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The Prophets The Stranger The Lamb |
Learn to Fly! Be a pilot!Over the years I have been asked many of the same questions about becoming a pilot, learning to fly, where to get started and what it costs. I hope to give you a rough idea about all of that here. In the USA each pilot licenses require three tests of knowledge:
There are three classes of Flight Physical or Medical Exam. The Class Three medical certificate is required for Student Pilot (doubles as license), Recreational Pilot, and Private Pilot licenses. Class Two covered Commercial Pilot operations and Class One is needed for Airline Transport Pilot operations. Here are some of the different types of pilot licenses granted in the USA:
The licenses above are issued with specific Ratings:
There are other ratings with which I am not too familiar such as gliders, balloons, helicopters, and blimps. A good place to start might be to purchase a Private Pilot video training course such those produced by ASA in Seattle, Sporty's Pilot Shop in Batavia, Ohio, and Jeppesen-Sanderson. There might be books in the library, though likely outdated. Gleim's "Red Books" are good and inexpensive home study courses. They are available at airport pilot shops and Sporty's pilot shop. I'm sure there are other places to get them, but those are the one's I've used. Most flight schools and FBO's (Fixed Base Operators) at local airports will give an Introductory Flight for about fifty dollars. That will give you insight into their flight operations and training program. The Yellow Pages of the local telephone books will likely list flight schools under Aircraft Rental, Flight Schools, Air Charter, Aircraft Maintenance, Flight Instruction, etc. Call these places to get information. You will not likely get much information from the major airlines; though any pilot would be able to help a bit. Ask where local flying schools are, how many aircraft they have, whether the flight instructors are under supervision or independent, whether or not an organized curriculum for flight instruction is used to reach the desired license. Then drive to the General Aviation side of your local airports and ask questions at the businesses. Sporty's Pilot Shop puts out a video called "Learning to Fly!" that is a worthwhile investment toward learning what to look for in a school or private flight instruction. See http://www.sportys.com/pilot/Learn_to_Fly_Here/learn_to_fly_here.html If you are serious about learning to fly, you should start by seeing an Aviation Medical Examiner. The doctor will determine your physical well-being and issue a Student Pilot Certificate after completion of the physical exam. To connect with an AME click on: http://flightphysical.com/ or http://www.faa.gov What does flight training cost? Expenses vary greatly depending on where you receive your training, the type of aircraft you fly, how frequently you fly, how much you study and review information and the gifts of your instructor. I have found that the more populated areas and big cities tend to have much higher prices on aircraft rental and instructor fees than the more rural areas. Private Pilot license--approx. $4,000 to $7,000 Instrument Rating - - $6,000 Commercial license and Instrument rating--approx. $10,000 to $15,000
See also: http://www.beapilot.com/schools/ http://www.aopa.org/learntofly http://www.aopa.org/members/files/guides/learntofly.html http://www.multnomah.edu/college/pagesprospectivestudents/academics/missionaryaviation.asp |
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