Q & A About Flying Lessons
Where Do I Take Lessons?
If you don't own your own airplane, I fly and teach out of Reid-Hillview
Airport at Squadron 2. The usual
training airplane is a Cessna Skyhawk
and rents for about $75 per hour for an older model. The cost for instruction
is $40 per hour.
What Sort of Things Do I Study?
You study aerodynamic theory - how a plane flies, the different systems
in the airplane like the instruments, the ignition system, the flight
control system, and the power plant. A very extensive part of the training
is about weather. You must also understand the FAA Regulations.
You will learn navigation - dead reckoning or "pilotage", and learn to
use the flight instruments on board as well as the navigation instruments.
You learn about the different categories of airspace - where the commercial
jets fly, where the military is, and where you as a general aviation pilot
can legally fly. You're taught how to read the Sectional Maps published
specifically for pilots.
What are the lessons like?
Some time will be spent in the classroom and other times is spent in
the cockpit. But you are put in the pilot's seat from day one. The instructor
leads you through a take off very early on in the training. You learn
to handle the airplane and work the radios. You have to do various maneuvers.
You're taught how to use the radios for communications, emergency frequencies,
transponders.
You must have at least 40 hours of flight time to get a license (some
is with an instructor and some is solo), however, the national average
is closer to 55 or 60 hours for a private license.
The 40 required hours has to be made up of the right balance of night
flying, landings, cross country flying, and radio communications. You
also must complete a "long cross country" (150 mile) flight solo before
you can take the flight test. When you've completed all the requirements,
you then take an aural and flight test with a Designated Examiner.
What sort of test do I have to take for the pilot's license?
During your exam he asks you questions about aeronautics, navigation,
weight and balance, and regulations. You then fly the examiner and perform
the maneuvers he requests. The entire test is laid out in books called
"Practical Test Standards". If you pass, you are then a private pilot!
An interesting recent addition to the exam is the requirement for the
examiner to try to distract you to see if you know that flying the plane
is duty number one. If he asks you a question but you feel you need to
concentrate on flying the plane, then you should tell him that you're
unable to answer right now, and to ask the question again later.
The examiner is not interested in seeing perfection. He's interested
in seeing if you can fly the maneuvers in a safe manner within the Practical
Test Standard requirements, and that you display good judgement.
See an examiner's web site for
more specific information about checkrides.
When Can I Start Flying?
There is no minimum age required to start learning how to fly. However,
you cannot solo an airplane until you are 16, and cannot become a private
pilot until you are 17.
Can I Fly With 'X' Medical Condition?
To fly airplanes you have to have a medical exam from an Aviation Medical
Examiner (a regular doctor who has received additional training from the
FAA in flight physiology). If you have or have ever had a medical condition
that might make you unsafe in the air, the FAA will want additional testing
done. This testing should probably be done before you start flying in
case they decide that your condition is 'medically disqualifying'.
But some conditions can be 'waivered'. For instance, if you are color
blind, you can receive an additional test to determine if you are able
to distinguish the red, green and white colors in the air at night. If
you are deaf, you can receive a license with special requirements addressing
your handicap. In fact, one of the best and most energetic pilots in my
glider club has no legs. He flies with special attachments on his legs
so that he can control the rudder.
But approval for special conditions takes time and so should be addressed
before spending a lot of money on flight lessons and finding out you can't
pass the medical exam. You must have a medical certificate before you
can fly by yourself (solo).
Pilot Certificates
A pilot certificate has a particular rating 'class' as well as having
ratings for flying certain aircraft types (categories and classes).
Pilot Certificate Types
- Private - fly by visual aids - VFR - Visual Flight Rules
- Instrument - flight by reference only to cockpit instruments (so
that you can fly in the clouds safely).
- Commercial - more of the private and instrument thrown in with "commercial"
procedures.
- Instructor - All of the above but including teaching methods, classroom
methods
- ATP or Airline Transport Pilot - what the airline pilots must have
Pilot Certificate Aircraft Ratings
- Single-Engine Land (like the Cessna 172) for use on land
- Multi-Engine Land for airplanes with 2 engines for use on land
- A Seaplane is for a plane on water.
- Glider would be for both gliders and motor-gliders (self-launched)
- Helicopter
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