What does it take to become a pilot?

LEARN TO FLY!

To invent a plane is nothing.
To build one is something.
To fly is everything.
– Otto Lilienthal

Flying can become an exciting part of your life. The sensation of breaking the bounds of the earth and navigating above the towns and fields to see our world in a way that few experience, can only be understood by those who have done it.

Flying challenges you, provides continuous learning, builds confidence, and makes you a member of a exclusive and wonderful family called “pilots”.

The requirements for being issued a private pilot license are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

To get a private pilot’s license, you must:

• be at least 17 years
• have a current FAA third-class medical certificate
• log at least 40 hours of flight
• have at least 20 hours of flight with an instructor
• have at least 10 hours of solo flight
• pass the FAA Private Pilot Airmen Knowledge written test
• pass a FAA Private Pilot flight exam

Although the minimum required flight time is 40 hours, the national average is approximately 65 hours and most additional time is due to instruction. The amount of flight time necessary to achieve your license is, in part, a function of how often you fly. Students who fly twice a week are likely to earn their license with fewer logged hours than those flying only two or three times a month.

Keeping Your License Current

Remember, a private pilot license is really only a license to learn, and to maintain and improve flight proficiency. You should be prepared to fly at least 50 hours every year to maintain your skills.

The legal requirements for flight reviews and recent flight experience are governed by FAA FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations) Sec. 61.56 and Sec 61.57.

In general, in order to keep your license current, so that you can operated an airplane as “pilot in command”, the FAA requires that you complete a Biennial Flight Review (BFR) with a certified flight instructor every two years. This review requires a minimum of 1 hour of ground instruction and 1 hour of flight instruction to review flight maneuvers and emergency procedures.

In order to carry passengers, you must also have completed at least three takeoffs and three landings as the sole manipulator of the flight controls in an aircraft of the same category and class within the preceding 90 days. To fly at night (one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise), you must have completed, within the preceding 90 days, at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop at night in the category and class of aircraft to be used.

How Can I Prepare for the Written Exam?

There are many courseware packages available that give you the information that the FAA Private Pilot Exam covers. The following are a list of useful government manuals. Several of these manuals can be accessed on the Landings home page.

.FARs Federal Aviation Regulations
– AIM (Airman's Information Manual)
– U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Aviation Weather
– U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Aviation Weather Services
– U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Flight Training Handbook (AC-61-21)

There is also information available about the Airmen Knowledge Test Information at this site which contains links to test question documents.

OK, So What Are the Detailed Requirements for a Private Pilot License?

Requirements regulating the licensing of private pilots are established by the Federal Aviation Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation and set forth in Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 61.Sec. 61.109 Airplane Rating: Aeronautical Experience.

An applicant for a private pilot certificate with an airplane rating must have had at least a total of 40 hours of flight instruction and solo time which must include the following:

• Twenty hours of flight instruction from an authorized flight instructor, including at least:
  • Three hours of cross country;
  • Three hours of instrument flight training;
  • Three hours at night, including 10 takeoffs and landings for applicants seeking night flying privileges; and
  • Three hours in airplanes in preparation for the private pilot flight test within 60 days prior to that test.

An applicant who does not meet the night flying requirement in paragraph (a)(2) of this section is issued a private pilot certificate bearing the limitation “Night flying prohibited”. This limitation may be removed if the holder of the certificate shows that he has met the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

• Ten hours of solo flight time, including at least:
  • Five hours of cross-country flights, each flight with a landing at a point more than 50 nautical miles from the original departure point. One flight must be of at least 150 nautical miles with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is at least 50 nautical miles from the original departure point.
  • Three solo takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.

To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must:

• Be at least 17 years of age, except that a private pilot certificate with a free balloon or a glider rating only may be issued to a qualified applicant who is at least 16 years of age;
• Be able to read, speak, and understand the English language, or have such operating limitations placed on his pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of aircraft, to be removed when he shows that he can read, speak, and understand the English language;
• Hold at least a current third-class medical certificate issued under Part 67 of this chapter, or, in the case of a glider or free balloon rating, certify that he has no known medical defect that makes him unable to pilot a glider or free balloon, as appropriate;
• Pass a written test on the subject areas on which instruction or home study is required by Sec. 61.105;
• Pass an oral and flight test on procedures and maneuvers selected by an FAA inspector or examiner to determine the applicant's competency in the flight operations on which instruction is required by the flight proficiency provisions of Sec. 61.107; and
• Comply with the sections of this part that apply to the rating he seeks. (Sec 61.103 Eligibility requirements: General.)

Sec 61.105 Aeronautical Knowledge (Airplanes and rotorcraft Sec 61.105(a) only)

An applicant for a private pilot certificate must have logged ground instruction from an authorized instructor, or must present evidence showing that he has satisfactorily completed a course of instruction or home study in at least the following areas of aeronautical knowledge appropriate to the category of aircraft for which a rating is sought.

Airplanes and rotorcraft

• The accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Regulations applicable to private pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations for airplanes or rotorcraft, as appropriate, the use of the “Airman’s Information Manual”, and FAA advisory circulars;
• VFR navigation using pilotage, dead reckoning, and radio aids;
• The recognition of critical weather situations from the ground and in flight, the procurement and use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts;
• The safe and efficient operation of airplanes or rotorcraft, as appropriate, including high-density airport operations, collision avoidance precautions, and radio communication procedures;
• Basic aerodynamics and the principles of flight which apply to airplanes or rotorcraft, as appropriate; and
• Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques for airplanes.

Sec 61.107 Flight Proficiency (Airplane Sec 61.107(a) only)

The applicant for a private pilot certificate must have logged instruction from an authorized flight instructor in at least the following pilot operations. In addition, his logbook must contain an endorsement by an authorized flight instructor who has found him competent to perform each of those operations safely as a private pilot.

In Airplanes

• Preflight operations, including weight and balance determination, line inspection, and airplane servicing;
• Airport and traffic pattern operations, including operations at controlled airports, radio communications, and collision avoidance precautions;
• Flight maneuvering by reference to ground objects;
• Flight at slow airspeeds with realistic distractions, and the recognition of and recovery from stalls entered from straight flight and from turns;
• Normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings;
• Control and maneuvering an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including descents and climbs using radio aids or radar directives;
• Cross-country flying, using pilotage, dead reckoning, and radio aids;
• Maximum performance takeoffs and landings;
• Night flying, including takeoffs, landings, and VFR navigation; and
• Emergency operations, including simulated aircraft and equipment malfunctions.

SRJC Aviation Courses

The Santa Rosa Junior College has excellent courses in the area of Aviation, Geography and Meteorology. These classes are extremely affordable and highly recommended for students looking to become a pilot.

The Santa Rosa Junior College is located at:
1501 Mendocino Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 95401

For a complete listing of all course schedules or to register for these classes please refer to:
www.santarosa.edu or call (707) 527-4011 for more information.

FAA Prep Help

Your Source for FAA Pilot Written Exam Preparation!

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