Ask Mike: Learning to fly
Hey Guys,
Like many people over the age of 4, I hate to fly. My loathing has nothing to do with a fear of heights. Rather, it’s just the whole rotten experience. Before I really start going off in full-on grumpy grandpa mode, let me get to the point. I stumbled across a question from Woon, who wanted to know what it takes to become a pilot. I presume that like me, he wants to avoid the nightmare that is commercial aviation. Here’s what I found out…
A Yahoo! search on “how to be a pilot” yielded a slew of results from different flight schools and training programs. I wanted to get the official answer, so I glided over to the Federal Aviation Administration’s site. The FAA explains that there are two types of pilot schools: those that are FAA-approved and those that are not. “Enrollment in an FAA-approved school usually ensures a high quality of training. FAA-approved schools meet prescribed standards with respect to equipment, facilities, personnel, and curricula.”
But that’s not to say a non-FAA approved school isn’t worth your time. Again, according to the FAA, “many excellent pilot schools find it impractical to qualify for the FAA certification, and are referred to as non-approved schools.” So, what exactly is the difference? For one, FAA-approved schools require fewer hours to qualify for a pilot’s certificate. You’ll need 35 hours of training at an approved school, while a non-approved school requires 40 hours. However, since many prospective pilots go well above 40 hours anyway, the 5 hour difference often doesn’t matter.
The FAA hosts a school finder for those who are serious about obtaining their pilot credentials. But beware: Flying isn’t exactly a cheap hobby. Aside from the significant time commitment, aspiring pilots can drop some serious cash on schools and plane rentals. Fortunately, there are a few scholarship opportunities floating around.
What about you guys? Anyone out there thinking of going back to school to indulge a passion like flying? Leave a comment and let me know.
Thanks for reading,
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That’s some good information, Mike.
Several years ago I had contemplated learning that very thing – flying. I had visions of helping out my fellow farmers by cropdusting their fields. Alas, my wife-of-that-era did not like that ‘dangerous’ idea, so I scrapped it. What a bonehead I was.
No biggie. I guess I can still do it once I’m through renovating my lawn and home.
Talk about pricey! I’ll say! Heard some stats recently from an uncle that blew my mind! Won’t be flying any time soon, thanks muchly! But it would be fun… I have other interests, however. Less pricey. In fact, I haven’t flown since I was two because of ticket prices!
I _think_ you’re describing “Part 61″ and “Part 141″ schools. I went “Part 61″ which is more loosely structured. If I needed a little more time with a particular lesson, there was no feeling that we had to move on to keep up with the tightly scheduled 141 approach. There were plenty of checks and balances in the Part 61 approach. The final is a 3 hour written test, a several hour oral test, and a two hour “practical” where you give an FAA guy a ride and do the manuevers he asks for. It was tough but my instructors had prepared me well.
I now fly a homemade experimental called a Long-ez. It cost $32000 and gets 27 mpg at 160 mph. It is awesome. See:
http://www.39pw.us/web/planes_mexicoOct08.html
Assuming someone is choosing to fly simply to avoid commercial aviation is an unfortunately strange judgment. I am an aviator-in-training, and know at least 50 civil pilot and more than 50 military pilots, and never have I come across any man with such a flagrant hatred of simply flying commercially to go to such an extent to avoid it that he or she would spend the enormous resources of time and money simply to avoid a few hour long experience that really isn’t too much a hassle.
99.99% of pilots learn to fly because they LOVE flying, so much that they want to get to do it on their own!
Furthermore, I do not recommend a non-FAA flight school. Not being judgmental, but after my experiences and hearing of the experiences of others, they are not a sound place of learning the art of flying. There are far more non-FAA approved schools that, because they are cheaper and in it more for the money, will take anyone willing to fly, and put the least amount of effort possible into teaching with lowest quality they can that willow allow a student a license.
And truth be told, because those attending a non-FAA school usually went there because they are cheaper, the trainees rarely spend much more than the required 40 hours, as this costs them extra money to pay for the plane and instructor, and they chose the non-FAA school to be more economic.
A non-FAA school can be compared to a community college, while usually, a FAA school would be a university compared to that community college.
Not saying there’s anything wrong with community college, but when it comes to something like flying, community college is not what you want to attend. When you step into that plane and you are 15,000 feet up, where if you make a mistake there’s nothing saving you, you want a university education. Community college just can’t equip you.
Pilot, shmilot–my right eye and bank account won’t let me fly my own plane. Whenever I have to fly, I remember what Satchel Paige said about commercial flying: “I never worry about it. They might kill you, but they ain’t likely to hurt you.” Can’t say that about a single-engine sardine can.
Earning your pilots license, no matter your age, is just like getting your drivers license on your 16th birthday all over again, but way better. You have the freedom to slip the bonds of earth, have a birds-eye view of the earth below, travel vast distances on less fuel than your hybrid car can weaving through winding country roads…you get the point. If an individual has the financial means to attain their dreams of flight, I can only say one thing. Do it. Many people have their escapes, boring, dull, escapes. Golfing, Tennis, Bowling, perhaps even camping, hunting, off-roading, skiing. Whatever it may be, having the freedom of going to the local airport, hopping in your own personal anti-gravity machine (or renting one) and leaving the cares of everyday life behind is priceless. I must add one thing, however. To the ambitious individual who is wishing to persue a career in commercial aviation, is to cast off any dreams of becoming rich, working 6 months out of the year, and earning 6 figures a year at the same time. I knew what I was getting into from an early age, and one thing holds true. Follow your dreams. If you long to fly while turning over a dollar, by all means, grab life by the yoke. I was born to fly, raised in Alaska, and as a commercial pilot here, I don’t regret it one bit. I don’t ever plan on going on to fly a jet, because I’ve been spoiled in the wilds of Alaska. To the less fortunate, starting a “real” aviation career usually entails struggling through primary flightschool, earning an instructor license, teaching students seemingly bent on cultivating their instructor’s gray hairs, all while earning less than $20,000 a year. This is followed by working (not necessarily flying) every weekend, birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas while being paid less than $30,000 a year for about 5 or so years in the regional airlines. If you’re hard-headed enough, and (obviously) love flying, you’ll soon work your way into the co-pilot’s seat in the major airlines, and in another 5 years or more the captain’s seat, making half-decent money, providing your airline hasn’t filed bankruptcy. If it has, you’re back to the minor leagues, working weekends, holidays, etc. It takes determination and a strong grip on your dream to persue and achieve a successfuel aviation career, but in the end, I doubt there is one who has accomplished this feat who regrets it. In any case, I can only offer my advice. Do it!
The best resource for learning about flying lessons is the Aircraft Owners and Pilots’ Association or AOPA. http://www.aopa.org. Their website has tons of info, and ways to search for flight schools and instructors.
Most small to medium sized airports have flight schools that offer flight training. Introductory flights are often less than $50, and you get to actually fly the plane with an instructor. All flight instructors are rated by the FAA, and all aircraft used for instruction must have FAA approved maintenance. So it’s not necessary to search out an “FAA-approved” school. ALL flight schools operate under strict FAA regulations.
There are several types of pilot certificates you can earn, each one allowing you to do different things. A sport pilot certificate allows you to fly small airplanes with certain limitations to speed and weight. A private certificate is needed to fly larger, faster airplanes, or carry more than one passenger. To fly in the clouds you’ll need an instrument rating, and to fly for hire (getting paid to fly) requires a Commercial certificate.
Training costs will vary by your location, what type of certificate you want, and what kind of planes are available to rent. A sport pilot certificate requires a minimum 20 hours of flight time and can probably be done for around $3000 if you are motivated. From there you can get more training if you want to upgrade to a private or commercial licence.
Flying is tons of fun, and a great learning experience. It can be an interesting career if you so choose, but do a lot of research to be sure the life style is right for you.
Check out http://www.aopa.org/learntofly/ if you’re interested in flying. Have fun!
I LOVE FLYING! I love airports and the excitement and smiling at airport security while they clearly try to look angry! And I like take off and looking at people and landing and grabbing yoru ruined luggage and then your on vacation!
I love it!
(I am so over 4 years old)
Flying is a great, and yes expensive venture, but for those that have done it, they will never regret it. I would highly suggest anyone interested in learning to fly to do what is called a discovery flight, in some cases this is free to do (link is to a site that gives you a certificate to take a free discovery flight at over 400 different flight schools) http://www.pilotjourney.com/discovery/
This is the first and true test on weather you would like it. The instructor will give you a brief ground lesson, then take you up, you will also get to take control of the aircraft at some point. Now the real issue, the cost. Average flight instruction runs from $25-45 an hour for the instructor, and anywere from $85.00 to $145 an hour for the plane (engine time) These are also wet rentals, which means the fuel is included in the rental. Then there are supplies to be purchased. Knee pad, log book, headphones ect. The best way to limit your expenses is to be able to afford to go at least 2 if not 3 times a week. This will help you leanr faster, and you will spend less time reviewing previous lessons each time. Although it is true to get your basic visual flight rules license, you need minimum 35 hours flight time (FAA Approved) 40 hours non approved school, but there is a new license that came out a few years ago called a recreational pilot’s license. This can be obtained in 20 hours flight time, but comes with some restrictions. You are limited to no further than 50 nautical miles from your base airport, and may only carry one passenger, but this is a great way to build time and experience, expediting you instructor time down the road. Flying a smal aircraft on your own is something I think everyone should experience at least once in their life, words don’t do it justice as far as I am concerned….
I took my first flight lesson on my sixteenth birthday. I immediately fell in love. A year later I am a fully licensed private pilot. I am so lucky to have parents that are willing to back such an EXPENSIVE endeavor. However, if someone is pursuing a license simply to bypass commercial flying … not a good idea. Flying requires a passion. Mainly, general aviation can be much less of a hassle, but potentially more expensive. Also, depending on the distance and plane, it isn’t always quicker. As a seventeen year old pilot, I will be first to tell you that flying is amazing, but not for everyone. A person should only get into general aviation if they have a preexisting passion for the sky.
I’ve been flying since I was 18 and I’m an instructor at Plymouth Airport in MA. We do introductory flights for a discounted rate at Alpha One flight school.
If I were young and healthy, I would enjoy learning to fly. My late husband got his pilot’s license after being in the Army We use to rent planes and it was so much fun enjoying the scenery. We also rented a Citabria
(not sure of spelling), but it was a stunt plane. He would go straight up into a stall, and the plane would come straight down. I felt like my eyes were popping out of my head. My husband passed away in 1983, and I thank you for that memory. My only flying now is as a passenger on the airlines.
Flying is an excellent hobby, but like you said deathly expensive. As an Air Traffic Controller I have had the luxury to speak face to face with many pilots at the local flight club and instructors visit me with students to see how it all works. Many of those instructors have loans nearing one hundred thousand Australian dollars just for flight!
I have always wanted to get my private pilots license but never have been dedicated enough to give the time or money. It is a magnificent thing, to have control of a flying machine over thousands of miles of beautiful rolling hills is an amazing feeling.
Flying does not suck at all, especially if you’re flying business class. Come on Mike, you can do better than that!
“I never worry about it. They might kill you, but they ain’t likely to hurt you.”
This one is too good. Exactly what I think! And I love flying. Seriously, turbulance is my favourite part. Its so funny and I hate it ends so fast.
Must be a freak.
Thanks, Mike, for the information above. I thing the FAA – approved school is better for me. I’m a 16- years old girls that has an ambition of being a pilot. This ambition live in me since I followed a school trip to Sarawak by plane.
Mike,
I feel if you truly don’t know about aviation, then you should not give your questionable answer to avoid commercial aviation. I went to school to become a pilot! I was a Airport Manager as well. I have BAS in Aviation Operation Management for the Ohio State University and a MS in Transportation Planning and Management from Texas Southern University. I stopped flying many years ago.Those are my qualification to talk about this subject. If this person truly wish to fly then start by looking around.: AOPA.org, flying clubs or go to your local FBO: Fixed Based Operator at your local airport. Check out Community College to see if they offer classes in Aviation. If they wish to go to college for training most state and private colleges/universities offer training and degrees in Aviation Flight training which would serve them better in the long turn. Depending on their age, i start my pursue of Flying as a Explorer Scout at O’Hare Airport. If this person or anyone else would like help on this subject please ask me.
Why didn’t you google it?
I quit flying 2 hours short of finishing my training because I couldn’t afford it anymore. I spent over $13,000 and 2 years throwing money and time into a black hole. I also had 3 lousy instructors and a very bad solo cross country trip. Because of all these bad experiencesI now have no interest in aviation at all and won’t even fly commercial. I am convinced there are no good flight instructors out there–at all.
“Action Movie: ‘Top Gun’, directed by Ridley Scott” by J. M. D.
“Top Gun”, directed by Ridley Scott, starring Tom Cruise as ‘Maverick Supersonic’ and Kelly McGillis, is an action movie about American Navy and Air Force pilots who patrol the skies and fly combat missions to protect the homeland. The pilots have nicknames like ‘Maverick’, ‘Goose’, ‘Iceman’, ‘Wolf Man’, ‘Viper’, ‘Jester’, ‘Hollywood’, and ‘Merlin’. Maverick and his radio intelligence officer Goose fly on patrol when they encounter enemy Mig fighter jets. No fire is exchanged but the pilots notice that the Migs are able to fly above previously known altitude limits for the Mig fighter. This is important information as it relates to National Security. Maverick and Goose get pictures before the Migs fly away. When the team returns to their aircraft carrier they inform their superiors of this new information. Every year the Top Gun Training Academy accepts experienced pilots to train for advanced missions and learn advanced tactics. Maverick and Goose are given the chance to attend and they take it. There they meet many other excellent pilots. They attend class and learn valuable lessons about avionics from a smart Naval Intelligence Officer. They explain that enemy Mig fighters are able to fly higher and faster than earlier expected. This comes as a surprise. It is protected information and must be treated with the proper discretion. They continue their lessons and Maverick and the Naval Intelligence Officer study the problem in detail. Meanwhile Maverick discovers that he has feelings for her. The Top Gun Academy also organizes a Top Gun tournament. Pilots fly competitively to earn points and win the Top Gun Trophy. The aircraft are outfitted with low intensity lasers that tag other jets and earn points for the pilots. Any pilot who is tagged is out for the day. The pilot with the most points wins. Extra points are earned for tagging instructors who fly around and try to tag the others. Many pilots team up in order to tag an instructor and split the extra points. Maverick and Goose do well during the start of the tournament and earn a lot of points, but Ice Man takes the lead and keeps it. During one flight Maverick’s jet loses engine power and begins to spin out of control, around and around. He loses altitude fast and cannot regain control. The gravity forces have pinned him against the cockpit. He cannot reach the ejection handle. Goose just manages to reach over and pull the ejection handle for him, but when the canopy opens and the pilots eject, Goose hits his head against the top of the canopy and breaks his neck. Maverick parachutes to safety and lands in the ocean below, but Goose floats down limp and splashes down in the water. Maverick tries to rescue him and holds on to him as a Naval Rescue Helicopter pulls them from the ocean. Goose is dead. Maverick struggles with the loss of his copilot and friend. An investigation is made into the cause of the accident and it is found that the engines lost power at a high altitude during a high-speed run when they should have performed acceptably. But it was an older aircraft they were flying with older engines that could not withstand the intensity of such high performance demands. Maverick’s flight status is returned. He returns to the sky but without his best friend he must struggle to stay alive. He earns as many points as he can in order to graduate. Maverick also learns that his own father was a legendary pilot who fought and flew several combat missions against enemy fighters. He died in combat. Maverick graduates from the Top Gun Academy. Ice Man wins the Top Gun Trophy. At graduation the pilots are called to duty. Their mission is to protect an American ship that has lost engine power and has drifted out to sea close to foreign waters. Enemy fire is expected. The pilots are to provide air support until a rescue mission is organized. The pilots of Top Gun stage an intense air fight against enemy Mig fighters that hiss through the sky and threaten the safety of American sailors. The Top Gun pilots shoot them out of the sky in a ferocious air battle. Three fourths of the enemy fighters are shot down and the remainder fly away. The rescue mission is a success. Maverick returns to his aircraft carrier where his squadron reunites. He finds a romantic interest waiting for him back at the Top Gun Academy.