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How do I know if I can learn to fly?Somewhere, there is someone just like you who recently became a pilot. You must be 16 to solo and 17 to take the FAA Check Ride in order to earn your private pilot's license. At Pittsburgh Flight Training Center, we've actually had several individuals who have started at 13-14 years of age! They take a lesson every month or so in the spring and summer and work toward being able to solo at 16. There are people from almost every walk of life who have become pilots. What are the requirements?There are three basic requirements for learning to fly an aircraft in the United States. First, you must meet the age requirements. Second, you must be in good health. Third, you have to be able to read, speak, and understand English. You may apply for a student pilot certificate if you are at least 16 years old. When you are 17, you may apply for a private pilot certificate. There is no maximum age limit because it is health and not age that determines a person's ability to fly. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires everyone who wants to become a pilot or continue to be a pilot to pass a routine medical examination. This requirement ensures that pilots do not have medical problems that could interfere with their ability to fly safely. Allowances are made for many physical limitations. For example, glasses and contact lenses are perfectly acceptable. It is advisable to complete the physical exam early in your flight training to ensure that you qualify. How difficult is it?As with any other skill you master, flying is a step-by-step process. It's a fascinating experience, which like anything else worth having takes commitment. it is not particularly difficult and 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 includes flight rules and regulations, flight planning, navigation, radio procedures, and weather. Flight training takes place in the airplane and concentrates on the skills required to safely control the aircraft. Do I need special skills to fly?No. The most important element in successfully learning to fly is desire. Once you're ready to invest you time and effort in learning to fly, then it's time to take the first steps. What is the first step?Deciding to learn to fly is obviously the first step, and often the most difficult one. Before you make the decision to take flying lessons you may want to experience flying in a light aircraft. Once you have viewed your community from the perspective of a general aviation aircraft, and feel the sensation of flight, you'll know whether flying is for you. Pittsburgh Flight Training Center offers what is called a Discovery Flight for just this purpose. The cost is a very reasonable $79 for a 30-minute flight. If you would like to have a longer flying experience, you can enjoy a full one-hour Discovery Flight for $154. During this flight you will actually fly a Cessna 172 from the pilot's seat with a fully certified flight instructor sitting right next to you. How long will it take?Most people receive their private pilot certificate after about 65-75 hours of flight time, including time spent flying with an instructor (dual) and time spent flying alone (solo). You can fly in the early morning, during the day, evenings, or on weekends. Scheduling your training is up to you and your instructor. How long it takes to accumulate flight time is largely up to you. Usually two or three hours flying time per week is a good learning rate. Statistics indicate that the average student pilot completes the requirements for a private pilot certificate in seven to ten months. What will my first flight be like?Your instructor will introduce you to the airplane that you will learn to fly. You will be briefed concerning the instrument, controls, and equipment in the airplane. After this preflight briefing the two of you will take-off. When aloft, and under the close supervision of your instructor, you will take the control of the airplane. Forgive us for being a bit bias, but we think you will love it! What kind of tests will I take?A test is not required for a student pilot certificate. However, before a private certificate is issued you must pass two tests. One is an aeronautical knowledge test, a practical exam on flying rules and regulations. Don't worry; you'll have done it all before as part of your training program. Following this is a practical examination of your flying ability. Here you will take an FAA designated examiner for a "check ride" to demonstrate your ability to maneuver the airplane safely and confidently. You will have practiced the maneuvers many times before and you flight instructor will have prepared you thoroughly. How much does it cost?Flight training cost vary. Fuel prices, maintenance, and insurance costs are but a few of the variables your training facility has to deal with. You can probably expect to pay between $6,000 and $8,000 to complete your training program here at PFTC. Fees are paid as you complete lessons. Compared to the costs of training in other business skills, becoming a licensed pilot is a good value. Pro-rated over a lifetime, it is probably one of the best bargains you will ever find. The cost of becoming a pilot is a solid investment in your future. Do you offer payment plans?There are several payment options available. You can pay as you go. You can place money on account and receive a 3-5 percent discount. We have several lenders available as well. Flight training can be financed just like any other purchase. It is possible to get a Private Pilot License for as little as $99 per month. For more information on financing please contact www.pilotfinance.com. Is flying safe?General aviation airplanes are built to rigid federal specifications, and are constantly checked and re-checked to make sure they are mechanically and structurally safe. People who fly are very safety conscious. As the pilot-in-command of an airplane, you are also in command of most variables that affect flying safety which, by the way, is the most important word in the aviation vocabulary. Your flight instructor will train you to operate the aircraft in a safe manner. A well-trained pilot makes flying safer than many other forms of transportation. Flying is not inexpensive. Protection of personal safety is the reason why. What happens if the engine quits?An aircraft engine is a piece of finely built machinery designed to keep running. If the improbably should happen however, you will not fall out of the sky. Your airplane descends slowly in a glide. You simply do what your instructor had you practice during your lessons, select the nearest safe landing site and land. you have a better chance of being struck by lighting than experiencing an aircraft engine failure. Can I bring a friend along on my training flights?The short answer is "yes." If you fly a Cessna 172 or other 4-seater aircraft it is possible to bring along someone else from time to time. Of course, you need to check with your instructor first to see if he/she feels that the upcoming lesson is conducive to having an observer onboard. Also, your friend(s) can choose to watch from the PFTC observation deck. What about insurance?Life Insurance: Insurance companies have come to recognize how extremely safe flying really is. Most new policies do not mention general aviation flying. If you have an older policy, restrictive clauses for private flying can usually be removed at little or no cost. Liability Insurance: PFTC includes insurance in your rental fee. However, many people purchase additional special low-cost pilot insurance that covers private flying. At any rate, you should check with your insurance agent concerning additional requirements. Do I have to own an airplane?Not at all! Of course, airplane ownership will give you complete freedom to set you schedule. you will have a pride of ownership like nothing you've know before. Most pilots do not own an airplane. Some are owned in partnerships and many pilots rent airplanes. Rental fees are based on an hourly rate for actual flying time. Should you decide to own, PFTC's manager can show you the many options available. What happens after I earn my certificate?You'll never be quite the same person. You will have access to a whole New World of personal freedom. You will think of travel in terms of hours, not miles, and also know what it means to make your own schedule, go your own way, above the crowds, the congestion, and the annoyances of ordinary transportation. Included in all this is a new sense of personal fulfillment. Pushing the old boundaries of your life forward and having the opportunity to plan, seek, and find new experiences that will enrich your life in countless ways. you will gain greater self-reliance and confidence. What can learning to fly do for me?Learning to fly an airplane opens the door to a wide variety of career opportunities. Most obvious is becoming a professional pilot for one of the many commercial flying services, major airlines, charter, corporate, and cargo operations. Also, pilots are needed for the many special missions of general aviation, such as, emergency medical evacuation, agricultural, law enforcement, news, aerial surveying, photography, and a multitude of industrial purposes. Flying may also complement your career in business, or even a profession that you have not yet chosen. There are many careers in the aviation industry in which the skill and knowledge you acquire as a pilot is a special asset, even though daily flying may not be part of your job. These careers include air traffic control, computer science, electronics, aviation safety, air carrier, airport operations and management, flight navigation, communications, medicine, finance, law, engineering, and insurance to name a few. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination because, General Aviation touches many facets of our lives. As a pilot , you speak a the language of aviation. Aviation is a unique industry, combining the romance of enthusiasm of our heritage with high-tech equipment and modern proficiency skills. It is a superb tool of business and a personal time machine, as partner in our nation's productivity. Learning to fly can lead to your own discovery of rewarding career opportunities. If you have other questions, please contact us.
Pittsburgh Flight Training Center ©
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