| There are many reasons to gain a Private Pilot | | | | decide if you want to learn to fly at a FAR Part 141 |
| License, also called a Private Pilot Certificate. The | | | | school, or a FAR Part 61 school. In the United States, |
| three main reasons are for recreation, business, or a | | | | flight schools are required to operate under one of |
| stepping stone to the Commercial Pilot License. While | | | | these two sets of rules, as laid down by the FAA |
| many pilots in the United States get their flight training | | | | (Federal Aviation Administration). One is really not any |
| through the military, here we provide the steps needed | | | | better then the other. Flight schools which operate |
| to become a pilot by training at one of the many flight | | | | under FAR Part 141 provide a more formal curriculum, |
| schools in America. Lets take a look at the steps | | | | with slightly fewer hours required for certification, and |
| which are needed in order to become a certified | | | | flight schools which operate under FAR Part 61 are |
| Private Pilot. | | | | less formal, and hours needed for certification are a |
| 1) The first step is a psychological step. You need to | | | | little bit more. |
| make sure you are in the proper mind set and have | | | | But since the hours needed in order to obtain the |
| the proper attitude to learn how to fly. This means you | | | | Private Pilot License almost always is much more then |
| should have a very good reason, at least for yourself, | | | | the required hours for certification (65-70 hours is the |
| in terms of why you want to become a pilot. And a | | | | national average), there is really no advantage to |
| perfunctory reason will not work. The reason for this is | | | | learning at a FAR Part 141 school. Your decision in |
| because it takes unadulterated commitment on your | | | | terms of FAR Part 141, and FAR Part 61, should really |
| part in order to gain a Private Pilot License. | | | | be dependent on the type of learning environment you |
| 2) Along the lines of commitment, you will need to set | | | | prefer. Some students do better in a more formal |
| aside a large chunk of time weekly for learning how to | | | | environment, while others prefer a more laid back, less |
| fly. You could just train on the weekend, but the draw | | | | formal environment. |
| back to this method is that learning to fly could take a | | | | 7) After selecting a flight school, you then need to |
| long time, a very long time. Therefore, if possible, try to | | | | select an instructor. Select an instructor you feel |
| fly every good weather day, and therefore set aside | | | | comfortable with, both in terms of personality and |
| time daily for flight training. It is very important you | | | | flying experience. There are basically two types of |
| understand that the closer your lessons are to each | | | | instructors in the United States. One type is trying to |
| other, the less money you will spend in the end. The | | | | build flying hours and has a desire to move on beyond |
| national average in terms of the flying hours needed to | | | | instruction to a commercial flying job which is more |
| obtain the Private Pilot License is 65 - 70 hours. | | | | lucrative. The other type of instructor is a career |
| 3) Plan on spending around $8,000.00 USD to obtain | | | | instructor who prefers to instruct, and is not really flying |
| the Private Pilot License. This includes instructor fee, | | | | to build hours, but enjoys teaching new students. |
| cost to rent airplane, exams, books, and equipment. | | | | Career instructors on average tend to be older then |
| Some sources put the cost at about $7,000.00 USD. | | | | hour building instructors. |
| Again, the more frequently you fly, the lower the end | | | | In terms of these two types of instructors, one is really |
| cost will be. Assuming you are average in terms of | | | | not any better then the other, and selecting an |
| number of flying hours needed (65 - 70 hours), plan on | | | | instructor you believe you are compatible with is what |
| spending $7,000.00 to $8,000.00 USD. | | | | really is important. You need to have a professional |
| 4) After you have decided that you truly want to gain | | | | learning situation, where personality incompatibility will |
| a Private Pilot License, you understand the time | | | | not interfere with the process of becoming a pilot. |
| needed, and you have worked out the financial aspect, | | | | Selecting the right instructor is probably the most |
| you then can start to think about selecting the right | | | | important component in learning how to fly. |
| flight school. When selecting a flight school, visit every | | | | 8) Finally, for most areas of the United States, plan on |
| flight school that is within a reasonable driving distance | | | | starting the learning process at the beginning of the |
| to where you live. The following two steps will help in | | | | summer. You need to have plenty of good flying |
| your selection of a flight school. | | | | weather in front of you before you start. If you start in |
| 5) You need to decide if you want to become a | | | | the fall, you may end up having to stop due to bad |
| tri-gear or conventional gear (tail wheel) pilot, or both. | | | | weather and may need to wait until the spring to |
| Do you want to take your check ride in a conventional | | | | continue, which means more time and money. Plan on |
| gear airplane, or a tri-gear airplane. Today, most pilots | | | | getting the job done within a few months in the |
| take their check ride in a tri-gear airplane. But it should | | | | summer. |
| be noted that you will be a more proficient and a safer | | | | This holds true for most areas of the country, but not |
| pilot if you are able to fly more then one type of | | | | all. Of course, if you are learning to fly in the |
| airplane. This diversity includes being able to fly both | | | | Southwest or Florida, then when you start is really not |
| tri-gear and conventional gear aircraft. | | | | a factor. |
| Today, most pilots prefer to stick with a tri-gear | | | | So there you have it. The steps you need to take in |
| airplane from start to finish, when getting their Private | | | | order to become a Private Pilot. The most important |
| Pilot License. Select a flight school which provides both | | | | considerations are proper mind set and attitude, |
| tri-gear and conventional gear aircraft for you to rent, | | | | commitment of time and money, type of airplane you |
| so that you are able to fly both of these types of | | | | want to fly, and finally flight school and instructor |
| airplanes. | | | | selection. |
| You can train and take your check ride in a tri gear | | | | To quote Leonardo da Vinci "For once you have |
| airplane, and later after you obtain your Private Pilot | | | | tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes |
| License, get a tail wheel endorsement. No matter how | | | | turned skywards, for there you have been and there |
| you slice it, the more different types of airplanes you | | | | you will long to return". If you follow these steps, you |
| can get checked out in and fly well, the safer you will | | | | can experience what only Leonardo da Vinci could |
| be as a pilot. | | | | only dream of, the archetypal dream of flight. |
| 6) Also, in terms of flight school selection, you need to | | | | |