Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements?
How difficult is it?
Do I have to be a US citizen?
What is my first step?
What kind of tests will I take?
What happens after I get my pilot’s license?
Am I able to rent the aircraft for personal flights?
What are the minimum flight hours per day?
Am I able to fly into Mexico or Canada?
There are three basic requirements for learning to fly powered airplanes in the United States.
Age
Regulations require that a person be 16 years old to solo (fly alone in the airplane) and 17 to earn a license, however there is no age restriction as to when you may begin flight training.
On the other side of the coin, there are no age restrictions that requires you to stop flying either. As long as you can obtain a medical certificate then you may fly. If you cannot obtain a medical certificate, you will not be preempted from flying totally, as you may still fly with an instructor.
We encourage any age to broaden their horizons with such a great activity!
Language
There is a requirement by the FAA for you to be able to read, write, speak, and understand English. If this may be an issue for you, you will need to take steps to further your communication abilities. Options that may help include: hiring a language tutor, taking English language lessons through a school (i.e. the Berlitz language school or local university), purchasing books concerning radio calls, or even purchasing a transceiver with air frequency capabilities (this will allow you to listen to pilot/controller communications while remaining on the ground). One way or another, you must be able to understand radio calls to you and other aircraft, as well as to be able to respond to them in a timely manner.
Medical Requirements
The FAA requires that every pilot have a medical certificate given by an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner to act as Pilot in Command of an airplane. As a beginning pilot, your medical certificate will also double as your Student Pilot Certificate, which you will need to solo (fly alone).
There are three types of medical certificates you may obtain: a First Class, Second Class, or Third Class. For your first medical you will want to determine the type of flying you plan to do. If you plan to obtain all of your flight certificates and try a commercial career in aviation, then you will want to obtain a First Class medical. Most commercial operators require a First Class medical, so it's a good idea to pass a first class medical exam early on in your training. By obtaining your medical right from the start, you know you can pass the medical requirements to fly commercially. If you plan to use your licenses mainly for recreational purposes, however, then a Third Class Medical will suit you just fine.
The differences? Each class of medical requires a little more thorough exam than the previous one, and doctors will normally charge a different amount for each.
If you're just starting out as a student pilot or a private pilot, any grade of medical certificate that you obtain will be valid for 36 calendar months (or 24 calendar months if you're over 40 at the time of examination). As you progress through your training and reach the commercial pilot level, you will need a second class medical examination every 12 calendar months in order to fly for hire. And for those who desire to become airline captains, a first class medical examination is needed every 6 calendar months during your time as a captain.
As with any other skill you master, flying is learned step by step by step. It's a fascinating experience, but it's not particularly difficult. It can be learned by practically anyone who is willing to invest some time and effort.
Pilot training has two aspects: ground training and flight training. Ground training takes place on the ground. It covers flight rules and regulations, flight planning, navigation, radio procedures, and weather. During your flight training, you learn how to fly by actually controlling the airplane yourself. Under the supervision of a certified flight instructor, you learn how to take off, land ,and navigate from one airport to another.
Millions of people have learned to fly. By the time you're ready for your private pilot certificate, you'll be secure in the knowledge that you're a safe and competent pilot.
No. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to begin your flight training. There are a few extra steps that you will have to take though.
TSA regulations require US If you are not a citizen, you will have to go to www.flightschoolcandidates.gov and set up an account with the TSA. They will ask you for your information (ex: fingerprints, photo I.D., etc.). Once the process has finished, and the TSA has sent us an e-mail stating that you have been granted permission to begin your flight training, you are ready to go.
Deciding to learn to fly is obviously the first step and often the most difficult one. Before you make the big decision to take flying lessons, you may want to take a discovery flight.
California Flight Center offers discovery flights for a very low price of $189. But, what does a discovery flight entail?? Well, we will schedule you with one of our highly experienced instructors in a brand new Cessna 172SP G1000. The instructor will take you out to the aircraft and explain to you the basics of the aircraft and what to expect on your flight.
Once you are airborne, the instructor will let you take over the controls so that you’ll be able to experience the handling of the aircraft. Whether you fly over the ocean and up the coast or more inland over the LA area, your flight will last about an hour.
After you’ve landed safely, you will receive a logbook endorsed by your instructor, recording the time that you just flew. This time is good toward the 40 hours needed to receive your private pilot’s license.
And that concludes your discovery flight. Please keep in mind that it is a 4 seater aircraft. Feel free to bring a guest (at no extra charge). Take all the pictures you can to commemorate your first flight!!
Please call with any questions you may have.
What kind of tests will I take?
Before a private pilot’s license is issued, you must pass two tests:
One is a written FAA examination- which will test your knowledge on various aeronautical subjects.
Following this exam is a practical test (also known as a checkride) where an FAA-designated pilot examiner will evaluate your aeronautical knowledge as well as your ability to maneuver the airplane safely and confidently. You'll have practiced the maneuvers many times before, and your flight instructor will have prepared you thoroughly.
What happens after I get my pilot ’s license?
You'll never be quite the same person you were before. You'll have access to a whole new world of personal freedom. You'll think of travel in terms of hours, not miles. You'll know what it means to make your own schedules, go your own way, far above the crowds, the congestion, the hassle, and the annoyances of ordinary transportation.
You'll find a new sense of personal fulfillment in your ever-growing flying skills. You'll push the old boundaries of your life forward and you'll have the opportunity to plan, seek, and find new experiences that will enrich your life in countless ways, see trips for examples. You'll gain greater self-reliance and confidence.
Through you own initiative and effort, you'll be a master of our 20th century's most distinctive and rewarding art - flying.
Am I able to rent the aircraft for personal flights?
Absolutely!!! All of the aircraft on our fleet are available for your next vacation or local hop. It’s just a matter of getting checked out in the aircraft of your choice. Call us to set up your check out flight!!!
What are the minimum flight hours per day?
In order for an aircraft to be rented from California flight Center for your multi-day travels, there is a set amount of hours that need to be put on the plane per day. On the weekdays, we would like to have 2 hours per day. And on the weekends, the minimum is 3 hours per day.
Am I able to fly into Mexico or Canada?
Yes, California Flight Center allows its aircraft to be flown into either Mexico or Canada. The only thing that we ask is that we can be notified of the trip one week in advance in order to prepare and verify all of the paperwork needed for a smooth entry into and out of the country.