different ideas about soloing.The Younger Student: The younger students want to get soloed as fast as possible.The Older Students: I have a lot of students who are my age or older. These students are going after their life long dream but are now in the phase of their life were they don’t want to do anything stupid. In these cases the student doesn’t really care about soloing. So I move them ahead and go through the cross country phase. I have had many older students that get to about 30 hours, I have completed almost everything with them and finally say, ” It is time to get out there on your own” At this time they go do all of their solo time. Then we come back and finish up with the flight test preparation.In Either case if the student is not ready to solo I move them forward.For the purpose of this article I just add up the cost for you to get up to that phase of your training. If you are not ready to solo I just move on to the Post Solo Requirements.If you take a look at the requirements you can see that there are 15 areas that you have to be instructed in and it has to be logged in your logbook with an instructors signature. I always tell students not to focus on the solo. You want to focus on being a safe pilot and getting your Private Pilot License done on schedule and on a budget.Now in my syllabus I have 13 Flights to cover these areas with the addition of a Spin Entries Lesson and a Review Flight. In know that spin entries are not required but years back I had a student get himself into a spin. Since then I try and show every student spin entries and recoveries.All of this training adds up to about 17 hours and 3-5 hours of ground instruction. Now you have to remember that is me. If you have a good dedicated instructor, you should be somewhere close to this. If you are at a school that is going through flight instructors left and right, you can expect having different instructors. This turns out to be more money. Once again the reason I tell people to plan things out ahead of time.I will use an aircraft rate of $120 Per hour For a C-172 and $45 for the Instructor Since that is what I charge. You will find many different rates in different areas of the countries so just use my numbers as a guide for you. I have put 1.5 hours of solo time in here since your first and second solo should be close to this. If you are not ready to solo you will pick it up later on.17 Hours Dual Instruction @ $165 Per Hour1.5 Hours Solo @ $120.00 Per Hour5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )Total Dual Instruction $2805.00Total Solo Time $180.00Total Ground Instruction $225.00TOTAL $3210.00Now you want to remember this should be close with a dedicated flight instructor and flying on a regular basis. I would suggest 4 lessons per week. If you are not ready to solo, you should ask your instructor to move you forward. Most people have problems with landings so there is no reason not to move forward with the rest of the requirements because each flight you have to land. You will get the lightbulb to come on soon or later. Many times you will find that if you stop focusing on just landings you will start to get them nice and smooth.One other thing you want to remember is you are not the only person in the world who has problems in certain areas. Most students in general have the same problems and usually it is landings. Don’t let it bother you, you have been driving a car all your life and it takes a very long time to break the habits.Soloing is a great milestone but you want to remember that your main goal is to be a safe and confident pilot. I always ask students, would you rather solo in 10 hours or would you rather be prepared to handle any emergency that came up. You are dealing with a machine and sometimes no matter how well maintained they are, they are going to break.Your goal is to “FLY THE PLANE” and handle the emergency so you can make it to happy hour.Hope to see you in the skyAirfreddy
Guide to Private Pilot Training – Learn How to Fly the Easy Way – The Basics of Flight Training
March 8, 2010
When you look up to the sky and see that plane just gliding along amongst the clouds it looks easy doesn’t it? Well it is for a highly qualified trained pilot. It certainly something anyone can attain provided they are willing to put the time and effort into learning and qualifying at what it takes to become a pilot.
If you love to fly and really are thinking about becoming a pilot then put yourself to a mini test. Call around some of the local flight training school and see who offers an introductory flight. It will cost you about a ½ hour of your time and $50. Out of your budget but at least you will get a good idea if you want to pursue the idea of flying. It is like a try and see type test.
After your little test and you are even more adamant to become a Pilot then the next step is are you medically fit to do so? You may think you are but you need the confirmation of an aviation Doctor to put this in writing by way of a medical certificate. You will only come by this once you pass their medical examination successfully. This is a Class 1 if you are planning to become an airline pilot or a class 3 for recreational piloting. This is the medical certificate that the FAA insists on. Once this is completed, you are ready for the next step.
You also need to understand what privileges and restrictions apply to the various Pilot licenses. For example for the Private Pilot license, you will be allowed to fly for recreational purpose only. You can never accept money for the duties of a pilot with this license.
Obtaining your license as we said will require several commitments. First, you have to consider the time that will be involved. If you can allot time for at least one to two week consistently on a weekly basis for your lessons then you should be ok. Each lesson averages about 1 ½ hours each, so it is not demanding a horrendous amount of your time. You will also need to give serious thought to the cost as well, which could be anywhere between $4-$5000 depending on the economy. With price of fuel, escalating there will no doubt be a rise in flight tuitions. Its also help to count on a little extra for unforeseen expenses such as opting for extra flying time. This is in case you are having difficulty with some segments of your flying.
Sometimes individuals will enter a course with the bare minimum amount of money thinking that they will complete their course in half the time and safe some money. It does not work that way with flight training. It is mandatory that you spend a specified amount of hours on your training and there is no deviation or flexibility in this. If you have not completed the specified hours you will not even qualify to take the final test.
If you follow a consistent time schedule, you can complete your course somewhere between 3-6 months. Of course, this is dependant on how many lessons and flight time you complete in a week. Moving on from a Private Pilots license can take you into commercial flying and several other types of flying careers.
Private Pilot License , Pre Solo Flight Training Requirements
March 4, 2010
The pre solo maneuvers are the first required for your Private Pilot License. There are a number of Requirements needed before you can do your first solo. Now in many cases I will move on to the post solo requirements if someone is not quite ready to solo yet. I do this because I am not going to sit in the traffic pattern with someone for 5 extra flights to get their landings down. The lightbulb will come on and my goal is to have you licensed and a safe / proficient pilot by the time of your flight test. Also I want you to be in your budget.Many instructors and schools will not move forward until you have solo’ed I think this is a complete waste of money. For this reason some people may say that the pre solo phase is the most expensive. When I see someone who has 40 hours, hasn’t soloed and on top of that has not done the cross countries, soft field / shortfield takeoffs and landings, night or simulated instrument time, the only thing I can think of is that poor student got ripped off.The main reason people don’t solo is they don’t have their landings down. So why wouldn’t the instructor move ahead. You have to do Soft Field / Short Field Takeoffs and Landings, 10 Night takeoffs and Landings, Dual Cross Countries ( Yes More Landings). This is usually plenty of time for the Landing ( Lightbulb) To come on.Here I have listed the Pre Solo Requirements for you. Remember there are two parts Aeronautical Knowledge and Aeronautical Experience.(a) General. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student has met the requirements of this section.(b) Aeronautical knowledge. A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test that meets the requirements of this paragraph:(1) The test must address the student pilot’s knowledge of-(i) Applicable sections of parts 61 and 91 of this chapter; (FAR”S )(ii) Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed; and(iii) Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown.(2) The student’s authorized instructor must-(i) Administer the test; and(ii) At the conclusion of the test, review all incorrect answers with the student before authorizing that student to conduct a solo flight.(c) Pre-solo flight training. Prior to conducting a solo flight, a student pilot must have:(1) Received and logged flight training for the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft to be flown; and(2) Demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety, as judged by an authorized instructor, on the maneuvers and procedures required by this section in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft to be flown.(d) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for a single-engine airplane rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;(5) Climbs and climbing turns;(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;(8) Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations;(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;(10) Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;(11) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;(12) Ground reference maneuvers;(13) Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions;(14) Slips to a landing; and(15) Go-arounds.All of the above areas need to be covered and Documented in Your Logbook. And it needs to be signed off by a Certified Flight Instructor. Yes I have seen people that have gone up with their friends, and their friends have signed their logbooks. These areas can only be given by a Certified Flight Instructor ( CFI)Hope to See You In the SkyAirfreddy
Private Pilot License, Post Solo Flight Training Requirements
March 3, 2010
After you solo or have completed the solo requirements, your instructor should move you ahead to the next phase of training even if you are not quite ready to solo. Like I have said before many flight schools and instructors will not move you forward until you have solo’ed.I personally move everyone forwards since the goal is to get you licensed on a budget without loosing quality of flight training.Here are the Post Solo Requirements for your Private Pilot License Training. Once again they start off general and get more specific.(a) General. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student pilot must meet the requirements of this section before-(i) Conducting a solo cross-country flight, or any flight greater than 25 nautical miles from the airport from where the flight originated.(ii) Making a solo flight and landing at any location other than the airport of origination.(2) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must:(i) Have received flight training from an instructor authorized to provide flight training on the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought;(ii) Have demonstrated cross-country proficiency on the appropriate maneuvers and procedures of this section to an authorized instructor;(iii) Have satisfactorily accomplished the pre-solo flight maneuvers and procedures required by §61.87( The Pre Solo requirements ) of this part in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought; and(iv) Comply with any limitations included in the authorized instructor’s endorsement that are required by paragraph (c) of this section.This is once again a general requirement for Student Pilot Solo Cross Countries. Now I will dig into them a little more and you find the following.(3) A student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must have received ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on the cross-country maneuvers and procedures listed in this section that are appropriate to the aircraft to be flown.There is a lot more in this regulation. But the important part for this discussion is what is required for you to be eligible for Solo Cross Countries: As you move down this regulation you find the following:(e) Maneuvers and procedures for cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane must receive and log flight training in the following maneuvers and procedures:(1) Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage and dead reckoning with the aid of a magnetic compass;(2) Use of aircraft performance charts pertaining to cross-country flight;(3) Procurement and analysis of aeronautical weather reports andforecasts, including recognition of critical weather situations and estimating visibility while in flight;(4) Emergency procedures;(5) Traffic pattern procedures that include area departure, area arrival, entry into the traffic pattern, and approach;(6) Procedures and operating practices for collision avoidance, wake turbulence precautions, and windshear avoidance;(7) Recognition, avoidance, and operational restrictions of hazardous terrain features in the geographical area where the cross-country flight will be flown;(8) Procedures for operating the instruments and equipment installed in the aircraft to be flown, including recognition and use of the proper operational procedures and indications;(9) Use of radios for VFR navigation and two-way communications;(10) Takeoff, approach, and landing procedures, including short-field, soft-field, and crosswind takeoffs, approaches, and landings;(11) Climbs at best angle and best rate; and(12) Control and maneuvering solely by reference to flight instruments, including straight and level flight, turns, descents, climbs, use of radio aids, and ATC directives.Notice there are no hour requirements in this regulation. All of these areas need to be in your logbook but the hour requirements only come into play in the general requirements.Hope to See You In the SkyAirfreddy
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March 2, 2010
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Flight Training Tips on Becoming a Pilot
February 25, 2010
Becoming a pilot requires extensive and serious training. You carry with you many lives at stake as you fly a plane in the air as a pilot.
Most training courses today are a mixture of practical exercises performed in the air. Aside from this, there is theoretical learning performed on the ground. The initial training is designed especially for beginners. Specialized trainings are done as the student advances.
Full flight simulators and flight training devices are used to train a student pilot in several conditions, at much lesser prices and danger than being airborne. Private pilot flight trainings have a minimum amount of 40 hours. However, most of the students are required to have 50 to 58 hours of flight training.
The prices of flight training classes differ largely from area to area, at around 40 to 60 flight schools for approximately 7,000 US dollar for the PPL or Private Pilot License. The CPL or Commercial Pilot License usually rates from 40,000 US dollars to 60,000 US dollars. It is taken for about 1 to 2 years. These structured training programs are eligible by the FAA to issues pilot license with reduced hours of flight training.
A full time pilot student can complete the training program in 4 to 6 months for their Commercial Pilot License. Several universities offer a 4 year Aviation Degree Program that contains flight training. The Ohio State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and University of North Dakota are several of the largest university that offers flight trainings.
Flight training can be extremely demanding emotionally, mentally and physically. Once the student made the decision to start to flight training, a student should do so with great self discipline and determination. With the training and the right resources, most people can learn to fly an aircraft at the basic level.
Tips on Training as a Pilot
Check out some local FBO or Fixed Base Operators. Flight trainings are usually done at the fixed base operator which can be found at some small airport in your area. These Fixed Base Operators are here to control hangar parking, dispense fuel and ramp usage. It usually has an aircraft you can rent out as well as numerous flight instructors that are available to train new students. Training at Fixed Base Operators are great choices for student who want to fly as a hobby and for fun.
Consider an Aeronautical University or College. Numerous universities and colleges in the United State offer full training for pilot bachelor degrees. These colleges or universities may solely emphasize on aeronautical based trainings like Embry-Riddle or may have aviation degrees within a larger umbrella like Central Missouri State University, Purdue University, the University of North Dakota and Parks College at Saint Luis University. This is a great choice for students who want to become a pilot and get a college degree.
Get an instructor. Regardless of who can make it to the flight training facility, students need a pilot instructor that well fits them. This could be one of the most significant decisions you can make throughout the flight training. Do not just accept the first pilot instructor they offer you, especially if you sense that you have different personalities.
You need to get along with this person in close quarters and be able to respect as well as trust their judgment and skills. Once you find a good pilot instructor stick with her or him. Changing pilot instructors numerous times can become confusing since they vary in expectations and techniques.
Aero-TV Checks Out The Jet A-Powered Diesel Skyhawk!!!
January 13, 2010
Cessna, Thielert Partner On 172S Turbo Diesel Option
Last fall, we asked ANN readers to, “Just imagine how cool will it be for a student pilot… on their first cross-country flight… to ask the lineperson to ‘fill it with Jet-A, please’ — and then point to their Cessna 172!” The new Skyhawk TD (turbo diesel, of course) features a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) equipped Thielert Centurion 2.0 liter engine. The DOHC (double overhead camshaft) inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine develops 155 horsepower, is certified to operate on Jet-A fuel, is liquid cooled and drives a composite three-blade constant speed propeller.
Thielert was issued a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the Skyhawk in March, allowing Cessna to offer a factory-installed Thielert engine. The engine features low specific fuel consumption, electronic engine control systems and improved hot-and-high engine performance.
With increased range and endurance, Cessna says the Skyhawk TD will offer an ideal solution for special mission applications like forestry patrol, wildlife conservation efforts, pipeline/power line patrol, traffic reporting and airborne law enforcement, according to Cessna. News of a Skyhawk turbo-diesel was not entirely unexpected. As ANN reported, Cessna announced a partnership with Thielert on “future projects” earlier this year.
The Wichita gang is also making the Garmin GFC700 Automatic Flight Control (AFCS) and Flight Director (FD) system standard equipment on most Skyhawk models. The autopilot function selector will be conveniently located on the Garmin G1000 flight display with the GFC700 capable of using all of the data available within the G1000 avionics system. Among the new navigational features included is all-digital, dual-channel, two-axis flight control — featuring an attitude-based (versus rate-based) autopilot.
The GFC700 on the Skyhawk also features a Flight Director, offering pitch and roll guidance to show the pilot the attitude for a standard climb or turn. The system also sports Flight Level Change capability — to ensure the aircraft maintains airspeed while climbing or descending to a pre-selected altitude — and a Go Around mode. Additionally, Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) with Lateral Performance, Vertical Guidance approach (LPV) and Vertical Navigation (VNAV) capabilities; Garmin SafeTaxi; and Garmin FliteCharts became standard for the Skyhawk, Skylane and Stationair starting with 2007 models. The Garmin ChartView powered by Jeppesen is optional.
FMI” www.cessna.com
Copyright 2008, Aero-News Network, Inc., ALL Rights Reserved
Duration : 0:7:25
Harv’s Air Flight Training: Part 3
January 7, 2010
Flight Training, discussing learning to fly at Harv’s Air Pilot Training in Manitoba, Canada
Duration : 0:8:24
Sporty’s Online Flight Training Courses
January 4, 2010
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This is much more than just a video course—it is a comprehensive online training program, preparing you for your written test, oral exam and flight test. Plus, you’ll be prepared for real world flying after you get your license or rating. Just like our DVD courses, we guarantee it: if you don’t pass all three tests, we’ll give you your money back.
Sporty’s Online Course include all this: hours of high-quality in-flight streaming video, interactive test preparation, 33 full motion 3D demonstrations of all required flight maneuvers, an interactive training course outline and interactive practical test standards. No other course is this complete!
Duration : 0:4:40
Flight Training at FTE :: Phase 1
December 26, 2009
This is a video montage of Course 58’s time at Flight Training Europe during the first phase of flight training.
Covers the start of the course, up to just before the begining of the flying phase.
Duration : 0:3:59
