Here
are some frequently asked questions on learning to fly:
How long will it take to become certificated?
What are the minimum requirements?
What is a Part 141 certificated school?
How long until I fly alone?
How much does it cost?
Once I have my Private Pilot certificate,
what else should I do?
What are the various certificates and
what do they mean?
What about multi-engine training?
How
long will it take to become certificated?
That depends on how often you fly and how hard you work. Students who live in
the region tend to fly one to three times per week, and take ground school early
in the process. At once a week, it will take you the better part of a year to
earn your Private Pilot license. At three times per week, it will generally take
three to four months. But every student learns at their own pace, and some will
take longer than others to become safe and proficient. At the speedier end of
the scale (which is popular with international students who stay for the duration),
we’ve actually had students become certificated in as few as 21 days. This
requires three things:
1) a clear schedule on our end, which can usually be arranged
2) consistently good weather
3) that you fly or study nearly every waking moment.
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What
are the minimum requirements?
You must pass a flight physical by an FAA Medical Examiner prior to enrollment
in a Part 141 course or before solo in a Part 61 course. (We are a Part 141 school,
more on that later.) Then you need to build time in the air, a minimum of 35
hours if enrolled in a Part 141 course. This time will be spent both solo and
with an instructor, both day and night, and both local and cross-country.You
must also do a considerable amount of studying, and pass a written exam before
taking your oral and flight exams for your Private Pilot certificate.
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What
is a Part 141 school?
This is an FAA designation that signifies the school has passed rigorous standards,
and in turn the FAA requires fewer minimum hours for its students to become licensed.
Crystal Aero Group has held a Part 141 certificate since 1980.
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How
long until I fly alone?
Your “first solo” is a significant step, and it generally happens once
you’ve had eight to ten lessons with an instructor. On the big day, you’ll
take a lesson as usual, and once you’re feeling warmed up and confident,
the instructor will step out, and watch you “go around the pattern” three
times, performing three takeoffs and three full landings. Most people feel a
bit weak in the knees, but are grinning from ear to ear at the end. Be sure and
wear a shirt you don’t mind losing! Tradition demands that your flight instructor
cut the back of your shirt out while you’re wearing it, mark it with the
date and details of your first solo, and post it in the school for everyone to
admire. (If you prefer, you can just put an old shirt over one that will remain
intact.)
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How
much does it cost?
A Private Pilot certificate costs as little as $6,600 at Crystal Aero Group.
This is significantly less than what it will usually cost at bigger schools and
airports, as their costs are quite a bit more than ours. Plus, because we’re
at a small airport and therefore don’t have to taxi long distances and wait
in line for takeoff, engine and instructor time (the base units of what you’re
charged) is nearly 100% productive. Your total cost will include books and materials,
ground school, flight physical, instructor time, aircraft rental time, written
test fee and flight test fee.
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Once
I have my Private Pilot certificate, what else should
I do?
We strongly recommend that you consider an Instrument Rating,
which will allow you to file and fly flight plans that take
you into clouds and poor visibility. Even if you never plan
on flying in those kinds of conditions, weather is unpredictable
at best, and an instrument rating will dramatically improve
your skills and overall flying safety.
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What
are the various certificates (licenses) and what do they
mean?
The FAA issues flying privileges based on a combination of four things: Aircraft
Category, Aircraft Class, Pilot Certificate and Pilot Ratings. The most common
goal to start with is achieving your Private Pilot certificate for ASEL (airplane
single-engine land). You might then add Glider to your Private certificate, and
commence training to receive your Instrument Rating. Although you won’t
need a Commercial Pilot certificate unless you intend to tow banners, flight
instruct, or otherwise get paid for flying, it offers really valuable training
in more complex airplanes.
Aircraft
Category (Bold Bullet) and Class (subheaded with open
bullet.)
- AIRPLANE (Powered
fixed-wing aircraft with one or more engines.)
- Airplane
Single-Engine Land (ASEL)
- Airplane
Multi-Engine Land (AMEL)
- Airplane
Single-Engine Sea (ASES)
- Airplane
Multi -Engine Sea (AMES)
- GLIDER (
Non-powered fixed-wing aircraft.)
- ROTORCRAFT (
Aircraft in which the “wings” are actually
one or more sets of rotor blades.)
- LIGHTER-THAN-AIR (
Wingless aircraft, either powered or non-powered.)
- POWERED
LIFT (Vectored thrust aircraft with fixed wings
that can rise and descend vertically like a helicopter,
and transition to fast forward flight like an aircraft.
Examples: Harrier and Osprey)
Pilot
Certificates
- Student
Pilot: Necessary to begin training in a Part 141 school.
This is issued by an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner.
- Recreational
Pilot: A highly restricted day-only certificate designed
for the home-built/sport aviation enthusiast.
- Private
Pilot: The most common first goal for the new pilot.
- Commercial
Pilot: Necessary before you can be paid for piloting.
- Airline
Pilot: Necessary before you can be a pilot for scheduled
airline flights.
Pilot
Ratings
- Instrument:
Allows you to fly in poor visibility when on an IFR clearance.
- Flight
Instructor
- ASE:
Required to flight-instruct in single-engine airplanes,
eiter land or sea.
- AME:
Required to flight-instruct in multi-engine airplanes,
either land or sea.
- Glider:
Required to flight-instruct in gliders.
- Rotorcraft:
Required to flight-instruct in rotorcraft.
- Instrument:
Required to flight-instruct for the instrument
rating
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What
about multi-engine training?
Nearly all new pilots start off in a Single Engine Land Airplane. Once they have
built up some experience, some (especially business travelers) choose to also
earn their Multi Engine Airplane designation. A twin engine airplane offers greater
load carrying capability, speed, and to some degree, safety, than a single engine
aircraft. Crystal Aero Group offers multi-engine training in our Beech Duchess multi-engine airplane.
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Other questions? Feel free to email us at
learntofly@crystalaerogroup.com
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