If possible could you tell me all the procedures on a way of becoming a pilot maybe?
Ok, I cribbed this from my old lesson plans and handouts, and I know that a simple 'Google' search would bring this up, but I couldn't help myself:
So, Mkizz, to become a pilot, the first step is to earn your private pilot's license and to do that you must meet the following requirements:
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE
Per 14CFR 61.103-61.109
- At Least 17 Years of Age
- Read, Write, and Speak the English Language
1.) Obtain a Third Class Medical Certificate (also student pilot certificate)
2.) FAA Private Pilot Written Exam passed (70% or greater score)
3.) Flight Training:
40 Hours Total Time to include:
20 Hours DUAL instruction (minimum) to include:
- 3 Hours Cross Country Training
- 3 Hours of Flying by reference to Instruments
- 3 Hours of Night Flying
- 10 Takeoffs and Landings to a full stop at night
- 1 Night Cross-Country Flight (minimum of 100 nm total length)
10 Hours of SOLO flight to include:
- 5 Hours of Solo Cross-Country Flight
- To include one solo cross-country flight with a minimum length of 150
nm (3 full stop landings at 3 different airports, 1 leg a minimum of 50
nm, straight line, from the point of origin)
- 3 Takeoffs and Landings (minimum) at a tower controlled field
3 Hours of Flight Training (Dual) within 60 Days preceding the date of the practical exam
4.) Complete the Private Pilot Practical Exam (oral and practical exam) with a FAA Designated Examiner
So, that's the requirements for the whole license... but what about just soloing (flying by yourself for the first time) in your local airport area????
SOLO FLIGHT REQUIRMENTS:
Take an Aeronautical Knowledge Test Per CFR 61.87 covering....
• Applicable sections of Part 61 and 91 of 14CFR
• Airspace rules and procedures for solo operations
• Flight Characteristics for Make and Model of Aircraft Flown
(at conclusion of test, instructor must review all incorrect answers with the student)
Flight Training Per CFR 61.87: (applicable night training for Night Solo Endorsement)
• Pre-Flight Procedures
• Taxing and Run-ups
• Takeoff Procedures (Normal and Crosswind)
• Straight and Level Flight (w/turns in both directions)
• Climbs and Climbing Turns
• Flight and various speeds, cruise to slow flight
• Stalls, entry and recovery
• Emergency Procedures
• Approach to landing with a simulated engine failure
• Ground Reference Maneuvers
• Descents, with and without turns
• Airport Traffic Patterns – Entry and Departure Procedures
• Collision avoidance, wind shear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance
• Slips to a landing
• Go-Arounds
• Landings both normal and crosswind
Ok, you flew by yourself... but not point to point... say you actually want to fly the aircraft Solo from Airport 'X' to Airport 'Y' prior to earning your private pilot's license???
SOLO CROSS COUNTRY REQUIRMENTS
Solo Cross Country Flight Training per 14CFR61.93(e)
• Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation including pilotage, dead reckoning, and with a compass
• Use of aircraft performance charts pertaining to cross country flight
• Procurement and analysis of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts, including recognition of critical weather situations and estimating flight visibility
• Emergency procedures
• Traffic Pattern Procedures – including area departure and area entry
• Procedures and operating practices for avoiding collision avoidance, wake
turbulence, and wind shear avoidance
• Recognition, avoidance, and operational restrictions of hazardous terrain features in the geographical area where the cross country is going to be flown
• Procedures for operating the instruments and equipment installed in the aircraft to
be flown, including recognition and the use of the proper operational procedures and indications
• Use of radios for VFR navigation and two way communications
• Takeoff, approach, and landing procedures, including short field, soft field, and crosswind takeoffs approaches and landings
• Climbs at best angle and best rate and
• Control and maneuvering solely by reference to flight instruments, including straight and level flight, turns, descents, climbs, use of radio aids, and ATC directives.
Reading this can be kinda daunting at first... (let alone learning the information and demonstrating the skills to do it safely) but it is very do-able for just about anyone. Which leads into....
and maybe also how much it would cost and time. Thanks.
Some would joke about 15% more that you have to spend... but seriously, plan on somewhere from $7000-$10,000. Usually, the harder you work, the less money you spend.
Time is up to you... as little as one month... as long as a lifetime. I would say the average is two to three months for the private pilot's license. That's about three flights a week, including 'ground school', in a location that has better than average flying weather.
Just trying to see the basic idea of how long and money it would cost me
Here's my very serious answer... the best thing for you to do is call around to the local flight schools. (Phonebook/Google... look at the AOPA website also) Ask them if they have a 1st flight lesson/Demo Flight program. I'm going to write this in all caps, because this is what I want you to focus on, DO THIS AT MULTIPLE SCHOOLS. Why? Because it is a very common pitfall for students to invest their flight training with the first person to take them up into the air and that is a mistake that could potentially cost you thousands of dollars. If you are going to learn to fly, you need to shop around for an instructor that fits your learning style and can help you reach your goals in aviation. (If I were still teaching - I would tell you this at your first lesson that I gave you - in fact I would encourage you to go find other instructors other than me and 'try them out') Anyhoo, I digress... but, seriously... remember. Check out multiple schools. Take multiple 1st Lesson/Demo Flights.
Back to your first flight... this is your opportunity to 'try before you buy' the piloting career. Will you get sick in the plane? Who knows? Will you even enjoy flying? Who knows? Go out there and take multiple 1st lessons and find out.
You then need to ask yourself if this is what you want to do as a career.
There is no glory.
There is no glamor.
There is only work.
You need to know deep within yourself that you are doing this because you love to fly and you love aviation because you will not stay in any one place for long, you will be away from your home and loved ones for a good portion of your life, and you will be fighting a constant uphill financial battle.
Now, I love my work. I really do. I can't see myself doing anything else. I am not in it for gobs of money - but I do expect to get paid fair compensation for what I do. I know that my career hurts my family life, I try to mitigate this as much as possible. (This makes me a pushover for a lot of things with my wife) As for moving all over the country, well, I commute... that has it's own challenges. You need to make a decision based on what you want out of life.
Examine your motivations, look at the good and the bad. (There is a wealth of great information on this website from very seasoned professionals who have had just about every pitfall happen to them in their careers, learn from them, and then make your own decisions)
I'm hoping to scare you a bit... but at the same time know that this is not rocket science. (if it was, we'd all be flying to the moon) Anyone with basic smarts, a willingness to study, and basic motor skills can learn to fly. To make it your profession requires all of that and a continual drive to succeed. If you think that you want to do this - you can.
(Heck, I did... if I did, then anyone can)
Welcome to the community - be yourself - ask questions - and hopefully we can give you a leg up.
