How to
Become a Private Pilot
To get your private pilot's license, you must be at least 17
years old, although training can be started earlier. There is no
upper age limit. Inf fact, older students make remarkable
progress and often excel. So, you "seasoned" citizens can still
fulfill your dream of piloting your own airplane. One of the
criteria to becoming a pilot is to take and pass a physical exam
given by an Aviation Medical Examiner. The physicals, while
thorough, are by no means difficult to pass. Any healthy person
can do it. Those with minor physical disabilities can easily
obtain waivers and those with major disabilities can obtain a
waiver by demonstrating skill in piloting.
What are
the Rewards of Becoming a Pilot?
You will forever remember the day you soloed - NO INSTRUCTOR!
And the thrill of actually passing all the exams and receiving
your license is indescribable. Then you can rent an aircraft and
go anywhere you wish. Fly-ins about, breakfast at Winchester,
lunch at Rome, dinner in Nashville, weekends at Gulf Shores,
etc. But the greatest reward is that you are now in the same
elite group as the Wright Brothers, Lindberg, Yeager and many
others.
How
Much Training Will I Need to Become a Private Pilot?
The FAA requires at least 40 hours of instruction: 20 hours dual
with an instructor and 20 hours solo. Currently the national
average is approximately 57 hours for all private pilots. You
can shorten this by being prepared for each lesson and setting a
schedule that permits you to advance rapidly.
Another of
the criteria is to take and pass a written examination prior to
taking a flight check. There are three ways to do this: attend a
formal ground school, a course of self-study, or hire an
instructor to teach/tutor you. The most recommended way is to
attend one of the formal ground schools which ensures that you
will receive all instruction necessary to pass your written
exam.
At the end
of your flight training, you will be required to take a
practical test with a FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. This test
has two parts: oral and flight. The oral test is similar to the
written test, but ecompasses information about your airplane and
the local area. The flight test consists of the maneuvers you
practiced while flying dual and later while flying solo.
Additionally, you must show you can plan and fly a cross-country
trip.
Contact Executive Flight
Center, Inc. for more information on flight school. |
