Private Pilot Certificate What You Can Do

Private Pilot Certificate

What You Can Do Fly in VFR weather conditions n Fly at any time, day or night n Fly without an instructor approving your flightplan n Fly into/out of any civil U. S. Airport n Carry passengers n n Passengers can pay up to their equal share of the flight costs

Why Fly?

Requirements on the Ground n Third Class Medical Certificate Required for your first solo n Get this early in your training or before you begin n n Valid for 3 years n 70% or better on written exam Take the exam as early as you can n Exam cannot be taken without an instructor’s writeoff. n

Requirements in the Air n At least 40 hours of flight time (50 -70 average) n 20 hours with instructor n 3 hours cross country n One flight over 100 nm start to finish n 3 hours night n 3 hours instrument n 10 hours solo n 5 hours cross country n One flight over 150 nm with three landings

A Typical Lesson n 2 hour block n 1 hour of maneuvers/skills practice near airport n n n ½ hour of pattern work n n n Steep turns Slow flight/stalls Instrument flying Emergency procedures Different types of takeoffs/landings ½ hour to park plane, debrief lesson Other lessons may be ground school or longer flights (ex: cross country)

What You’ll Fly 2 Seater: Piper Tomahawk, Cessna 150 n 4 Seater: Piper Warrior, Cessna 172 n

The Checkride n Two parts Oral Exam cover flight planning, “what if” scenarios, aircraft systems n Flight Exam is just what it sounds like n n Start a cross-country flight n Basic Flight Maneuvers n Pattern work n Must pass every part

Checkride Tips n Plan ahead n Do all of the flight planning (except for the weather) the day before the exam Be professional from beginning to end n If you’re unsure of an instruction, ask n Take your time n Be calm n n Your instructor signed you off; you’re prepared

Cost 2 -Seat Airplane ~$90/hr (60 hr = $5400) n Instructor ~$50/hr (35 hr = $1750) n Examiner ~$350 n Written Exam ~$80 n Supplies ~$400 n Total: $7980 n

Cost n My cost 51 flight hours @ $85/hr ($4335) n 30. 5 hours instruction @ $60/hr ($1830) n Checkride ($350) n Supplies (~$400) n Written Exam ($80) n Total: $6995 n

What You Should Buy Headset n Review book/practice test n Charts, AFD n Log Book n Flight computer n Fuel tester n Gleim kit has most of the above n

Training in Boston n Three main airports n Bedford n n n Can get very busy with jet and small aircraft traffic Great practice talking with a tower Lawrence Beverly Public Transportation n T runs to Bedford from Alewife (Red Line to #76)

Pros of Training in Boston n Busy airspace n Lots of communications practice n Lots of practice sharing airspace Lots of airports for cross countries n Can train during the school year n

Cons of Training in Boston n Busy airspace n n Some flights may be delayed on the ground or in the traffic pattern Expensive n Other locales will have less expensive aircraft

Suggestions Keep a computer backup of your logbook n Ask lots of questions n n n Find a pilot friend to ask if you don’t want to ask your instructor Prepare as much as possible before the lesson slot begins Weather briefing n Flight Planning n Preflight (if plane is available) n

More Suggestions n Armchair fly before and after each flight n n If you’re tired or not feeling well, take a break n n Don’t be afraid to cancel a lesson Listen to liveatc. net n n n Remember what you did well, and think about how to improve Get more familiar with ATC and airport procedures Hear and critique yourself on the radio Fly often n The more you fly, the less time it takes to get your license (calendar time and logged flight time)

Questions?