FAQ
Answers for You
IS IT HARD TO LEARN TO FLY?
No. People of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities have learned to fly. It's fun, and from the beginning of your training, you get to do most of the actual flying! On the practical side — while flying isn't a difficult skill to learn, you'll have to be willing to stick with it until you meet all the requirements. Also, you should consider the cost of becoming a pilot — you'll have to pay for your physical exam and your lessons.
WHEN CAN I START?
Right away. All you have to do is find a flight instructor and sign up for an introductory lesson. You don't have to have a student pilot's certificate or a medical certificate to take flying lessons. Of course, you won't be able to fly solo right away. That takes time and the paperwork described in this guide.
HOW MANY LESSONS DO I HAVE TO TAKE BEFORE I SOLO?
It depends on you. There is no set number of lessons or hours of flight training. Your instructor must make sure you have learned to perform certain maneuvers before allowing you to solo. These maneuvers include safe takeoffs and landings. You must use good judgment when flying and be able to keep control of the aircraft.
Also, you'll have to get a medical certificate and a student pilot's certificate to fly solo.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A PILOT?
It depends on you. There is no set number of lessons or hours of flight training. Your instructor must make sure you have learned to perform certain maneuvers before allowing you to solo. These maneuvers include safe takeoffs and landings. You must use good judgment when flying and be able to keep control of the aircraft.
Also, you'll have to get a medical certificate and a student pilot's certificate to fly solo.
IS FLYING SAFE?
Yes. A well-built and well-maintained aircraft flown by a competent and prudent pilot is as safe or safer than many other forms of transportation.
IF ENGINE FAILURE OCCURS, WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
Modern aircraft engines are reliable and failure rarely occurs. However, your lessons will cover what to do in this situation, including selecting a good landing area and safely landing.
HOW LONG DOES LEARNING TO FLY TAKE?
To earn a private pilot certificate, FAR Part 61 details the information you must learn and requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight training: 20 with an instructor and 20 solo. Few people complete their training in the minimum amount of time; most take 60 to 80 hours. If you learn to fly at a flight school that is governed by Part 141 of the FARs, the minimum is 35 hours, but most students take 50 to 60 hours.
HOW LONG DOES A LESSON LAST?
Although most lessons are based on a one-hour flight, they may take two hours from start to finish because there are pre- and post-flight discussions in which you and your certificated flight instructor (CFI) talk about what you're going to do during your flight, how you performed, what you did well, what needs work, and what you'll do on your next lesson.
CAN I CARRY PASSENGERS?
Student pilots cannot carry passengers when flying solo. Friends or family may ride along on dual lessons (when the instructor is in the airplane), if your instructor approves. Recreational and sport pilots can carry only one passenger at a time; private pilots may carry as many passengers as the airplane will legally seat, provided it stays within the airplane’s performance and weight-and-balance limitations.
WHAT'S GROUND SCHOOL?
Flight training is divided into two parts: ground school and flight training. Ground school teaches you the principles, procedures, and regulations you will put into practice in an aircraft, such as how to navigate from one airport to another. Before you can earn a pilot certificate, you must pass the FAA knowledge test on this information. You have several ground school options, including a scheduled classroom course from a flight school, weekend ground schools or a FAA-approved home-study course.
WHEN WILL I ACTUALLY BEGIN FLYING?
You'll be flying on your first lesson, with your certified flight instructor's help, of course. With each successive lesson, your CFI will be helping less and less, until you won't need any help at all. When you reach this point, you will make your first solo flight, an important milestone in every pilot's training, in which you will fly as the sole occupant of the airplane. After you solo, you and your CFI will work on such things as flying cross-country trips to other airports.
WHAT KINDS OF AIRCRAFT CAN I FLY?
If you are pursuing a sport/recreational, private, instrument or multi-engine certificate you will most likely learn to fly in a two- or four-seat airplane with one engine and fixed landing gear. Most training airplanes carry two to four hours of aviation fuel and fly about 100 mph.
ONCE I EARN IT, WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY PILOT CERTIFICATE?
The options are endless! Take local sightseeing flights with friends and family, travel farther for business or recreation. Test your mettle (and your stomach) learning to fly aerobatics for fun or competition. Build and fly your own aircraft or restore and fly antique/classic aircraft. Join a flying club to connect with other aviation enthusiasts. You can also support a growing number of flight organizations that support humanitarian causes, such disaster relief or transportation for non-critical medical treatment.
DO I NEED A MEDICAL?
The FAA requires a pilot medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) prior to flying solo or earning a pilot certificate (with the exception of a Sport Pilot certificate).
Sport pilots and students seeking a sport pilot certificate do not need a medical, as long as the sport pilot or applicant has no known medical conditions that might be a safety hazard, and has not been denied a medical in the past, a U.S. driver’s license is all that is needed.
Student pilots working toward a recreational or private pilot license, recreational, private, commercial pilots and airline transport pilots need to have an aviation medical certificate.
DO YOU HAVE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS?
Yes!
IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE?
You may use your veteran benefits
We accept financial tuition assistance programs
A Pilot Finance program is available (an independent company not affiliated with us) that offers financing for as little as $250 per month
Other financial savings plans may apply
The Part 141 Certification may give you additional options
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