How to Become an Airplane Pilot
By Blue Perry
 
 
This Is A Canadian Military F-18 Tomcat ( 25 years old )
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I want to fly airplanes. What do I need to do?

    To operate an aircraft in the United States, you must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). There are several levels of pilot's license; the most basic is the Private Pilot license. This license permits the holder pilot an aircraft anywhere in the United States, and to carry passengers. A Private Pilot may not be paid to fly an aircraft or carry passengers or cargo.
 

The steps needed to earn this license are shown here:

     Pass a basic medical examination.
     Pass a written examination (100 multiple-choice questions).
     Receive the required amount of instruction from a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI).
     Pass a "checkride" (aircraft equivalent of a driving test) given by an FAA-approved examiner.

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How much does it cost?

    Usually, earning your pilot's license will cost about $5,000. This includes aircraft rental, flight instruction, books, charts and examiner fees. The cost can vary depending on the location you pick. You don't need to pay this money all at once. Almost all flight schools operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, so the cost will be spread out over the time you are working on your license. In fact, you should be cautious of any place that offers a ""guaranteed"" training for a supposedly low amount.

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How long will it take?

    To receive a Private Pilot license, the FAA requires student pilots have a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, of which 20 must be done with an insrtuctor. However, these are MINIMUMS. The national average is 60 to 70 hours. About half of your flight time will be with an instructor, and and the rest "solo." For every flight hour, expect an additional 2-3 hours of reading, flight planning, and ground review with your instructor.

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A Longbow Apache Helicopter
 
Where should I go for flight training?

    The first step to learning to fly an airplane is to find a place to learn and practice. A quick way to locate flight training facilities is to look in the Yellow Pages under " Aircraft Flight Instruction." However, not all schools advertise there, so the Yellow Pages won't tell you all your options. However, usually at least one school at each airport will advertise. So, from the Yellow Pages, you can at least learn the locations of all the local airports.

    The best way to learn what schools are available is to visit your local airports. Small and mid-size airports usually have more flight traning activity than major airline airports.

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Flight training facilities go by several different names. Here are some of the most common types:
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Fixed Base Operator (FBO): This type of business offers a full range of aviation services: aircraft sales and maintenance, fuel sales, aircraft charter, flight instruction, or any other services that transient or based aircraft and pilots might need. Aircraft rental and flight instruction may be only a small part of this business.
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Flight school: A business whose primary business is flight training and aircraft rental. It may offer other services such as aircraft maintenance and pilot supplies.
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Flying club: A non-profit group of pilots and aircraft owners who join together to help reduce expenses and share resources. Since these clubs are non-profit, rental rates are usually lower than at a Fixed Base Operator's or  a flight schools.
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How do I choose a flight school?
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Here are some factors to consider when selecting a flight school:
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Location:  As will be making many trips to the flight school, you should be in a location convenient to you. Be sure to include travel time to and from the airport in your lesson scheduling plans. Insurance coverage: it is very important to have adequate insurance coverage for any flight operations. Training aircraft can be valued anywhere from $15,000 to over $100,000, and even minor damage can be very expensive. Ask the school for details about its insurance coverage, and whether you as a student/renter are included in the coverage. There should be coverage for damage to the aircraft itself (called "hull insurance"), damage to other property ("liability insurance," for damage to structures on the ground, for example), and medical coverage, should you or your instructor be injured. Like auto insurance, aircraft insurance usually has a deductible. Find out amount of the deductible, and if you are responsible for it. Also ask if the insurance policy has a "no-subrogation" clause. This clause is desirable, because it means the insurance company cannot try to recover damages from you (except the deductible) for any incident in which you may be involved.

    Some schools carry insurance that covers only themselves and the aircraft owner. In case of an accident, you could be liable for all damages. If this is the case, you can purchase " renter's insurance " . For an annual fee, this type of insurance will cover you for anything  not covered by the school's policy, up to the stated amount on your policy.
 
Scheduling: Find out how many aircraft and instructors the school has. Ask to see the school's schedule book, and see if there are aircraft and instructors that fit your schedule. Scheduling lessons one week in advance is fairly common, but if you have to schedule two or more weeks in advance, the school might have too many students for the number of aircraft and instructors.

Instructors: Most flight schools will want to assign you the first available instructor. However, if you have specific requirements, request a different instructor. It is best to make your first selection before beginning any training, as many schools and instructors don't want to switch instructors during your training.
 
Aircraft maintenance: Because of the overall age of the general aircraft you will be flying. Even well-maintained aircraft may appear worn and/or damaged.
 
Warning !  The average aircraft is 23 years old.
    Most faults in an aircraft that has seen a lot of use is worn carpeting and upolstry, and the labels worn off of switches, controls, and maybe a crack in the windsheild.

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Longbow Apache Cockpit
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I can't afford flight training right now. What can I do to work toward my license?
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There are many things you can do before beginning flight training:
 
Ground school: Most flight schools and community colleges offer inexpensive classes that teach you all of the "basic book work" you will need for your license. A passing score is good for up to two years.
 
Simulators and ground trainers: Flight simulators on personal computers can be used to practice radio navigation and flight planning. Ground trainers (the disembodied airplane cockpits seen at many flight schools) can help you work on procedures and using checklists.
 
Rides with other pilots: Riding along in an airplane is not only a lot of fun, but will help you become familiar with the appearance of your airport and local area from the air, and help you develop skills such as navigation, and Tactical Reference. This will be of benefit for when you venture out on your single flights.
Can I make a career of flying?
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There are some important fact's you should be aware of when considering a career in aviation:
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    There are many more pilots than there are pilot jobs. This means there is much competition for the vacant positions, and the pay rates are kept low by the many people applying. Many new pilots are driven by the $80,000 or more per year.
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