Learn To Fly

Groundschool
Groundschool programs are available at many local flight schools and colleges. Student pilots also may choose to study at home via the Internet or CD or DVD programs.

During groundschool, students learn from a variety of subject areas, including weather, rules and regulations and aerodynamics. At the end of ground training, you'll be expected to take a 60-question multiple-choice written test. A passing score of 70% or better is required.

Flight Training
The next step is to take actual flying lessons, in which you'll pilot a real plane! There are two parts to this hands-on course. The first is called dual flight training. "Dual" refers to the time you'll spend flying with an instructor in the aircraft. The instructor's job is to ensure your safety while you learn a progression of skills, from taxiing the airplane to mastering landings.

The second part occurs when the instructor feels the student is ready to fly the airplane alone for the first time. It's referred to as the first "solo," and every pilot remembers the event. First solos usually are limited to a few takeoffs and landings, but that moment begins a series of flights when the student functions as pilot in command.

The Practical Test
When the instructor believes you're ready, he or she will recommend you for a practical test, or check ride. You'll meet with a representative of the FAA who will evaluate your training. This evaluation has two parts---an oral exam followed by an hour in the air. Successful completion of your practical test rewards you with a private-pilot license.

Selecting A Flight School
Now that you know what learning to fly entails, it's time to choose the best flight school for your needs. For starters, check your local airport. Nearly all of them have one or more flight schools. Before you begin your training, do yourself the favor of visiting several of them. Look at the airplanes they use for instruction, listen to the deals they offer, and leave with the information on paper. Some may provide training in two-seat airplanes (which will ultimately be less expensive); others will offer training in four-seat airplanes (which is more likely what you'll fly once you get your license). Analyze package deals to see what they include and use that information to compare costs between flight-training programs.

As you visit flight schools, you'll find there are two types: Part-141 schools and Part-61 schools. Those numbers simply refer to the section in the Federal Aviation Regulations that sets guidelines for flight training. Part-141 schools may advertise themselves as "FAA-approved," which is true but sometimes misleading. Part-61 schools also are approved by the FAA (or else they couldn't be in business), but Part-141 schools agree to adhere to a more rigid and ordered schedule of lessons. For that concession, the FAA allows Part-141 student pilots to get a pilot's license in five hours less time---35 hours instead of the 40-hour minimum of Part-61 schools. The national average, however, indicates that the typical student pilot tends to require more than 70 hours of training, regardless of the type of school, to earn a private-pilot license. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these types of schools, but they stem primarily from the individual student pilot's needs and ultimate goals.

There also are flight schools that specialize in training pilots who want to go into aviation as a career. These schools typically expect to take a student with little or no prior experience from the entry-level private-pilot license and directly into the more advanced ratings, like instrument, commercial, flight instructor, multi-engine and even airline transport pilot. You can find an extensive listing of those schools at www.planeandpilotmag.com/content/schools/index.html.

LEARN TO FLY FROM HOME

Making The Final Selection
Most pilots agree that one of the most important factors that should affect your ultimate decision of where to learn to fly is the selection of your flight instructor. Because you'll end up spending a good amount of time with this person, both in and out of the cockpit, it's important to make sure that you're comfortable with this person, that you seem to communicate well with each other and that you can formulate a productive relationship together. Before you finalize your selection, review the instructor's qualifications and his or her amount and level of experience, and if possible, talk to other students who have trained with your prospective instructor. You're hiring someone to do a job for you, and you should look at hiring your instructor with the same demeanor as any employer looking at potential employees.

The Cost Of Learning To Fly
The bottom-line dollar of learning to fly varies tremendously from person to person and from region to region, but you can expect it to fall somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $10,000. While the cost of renting airplanes for lessons and fees charged by instructors varies, the largest expense the student pilot can control is the amount of time it takes to get a license. Since you typically pay for the aircraft and the instructor by the hour, students who complete their training in 60 hours will spend significantly less money than a student who requires 100 hours. You can go a long way toward reducing the cost of your training by flying as often as your budget and schedule allow. If you can train only once a week, you may take several times longer than if you can fly three or five times a week or every day. The more frequently you fly, the more quickly you'll learn and get your license.

The New Sport-Pilot License
Late last year, the FAA created a new and potentially less expensive way to fly---the sport-pilot license. The idea is centered around certifying a whole new fleet of easier-to-fly, more economical aircraft that will simplify and reduce the cost of training. While it's still too early to see just how the new legislation will impact flight training, it's believed the total cost of learning to fly will drop by half or more from present levels. Sport pilots will have to live with a few more restrictions---slower aircraft and fewer passengers---but the possibilities are exciting. For more information about the sport-pilot license, visit www.planeandpilotmag.com/proficiency/pilot-skills/sport_pilot_license.html and watch for further updates here in Plane & Pilot Magazine.

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WHAT PILOTS SAY...