How to Fly an Airplane : Private vs. Commercial Pilots
July 22, 2010
Requirements and training for different types of pilots. Learn about the steps private pilots must take to become a commercial pilot in this free video. Expert: Mike Camelin Contact: www.SunStateAviation.com Bio: Mike Camelin, co-founder of SunState Aviation Inc., has been a pilot for 10 years. His company is one of the country’s leading providers of Accelerated Flight Training. Filmmaker: Madison Paige
GFT Private Pilot License
July 19, 2010
Obtain a private pilot license at Gander Flight Training www.gft.ca
Cessna Private Pilot CBI – KING SCHOOLS Video
June 23, 2010
www.KingSchools.com For the complete King Schools selection, please visit http
Training Handbooks For Your Private Pilot Training
April 10, 2010
If you are thinking of getting a private pilot license,There will be a lot of books and materials you will need to get you through your training. Though there are many different manufacturers, they all pretty much have the same information it is just presented in a different way. There is a difference however in the two major types of publications that you want to be aware of.
There are two types of training manuals and handbooks out there are:
1: FAA Publications
2: Aftermarket publications
1: The FAA. Publications are written and printed by the FAA. There are many of them that are referenced in the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards. One thing you want to understand is the fact that the Pilot Examiners are also Designated and Trained by the FAA. If you are on a budget, you want to get what you need for the Private Pilot Flight Test.
Below I have listed the main publications that have the information you will need for your Private Pilot Training.
Airplane Flying Handbook: The Airplane Flying Handbook covers all your private pilot training maneuvers
Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: This Publication will cover most of the aeronautical knowledge areas and many of the flight maneuvers required for your private pilot training
Aviation Weather: This book explains all aspects of weather. You will need to be able to explain different types of weather systems on your Private Pilot Practical Test
Aviation Weather Services: This is the FAA publication that explains how to interpret all of the weather info. This will explain to you how to read all the weather reports and forecasts available through the FAA and the flight service stations.
There are other publications known as advisory circulars. These are publications put out by the FAA that are specific information about a given subject. An example of one of these publications is “Uncontrolled Airport Operations”
2: Aftermarket Publications: There are many publications that have been made up and known as industry standard. There are in cases some things missing that are published in the FAA publications. The Designated Pilot Examiner that will do your flight test will expect you to be able to understand and use the FAA publications for a reference during the oral portion of your Private Pilot Flight Test.
Perfect examples are the many airport guides that you can find published by many different companies. If you bring these publications into a flight test and not the FAA publications, in some cases it can result in a notice of disapproval for the reason that you aren’t using what the FAA has published.
One thing that most students and many instructors don’t understand is the fact that the Practical test standards for your Private Pilot Practical test are based on the FAA publications. In the reference section of the practical test standards, there is a list of all the publications that are used to make up the practical test standards.
When you go up for your flight test, you should know what the FAA says about each of the areas of operation based on the FAA publication that is referenced. I have seen many times a student will reference a non FAA publication and some times it will result in a disapproval notice because the applicant is expected to have knowledge of the related FAA publication. Not what someone else thinks the FAA was trying to say.
Once again remember that the Designated Pilot Examiner who will conduct your flight test is bound by the FAA Practical Test Standards. They must follow them in the evaluation process. You will also notice a reference to the FAA publication in each area of operation listed in the practical test standards. This is what you are expected to know.
So remember that if you are using aftermarket publications and manuals for your flight training; that is fine, just make sure you bring the FAA Publications to your flight test and be able to explain them.
Hope to See You in the Sky
Airfreddy
Private Pilot Training Cost
April 6, 2010
One thing I always tried to do was be straight forward with students, telling them exactly what they were going to spend on their private pilot training. I also want to make sure they understand if they don’t stick with their training, the more it is going to cost them.
The National average for the private pilot training process is around 65 hours, you will want tokeep this in mind. If you dig into the flight training syllabus at flight schools, most private pilot syllabuses are between 45 and 55 hours. The FAA requires many things that need to be covered for your Private Pilot License. Planning on at least 30 hours of dual instruction is a good estimate if you want to be a safe pilot.
Most of the schools will be honest about it if you start asking the right questions. You will want to remember that the number of hous listed in the flight schools syllabus will not be used for the cost estimate, they will use the unrealistic hour requirements put out by the FAA. There are a lot of flight schools competing for the decreasing number of students so the cost estimates in many cases will be the bare minimum and will not be realistic.
Below I have listed what a cost estimate from a flight school will look like:
20 Hours Dual Flight Instruction $2,920.00
20 Hours of Solo Flight $1,920.00
Total $4,840.00
In a lot of cases this will be it. Most Flight schools will try and be a little moreaccurate with thier cost estimates. But in general they all will stay very competitive. Since flight training is veryexpensive, the flight schools will keep their cost outlines as competitive as possible.
There are a number of things that are not listed in the above cost estimate. The first thing is the additional dual instruction that is probably in the flight schools syllabus. This should be somewhere around 10 hours so there is an additional hidden cost of $1,460 to the above cost estimate that the flight school has not told you about.
In addition to this extra flight instruction there are other things such as books, pilot supplies and headsets that you will need to purchase. Many flight schools will not include the examiner fee for the flight test. Depending on the part of the country you are in, this fee could be as much as $400.
So the first thing you want to do is research what the private pilot license will actually cost you at a local flight school. You will want to understand the process of your Private Pilot License, so the first thing you will want to do is plan the process out before you start flying. Flying is very expensive and if you make a mistake planning the process out, you could end up spending $2,000 more that you expected. If you are on a limited budget, this could make the difference between becoming a licensed pilot and someone who is part way through their training.
Once you start your private pilot training, don’t let anything get in your way. This is the most cost effective way to keep the cost down on your private pilot license training. Driving and learning to fly are not the same, you will want to remember this. To Be a safe and confident pilot, you will need to be proficient at all the maneuvers listed in the practical test standards. The quicker you can complete your private pilot training the better.
Hope to see you in the sky
Airfreddy
Private Pilot License, Flight Test Requirements
April 4, 2010
This article will tie all of the Student Pilot /Pre-Solo and Post Solo Requirements together. In order to be eligible for the Private Pilot License Practical test, you have to have everything that I have listed so far DOCUMENTED in your logbook I go more in detail in my book but I will get you up to speed on this.Now I will explain the requirements for you to be eligible for your Private Pilot Practical Test. All of the Previous requirements have to be completed for the student solo and the student solo cross countries.Now this is where the requirements that usually show up on the internet come from. This is only the aeronautical experience regulation. This is the regulation that most flight schools make their cost estimates from and where most people who have nothing to do with aviation write their articles from.(a) For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (k) of this section, a person who applies for a private pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b)(1) of this part, and the training must include at least-(1) 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane;(2) Except as provided in §61.110 of this part, 3 hours of night flight training in a single-engine airplane that includes-(i) One cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance; and(ii) 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport.(3) 3 hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to instrument flight;(4) 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test in a single-engine airplane, which must have been performed within 60 days preceding the date of the test; and(5) 10 hours of solo flight time in a single-engine airplane, consisting of at least-(i) 5 hours of solo cross-country time;(ii) One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations; and(iii) Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.Then there is the other eligibility regulation for the Private Pilot License Flight Test:(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, to be eligible for a practical test for a certificate or rating issued under this part, an applicant must:(1) Pass the required knowledge test within the 24-calendar-month period preceding the month the applicant completes the practical test, if a knowledge test is required;(2) Present the knowledge test report at the time of application for the practical test, if a knowledge test is required;(3) Have satisfactorily accomplished the required training and obtained the aeronautical experience prescribed by this part for the certificate or rating sought;(4) Hold at least a current third-class medical certificate, if a medical certificate is required;(5) Meet the prescribed age requirement of this part for the issuance of the certificate or rating sought;(6) Have an endorsement, if required by this part, in the applicant’s logbook or training record that has been signed by an authorized instructor who certifies that the applicant-(i) Has received and logged training time within 60 days preceding the date of application in preparation for the practical test;(ii) Is prepared for the required practical test; and(iii) Has demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas in which the applicant was deficient on the airman knowledge test; and(7) Have a completed and signed application form.There is also the ground instruction requirements. Lately the FAA has been getting very tough on this. There have been many cases where students have been signed off for flight tests and the instructor never did any ground instruction with them.. You want to remember that your instructor needs to have this documented for you to be eligible for the flight test.Personally I make up one sheet with all the flight training and all the ground training and sign it at the bottom. This way I have a complete record and the examiner can plainly see every subject area.Within these three regulations are all of the others listed in the student pilot requirements and the student pilot pre solo cross country requirements. Most people don’t have a clue about all of this. And once you have started on the wrong track on your Pilot Training, it can become a very expensive venture.This was the main reason that I ended up Writing “Airfreddy’s Guide on Learning To Fly”. This happens all of the time all over the country. I can’t tell you how many emails I get from people who are frustrated at the entire process. If they had planned and researched ahead of time, they would have gotten done in a realistic budget and on a realistic schedule.Getting your Private Pilot License and Learning to Fly can be a great experience, but if you don’t understand that every time to delay, switch instructors, schools or wait to get your written test done. You will get more and more frustrated and I see it ALL THE TIME.Your goal is to become a safe and proficient pilot on a realistic budget. Planning this process out is the most important thing you can do. You don’t want to jump and and then find you are on the wrong track.Hope To See You In The SkyAirfreddy
Private Pilot License – Post Solo Training Costs
April 1, 2010
The Post Solo Training Costs associated with the Private Pilot License are normally close to the pre solo phase but will burn your money up the fastest. Once you break this down you want to look at the big picture of the entire license. You don’t want to get stuck and run out of money because in this phase of your training, you are doing longer flights and will have more ground instruction.Once again there are some requirements put out by the FAA that have to be done before you can do your solo cross countries. Some training syllabuses will do some of the things I list below before solo but I like to build each lesson on top of the other so you learn one thing and then integrate it into the next lesson.A perfect example is the simulated instrument training. I have this broken into 2 post solo flights. That will get about 2.2 hours of simulated instrument time. Then I have a lost procedures lesson where we will get about another .3 hours then the rest I will pick up at the flight test preparation stage. Bottom line is you need the three hours but if you are getting a little here and then a little there, chances are someone misses it and the examiner picks it up on flight test day and then walks out because you aren’t qualified.The other thing that can happen is your instructor picks it up and then up you go for an extra flight. The same thing can happen with the night time. I can’t tell you how many times it has even happened to me no matter how careful I was. Now I do all the night time in one flight so it is over and done with. You don’t want to get a call from your instructor the night before your flight test telling you to meet them at the airport to get some more flight time.For our purpose here I will just list the requirements and then give you an estimate on the cost. The Private Pilot Post Solo requirements can be found at the link below. I will just outline the cost for you:Private Pilot License, Post Solo RequirementsBasically there are 5 things needed before you can go on solo cross countries.Soft Field Takeoffs and LandingsShort Field Takeoffs and LandingsSimulated Instrument TimeVor NavigationCross Country Flight TrainingNow the Hour Requirements are just for the Private Pilot License Aeronautical Experience but you have to have logged the above subject areas. I also Include the Dual Cross Countries Day and then all the night time Required.1.5 Hours Dual Instruction for Soft-Field / Short-Field Takeoffs and Landings2.2 Hours Dual Instruction / Simulated Instrument Instruction4.4 Hours Dual Instruction for Cross-Countries2.5 Hours Ground Instruction3.0 Hours Dual instruction for Night Flying5 Hours Solo Cross Country In my syllabus, I have two dual cross-country flights, and each averages 2.2 hours. The FAA only has an hour requirement for the private pilot certificate, but I personally think that students need two different cross-country flights and about 2-3 hours of ground instruction. I am also going to add the solo cross country hours here since the goal here is to get the solo cross country requirements and move on to the flight test preparation portion of your Private Pilot Flight Training.If we add this all up we get the following cost for this part of your private pilot training:Private Pilot License Post Solo Cost11.1 Hours of Dual Instruction @ $165 Per hour $1831.502.5 Hours of Ground Instruction @ $45 Per Hour $112.505 Hours of Solo Cross Country Flight $600.00Total $2543.00Once again with a good instructor and flying consistently, you should be close to this amount for this phase of your Pilot License Training.Depending on the instructor or the syllabus you may do one day cross country and then one night cross country. I personally have two different day cross countries to different types of airports.Hope to see you in the skyAirfreddy
Private Pilot License Training ? Fulfilling Dreams to fly an Aircraft
March 16, 2010
Pilot training is gaining a lot of interest and momentum these days especially among the aviation enthusiasts and hobby fliers who may wish to rent an aircraft and for those who own a personal aircraft. Owning an aircraft is no longer a symbol of status among the who’s who. Learning to fly one’s dream machine is what completes the whole package when it comes to flaunting one’s wealth. This has resulted in mushrooming of many aviation academies in India like Chimes Aviation Academy, which boasts of providing private pilot training on the much famed Cessna 172 and is also one of the best aviation academies in the country.
To become a private pilot, one has to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL) which permits the holder to act as the pilot of an aircraft privately (i.e. he does not fly an aircraft for any remuneration). The requirements to obtain the license are determined by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), but the actual implementation varies widely from country to country.
While undergoing training at an aviation academy, the student is given a Student Pilot License. Student Pilot License is given to those with 10+2 with science and aged at least 16 years should register at a flying club which is recognized by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India.
The second step is the Private Pilot License (PPL). PPL training includes sixty hours of flying of which about fifteen hours are dual flights, that is accompanied by the flight instructor and at least 30 hours of solo flights apart from five hours of cross-country flying. This makes one eligible for the Private Pilot License exam. The prescribed age for appearing for this exam is 17 years and an educational qualification of 10+2 along with a Medical Fitness Certificate issued by the Armed Forces Central Medical Establishment (AFCME).
Although there are various types of aircraft, many of the principles of pilot training have common techniques. All pilot training courses consist of some combination of theoretical learning conducted on the ground and practical exercises conducted in the air. Initial pilot training is often conducted in specialized training aircraft (most aviation academies use Cessna 172), which are designed for benign handling characteristics and lower costs compared to the aircraft which the pilot concerned is ultimately aiming to fly.
Aviation academies train an individual on the various skills required to fly an aircraft. It teaches a pilot the process of flying an aircraft through the air with proper direction and control. It also teaches the students to understand the weather forecasts.
Private pilot training program mainly require high level of innovative mind capabilities and great aptitude skills. This supports the candidate to get the concept in an easy manner.
However, with such busy and fast paced life, many passionate fliers do not get time to fulfill their dream. Thus Chimes Aviation Academy has come up with a Cruiser (Executive PPL) programme which enables the student to pursue flying with a convenient, personalized over the weekend schedule. The schedule is designed to make the student a Private Pilot License holder in just nine weekends. Currently, Chimes Academy has Bollywood actors Kunal Kapoor and Chitrangda Singh and ace golfer Jyoti Randhawa as its students.
This article is based on my experiences and knowledge as a pilot training student at Chimes Aviation Academy (CAA – http://www.caaindia.com/ppl.aspx )
Private Pilot License – 4 Critical Facts You Must Know Before Flight Training
March 15, 2010
When an individual focuses on becoming a pilot their desire becomes the main emphasis and sort of forgetting all that is going to be involved in attaining the goal of becoming a private pilot. There is much to be learned before one can achieve success in this field. Many factors must be considered prior to soaring into the wild blue yonder.
One very important aspect of flying is weather conditions. Perhaps in the past, you never gave much of a thought about how the weather was going to be but once you become a pilot that is a major consideration you will have to make prior to every plane trip you venture out on.
First, you will have to learn about the various air masses and fronts that occur. These are dependant on their location and there are the tropical and polar air masses. In addition, you must learn that when reference to air mass over water it is called maritime and then over land its known as continental. Finally, it will be categorized as warm or cold. The path that the air mass follows dictates what it will become. It stands to reason a mass over water is going to pick up more moisture. Along a masses journey it will meet up with some of the different types. To separate these variations there is what is called a front. In respect to flying, a cold front produces better flying conditions. For the most part, it will be clean, heavy, and stable and smooth which creates good clear visibility to make optimum flying conditions. As the fronts move quickly, they can turn quickly into violent thunderstorms.
Everybody when it comes to terms of weather enjoys hearing about a warm front moving in. For the pilot it means they are more spread out and if they are slow moving, particularly they will bring precipitation and poor visibility. A most annoying condition is when the front becomes stationery. This means it has virtually come to a spot. The outcome of this is a mist producing poor visibility for the pilot. In most cases though the weather will be non-violent and creating no turbulence.
Every pilot must give strict attention to air pressure. The more favorable flying conditions take place in the cooler temperatures where one finds cumulus clouds. Attempts should always be made to fly in the cooler segments of air pressure.
A pilot must always remain keenly aware of potential weather problems. This includes winds, turbulence, reduced ceiling, poor visibility, and icing up. Although we have amazing weather forecasting capabilities we are still a long way from being perfect. For example, the weatherman cannot predict the location of severe turbulence, and icing. It is not possible yet to predict thunderstorms before they occur, or the presence of fog. An accurate estimate of these conditions taking place can be made up to 24 hours of the event, but not really beyond that.
The wise pilot should be aware that the current clear weather forecast is only reliable for the next 24-hour period. A poor weather prediction will cover a time span of about 3-4 hours. Finally, when it comes down to predictions of ceiling and visibility the information can only be relied on for the first 2-3 hours.
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
