Frequently Asked Questions
Is flying in airplanes safe?
Yes. Each of our airplanes undergoes a thorough inspection every 100 flight hours. Also, a complete annual inspection is performed every year. As long as you approach flying with the proper attitude, it is perfectly safe.
How long does it take to get your pilot's license?
That largely depends on you. You have to train for at least 40 flying hours before you can take the Private Pilot flight test, but the national average is about 65 hours. Depending on your schedule, you could potentially complete your training in a month or so. However, most people take their flight test about a year after beginning training, on average.
How old do I have to be to begin flight training?
To solo in an airplane, you must be at least 16 years old. You must be at least 17 years old to take the Private Pilot flight test and become a Private Pilot.
Can anyone learn to fly an airplane?
In general, if you can drive a car, you can fly most light airplanes. To obtain a pilot's license, you must be able to pass a flight physical for a Third Class Medical Certificate from an FAA-approved physician. The physician will check your vision, hearing, cardiovascular healh, etc. The standards for a Third Class Medical Certificate are not terribly restrictive, and most people in good general health can pass it easily. Even some people with certain past medical problems can pass the physical if they are currently in good health. In fact, there are plenty of pilots who begin flying later in life and have no problems.
Will glasses or contact lenses prevent me from getting my pilot's license?
Absolutely not! There are many, many pilots who wear glasses or contact lenses. As long as your vision is correctable to 20/40 (both near and far vision) and you color perception is sufficient for normal flying duties, your vision will be adequate to pass a third class flight physical. Even if you have had certain corrective eye surgeries (such as LASIK), you can still pass the physical.
How much does it cost to train to get a pilot's license?
Again, that depends on you. Some people take more time than others to obtain their pilot's license, and some people choose to fly larger, more expensive airplanes during training. Here is a chart to show the minimum training required by law.
| Part of Training | Cost |
| Aircraft Rental (Cessna 172 - 40 hours) | $2960 (40 hours @ $74/hour) |
| Aircraft Fuel Surcharge (40 hours) | $400 (40 hours @ $10/hour) |
| Flight Instruction (20 hours) | $520 (20 hours @ $26/hour) |
| Ground School (total 15 weeks) | $120 |
| Books and Supplies | $160 |
| Total | $4160 |
Keep in mind, however, that this chart is based on the minimum required 40 hours of flight training. The national average required flight training is 60-80 hours. Also, the aircraft cost is based on the Cessna 172, our least expensive training aircraft.
Do I have to attend a ground school to get my license, or many I self study?
We have had pilots complete training without attending a formal ground school. However, we recommend that you take the ground school, for several reasons:
· You are less likely to have gaps in your knowledge.
· With a set schedule, you can proceed quickly without expensive delays.
· The knowledge the gain in the ground school will greatly assist you in the flying portion your training. By attending ground school, you are likely to actually save money because you will know exactly is going on while you are in the cockpit.
The cost of the formal ground school is quite modest, and we believe that it is an excellent value.