Private Pilot Training - Detailed Information On How To Best Earn Your Wings!

So why pursue a Private Pilot training course?

As I mentioned in the Learn To Fly section, there are many and varied reasons why one would want to learn to fly. Some for purely recreational purposes, some want to pursue a career as a pilot and then there are the those who either from desire or need - or both - want to fly for personal transportation. If flying for personal transportation is your goal, then signing up for a Private Pilot training course to earn a Private Pilots License is the logical place for you to start.

For years, the Private Pilot License was the starting point for any aspiring pilot, but now, there are lower cost alternatives for those who only want to fly small airplanes for purely recreational purposes; namely, the Sport Pilot License and the Recreational Pilot License. Either of these are great for the weekend warrior who will never fly more than 50 or 100 miles from the home airport and will typically stay away from busy metropolitan areas.

But, for real utility in personal flying, like flying more capable 4 and 6 seat airplanes, flying longer trips cross-country, carrying more than one passenger at a time, etc. The Private Pilot License will give you more latitude in terms of piloting privileges and you should be signing up for your Private Pilot training course!

Private Pilot Training Requirements

Although the FAA will require a minimum of 40 hours of flight training in order to obtain a Private Pilot License, it is important to keep in mind here that the national average - according to the FAA's own statistics - is 60 to 75 hours for completion of Private Pilot training.

The key to completing your Private Pilot training closer to the minimum of 40 hours is the frequency of your flying lessons. Someone who is taking two to three lessons a week will invariably finish in less time - and for less money - than someone who only flies two or three times a month.

SIDEBAR: I am personally a huge proponent of accelerated flight training whenever possible. Taking a QUALITY accelerated Private Pilot training course greatly enhances the student's probability of success both in terms of cost and time savings as well as retention of essential knowledge and skills.

The basic FAA requirements - in a nutshell - involved for obtaining a Private Pilot License are as follows:

• Must be at least 17 years of age.
• Be able to read, speak, write and understand the English Language.
• Obtain an FAA medical certificate.
• Log at least 40 hours of flight training.
• Receive at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized flight instructor.
• Log at least 10 hours of SOLO flight time.
• Pass the required knowledge test.
• Pass a Practical Test consisting of both an oral examination and a flight test.

Keeping Your Private Pilot License Current

It has been correctly stated that a private pilot license is a license to learn and that a good pilot is always learning. Having recognized that, the FAA has placed some minimum requirements on the Private Pilot in order to ensure that the essential knowledge and skills obtained during the initial training are kept fresh.

For starters, the FAA would like for you to have a "flight review" once every two years - some will refer to this as a "Biennial Flight Review", or a BFR although officially, the FAA has dropped the word Biennial. A flight review must consist of at least one hour of ground instruction and a flight of at least one hour in duration to review flight maneuvers and emergency procedures with an authorized flight instructor. Taking some additional flight instruction and earning an additional certificate or rating can also count as meeting the requirements of the flight review.

SIDEBAR: In order to promote and enhance safety within the General Aviation community, the FAA has also instituted the new "Wings Program." Pilots completing the WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program through at least the basic phase may skip the flight review requirement for that 24 month requirement period.

In order to carry passengers, the Private Pilot must also have completed at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days. To carry passengers at night, the pilot must have completed, within the preceding 90 days, at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop at night.

As you can see, the requirements for keeping the Private Pilot License LEGALLY current are fairly minimal. You will notice, I emphasized the word "LEGALLY". There is what is LEGAL and then there is what is SAFE.

In order to promote safety, I strongly recommend adding to these minimal requirements, AT LEAST 50 hours of flight time a year. This should be a personal MINIMUM to ensure that your piloting skills will not degrade to a point where it's really not safe to fly.

One of my favorite sayings: "The most dangerous part of flying is the drive to the airport!" In general, this is true and one should not have an unrealistic fear of aviation, however, there are inherent risks involved with flying any aircraft and the key to safe flying is proper training and continued training and proficiency.

Private Pilot training never really ends because, "a good pilot is always learning."

Where Should I Take My Private Pilot Training?

This is a decision which cannot be taken lightly. There is nothing more important in all of your flight training than choosing the right flight school and/or flight instructor.

A good flight school is one where the needs of the student is always paramount. A good flight school will have a standardized, FAA approved flight training syllabus.

SIDEBAR: The flight school itself does not necessarily need to be an FAA approved school as long as it is a QUALITY oriented school using a flight training syllabus which has been approved by the FAA. Some of the best flight schools are not FAA approved - in other words; not a part 141 school - and some of the more questionable flight training centers do advertise themselves as being part 141 approved.

A good flight school is one where the airplanes are clean and meticulously maintained and the school personnel are not opposed to showing you the maintenance records. A good flight school is one where the flight instructors are closely supervised by a Chief Flight Instructor.

Here is a list of "red flags" to watch out for when shopping for a flight training center for your Private Pilot training:

• Requires full payment up front.
• Appearance of any unprofessional conduct by the staff or management.
• Flight instructor has his/her own syllabus which he/she says is "better than the school's."
• Airplanes are old, tired, dirty and ill maintained in appearance.
• Support staff unable to give intelligent answers to your questions.
• All part time instructors (usually means you will have scheduling difficulties or will be passed around from instructor to instructor).
• Flight school staff do not return your phone calls/emails.
• Looks like the school has too many students.
• No glowing testimonies from other students - past and present.

My advice: Don't be in a big hurry to choose the first flight school you shop. Definitely don't make PRICE your first, second or even third consideration in choosing a flight school. Do visit flight schools, hang around, observe, talk to the students. You may be surprised at what you will learn from a one hour site visit.

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