Private Pilot Rating

 

A lot of students are asking about the new Sport Pilot rating. Unless you have a specific medical condition and can’t qualify for an airmen’s medical, I would recommend that you go for the Private Pilot rating. The limitations on the Sport pilot are many. For example, you may not fly at night. You may only fly an aircraft that has no more than 2 seats and that has been designated a Light Sport Aircraft, which eliminates 95 percent of the fleet. The LSA’s must have a fixed pitch propeller, weigh less than 1320 lbs. gross weight and have no more than 2 seats. You may not fly above 10,000 feet, are limited to one passenger and they are not certified for instrument flight. You still have to do flight training, ground school and take a check ride. It takes another 10-15 hours to get a private pilot license that will allow you to fly any single engine aircraft, without all the restrictions.

The national average for a private pilot student to get their license is approximately 65 flight hours. Yes, the regulation requires 40 hours, but the national average is about 65 hours. It may take you more time or less time depending on your availability to train and do ground school. I can tell you that the more compressed the time frame, the less hours you will require.  

We fly in complex airspace and explore every failure scenario that we can safely explore in flight.

There are three parts to getting a Private Pilot rating. Ground school, flight training and a check ride.

The ground school teaches you the knowledge you will need to pass the written exam. It is the academic portion of your flight training.  I integrate it with your flight training so that it is not purely esoteric knowledge, and it makes sense to you.

The first part of your flight training consists of mastering the machine and learning to take off and land. The typical flight student solos, in about 15 flight hours. By solo, I mean you will take off and land, by yourself, three times. Don’t worry, I’ll be standing right there, beside the runway, with a radio in my hand. Solo is a big deal and a huge accomplishment.

The second part of your flight training consists of cross county flight. That means going places. First you go with me, then you go by yourself.

The last part of the flight training consists of some night training, some emergency instrument training and preparation for your check ride.

The check ride consists of an oral examination, and then you go out and fly with the examiner.

His job is to make sure I’ve done my job. Once you pass, you are a pilot!

Your plane or mine, your location or mine, it’s the same process.

 

You have questions? I have answers!

 

Flymklighton@gmail.com