Private Pilot

Obtaining your pilot’s license is similar to getting your driver’s license in that you must take both a knowledge (written) and a practical test in order to get either license. In your driver’s test and in your private pilot’s test there are certain maneuvers that you are expected to perform, and you must perform those within specified parameters. The examiner is looking to ensure that you will make a safe and competent pilot (or driver), that you have good judgment, and can be flexible with your environment.

To that end, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has designed a minimum amount of hours they require for you to obtain your license. However, very few people are able to accomplish their license in this minimum amount of time, predominantly because of other time obligations. The average person can expect to obtain their license with 55-75 flight hours, although this number can vary widely up or down. It is up to the instructor to ensure that each pilot applicant is prepared before sending them up for an exam (checkride).

Flying

The general course of action each instructor will take is to start you flying immediately. You will learn how the airplane handles (turning, climbing, descending), what are its characteristics (in different airspeeds, altitudes, and temperatures), what to do in case of emergencies, what to say on the radios, and how to take-off and land the airplane. This will be done through the completion of various maneuvers, demonstrated by your instructor and practiced by you. Once you are capable of completing certain maneuvers, communicating on the radio, and have shown that you can consistently land the airplane on your own, your instructor will solo you. Yes, this means that you will be flying the airplane by yourself! This is a milestone for most people, and very rewarding for everyone involved! You will probably then complete several local solo flights before starting a new phase of your training.

Up until now, you will have stayed in the vicinity of your local airport. In this new phase, you will be completing trips to new airports with your instructor, which are called cross-country trips. These are usually fun trips, and can be taken to most anywhere (the only requirement is that the airport is at least 50 nautical miles away). Many people choose their destinations based on where the best airport restaurants are located, where there are museums, friends, etc. Once you have mastered this, you will once again be on your own for a couple of solo cross-country trips. At some point during this time you will be introduced to night flying with your instructor, and will complete not only a local night flight but also a night cross-country.

At this point, you are now beginning the last phase of your training, which is review and preparation for your checkride.

Ground training is mostly completed by you, either through watching and completing the Cessna CD-ROM set or reading the Jeppesen books. There will be time with your instructor, as there are some topics your instructor will want to discuss with you, as well as to brief you before and after each flight.

Your Written Exam and Checkride

The written exam should be completed several weeks before finishing your flying, and is fairly straightforward. It is a multiple choice computerized exam, consisting of 60 questions for which you are allotted two and a half hours to complete. What makes this test straightforward is that the questions are selected from an FAA bank of just over 700 questions, which are all published. As long as you review the questions and take some practice tests, you will be prepared for your written exam.

Your practical test will consist of two sections, both an oral part (where you will sit down and answer questions for the examiner), as well as a practical portion. Here, you will go up in the airplane with the examiner and perform the specified maneuvers. Once that is completed to the set specifications, the examiner will issue you your Private Pilot’s License!

Beyond the Checkride

Now that you are a Private Pilot, you may now take family and friends flying, or even look into purchasing your own plane. The sky is the limit!

If you want to continue your learning, you may take the next step: Instrument Flying. This rating will give you the ability to fly in and out of the clouds, and can be very beneficial.