Did you ever wonder what it takes to become a private pilot?

 

By David McClelland

 

Have you ever thought that you would like to be at the controls of a light airplane on a sunny day and be able to fly to any place that you desire? How about taking off on a Saturday morning and flying up to Mackinac Island for the day and back again that evening or the next day?  No long drives. No airport or airline headaches. You would be in control of the situation. You would be able to leave when YOU want. Sound good?

 

As you know, if you've been reading my blogs, I am a retired U.S. Air Force officer and was stationed with my family in Colorado Springs from 1966–1971. During that time, my wife and I joined the Air Force Academy Aero Club, took flying lessons and obtained our private pilots licenses. I can share with you the process that you could use to get yours.

 

What hurdles would you have to clear to be able to become a licensed pilot? First, you have to be at least 17 years old and be able to read and write English fluently. Next, you have to be willing to pay about $8,000 (depending on the type of plane that you train in, the program you attend and other factors) to obtain your goal and that price will get even higher as the cost of fuel rises. If you find that you can come up with the cash you next have to find out if you are healthy enough to pass the flight physical. You would be well advised to clear that hurdle before even beginning to learn to fly. Once the doctor clears you, you will need to enroll in a local flight school and locate a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) who is willing teach you how to fly.

 

You must take Ground School classes and a legal minimum of 40 hours of actual flight time before you can take your FAA check ride which may take half a day. I'm told that the current average is about 55 hours before one can take that all important check ride. Long before that, you must complete the FAA required steps which include Ground Flight School (GFS).  GFS will allow you to become familiar with aerodynamics, navigation, weather maps, etc.

 

Let's say that you find an instructor and have decided to fly out of Oakland County International Airport and train in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft. This is a very forgiving aircraft and considered to be a desirable trainer. During your very first lesson, you will be in the left seat, the command pilot's seat, while your instructor will sit in the right seat.

 

You will learn how to take off, fly around a bit (climbs, banks, descents, etc.) and observe how to land during that first lesson. Then, you are on your way. From that first lesson, it will be practice, practice and more practice. Each lesson will last about an hour or more and will begin with a pre-flight checklist. You must check every control surface of the aircraft to be sure that it is sound. Before you can leave the plane's parking space, you will check in with the ground control to be sure that you have clearance to depart. Once you do, you will taxi your Cessna (you will always use your aircraft call sign when communicating) to the end of the active runway in preparation for departure.

 

How do you know which is the active runway? You will listen to an automated broadcast and Ground Control will tell you to taxi there. You usually take off into (against) the wind or as nearly in that direction as the runways allow. That is because, as you will learn in GFS, the aircraft is able to fly only because of the wind traveling over the wings and providing lift. Upon landing, you will taxi off of the active runway and back to your parking area. Then, a very important step, you will fill out your official log book with the proper entry for that flight. You will keep a running total of the number of hours flown.

 

To qualify for your license, you must perform a minimum of three takeoffs and landings at airports with a control tower, fly solo, successfully pass with a score of 70% or higher the FAA private pilot knowledge written test, complete 10 hours of solo flight time with parameters, 40 hours of dual flight time with parameters, a solo cross-country flight of 150 nautical miles with parameters, flight instruction and a log book signed by a CFI and successfully complete a final exam and check-off flight given by an FAA inspector.

 

That may sound complicated, but it really isn't. You can do it if you have the desire.

I have not attempted to provide every detail in this blog, but to give you the basics and the requirements to obtain your private "ticket" as they say. I hope that I have whetted your appetite for flying. If so, go for it!!!

 

There is a lot of additional information at websites like the Aircraft Owners and Pilots' Association's Let's Go Flying site (www.letsgoflying.com). Check it out.