How long does it take to get a private pilot's license?
Typically it takes a student on average between 60-70 hours of flight training time. The learning ability of each student varies due to personal ability of adapting to a new environment. The length of time will depend on the student's availability to fit in flying, and still manage work or school. If you take 3 lessons a week it would take about three months. If you are able to take more lessons each week you accomplish it faster and may slightly reduce the number of lessons. If you take fewer lessons a week it will take longer, and additional lessons.
How much does it cost to get a private pilot's license?
The cost will vary depending on two factors: the cost of the aircraft and the cost of the instructor. My instruction rate is $65-70 per hour, the aircraft rates can be found on the west valley flying club or advantage aviation website. Typically it will cost on average $10,000 to $14,000 in the Bay Area.
What is the difference between new and old aircraft?
Newer aircraft will cost more per hour to rent, and will typically increase the cost of a rating. The difference is in the equipment available in new and old aircraft, and how much of that equipment may be working. The maintenance department does periodic routine maintenance which helps ensure even if it's an older aircraft the safety aspect of flying is still met with an older aircraft.
What type of airfaft should i choose?
The aircraft can be chosen one of several ways. What your ultimate goal is, what you want to do after you get your license. If aerobatics is what interests you start first in a citabria to get you tailwheel ready. If cross country flying interests you start with either one of the cessna's or pipers, then move on to something like the cirrus SR-22G3 Turbo, or the Cessna 182. If a time constraint gets in the way of flying places because of weather IFR rating and a g1000 checkout are almost a must. The most common trainers are the Cessna 152 (a 2 seat, high-wing airplane), a Cessna 172 (a 4 seat, high-wing airplane), a Piper Warrior II (a 4 seat, low-wing airplane), or a Citabria 7ECA (a 2 seat, tandem, high-wing, tailwheel airplane). I recommend that students try a flight in each of the primary trainers that they are interested in and then choose themselves which one to complete the rest of the training in.
What does it take to get my private pilot's license?
1) Medical exam (Third Class) A.S.A.P - due to health related conditions
2) Solo Flight(s)
3) Written Exam 70% or better
4) Oral and Flying exam a.k.a. - Checkride with a DPE or Inspector
What ratings do i need to become a career pilot?
1. Private Pilot Single Engine Land
2. Private Pilot Single Engine Instrument Land
3. Commercial Pilot Single Engine Land
4. Certified Flight Instructor Single Engine Land CFI
5. Certified Flight Instructor Single Engine Land Instrument CFII
6. Commercial Pilot Multi-Engine Land Add-on
7. Multi-Engine Flight Instructor Add-on
8. Airline Transport Pilot
How to choose a flight center?
Most flying schools own their own aircraft, hire instructors as employees and seek to make a profit for the owners. Flying clubs may own, or may leaseback aircraft from private owners, approve instructors to act as independent contractors, and they exists for the benefit of the clubs members.
Things to look for in a flying center?
- Do they have a large inventory of aircraft of well-equipped aircraft?
- Do they have 3-6 training aircraft of the same type (so that an aircraft going down for maintenance does not stop you from flying.)?
- Do they have faster high-performance and complex aircraft you can transition to later for travel and challenge?
- Do they have newer aircraft (1-5 years age) as well as older aircraft (15-20 years age)?
- Are you able to pay for your training as you go or do you have to pay for it up front?
- Do they have an excellent maintenance program?
- Do they have experienced flight instructors?
How to choose a flight instructor?
An ideal flight instructor is one that you enjoy spending time with who has good theoretical knowledge and a variety of experience in flying and teaching. His knowledge should be current with the regulations, and his age not impeded his judgment abilities.
Most flight instructors teach as a way to get paid to build flying time required for a job with air carrier. Most who do this are good pilots, but do not consider flight instruction as a career but rather as a stepping stone. They do not put much effort into improving their instructional abilities over the years.
Most flight schools pay a flight instructor a fraction of what they charge the student for their services. Because of this most instructors can only afford, or want to instruct for a few years. This can be very frustrating for the student who must now look for another instructor, or worse have one assigned to them by the school.
When you fly with a more experienced instructor they can help you learn and progress faster. They are able to quickly pick up on student mistakes, common reasons for mistakes, and have more than one solution to solve the problems students might have. They are more comfortable letting students make mistakes, and this leads less time learning how to maneuver and land. They develop special techniques that isolate needed skills and improve the students handling of the aircraft.
At West Valley and Advantage Aviation the flight instructors are independent contractors the students choose and pay the instructor directly. Because of this many of the instructors at West Valley and Advantage Aviation can afford to be full time career flight instructors who love to instruct and have given many thousands of hours of dual flight instruction.
A flight instructor should tailor each lesson to the students needs. Not all student's learn the same, thus not all students should be taught the same.
It is important to look for an instructor who can fly a variety of aircraft, when it comes to it who would you rather be sitting next to in an emergency a pilot who has only flown Cessna's or one who has a experience in multiple aircraft including aerobatics.
How is flying in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Flying in the San Francisco bay area is challenging due to the airspace surrounding the local airports. But it will make anyone a better pilot in the end because the level of communications skills one has to achieve are closer to that of a commercial pilot.
Most of the year we have fair flying weather. In the summer we have about 7 months of rain-free weather with a morning marine layer that occurs about ever other week from June to August.
In the winter we do have sporadic storms that bring clouds and rain. At times the clouds are too low to the ground, or rain can lower the flight visibility below 3-5 miles, which is too low to conduct VFR flights. On the bright side, between storms we often have cool, clear, excellent flying weather. We usually do not suffer the persistent ground fog that the central valley experiences.
Flying in the bay area is challenging due to the proximity of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose airports and their respective airspace. It does take those who learn to fly here some extra effort to become comfortable to operating in and out of Palo Alto, Hayward, and San Carlos airports. Those who do though are able to fly anywhere in the world comfortably.
How often should i fly?
Many people take 2 or 3 lessons per week. Each lesson is about 2.5 to 3 hours. You can have 1 lesson a week if you are willing to accept that it will take you a little longer and cost a little more due to some forgetting and re-learning of knowledge and skills. You can also take 4 or more lessons a week but just be sure to set aside enough time for reading lesson material between lessons during the reading intensive portions of the training. I have had private and instruments students who have ranged from 3 weeks, to a year to complete their training.
Introductory Flight Lessons?
An introductory flight or Intro Flight allows an individual to experience flight in a 2 or 4 seat training aircraft. The individual handles the flight controls under the instruction of a CFI for most of the flight, landings on the first flight are reserved for the CFI. You can purchase an introduction flight with West Valley Flying Club or Advantage Aviation in person at the office. If you are paying for the introduction flight yourself it can be paid for on the day of the flight.
I can personally give an introductory flight lesson seven days a week. If i can not do it at the requested day i will gladly pass on your information to an experienced instructor.
The lesson includes: One hour of flight instruction, and an explanation of aircraft and what to expect in your training as a student.
Cost of 1 hour lesson in a 2-seat C152: 1 hr aircraft rental $89 + $65 = $154
Cost for 1 hour lesson in 4-seat C172 or Piper Warrior: 1 hr aircraft rental $110 + $65 = $175
Introduction flights can also be given in a tailwheel (Citabria 7ECA) 2-seat aircraft. The rental rate is $110/hr for this aircraft and instruction is $70 for a total of $180.
One or two additional people may ride in the back seat of a 4-seat aircraft on the introduction flight if you desire.
If you would just like information on flying I would be happy to meet with you or answer your questions over the phone for FREE.
What is involved in learning to fly?
Private Pilot training is usually broken down into three phases. Solo, Cross-country, and finally the checkride.
The first half of the solo phase is devoted to handling the plane at high and low altitudes. The second half of the solo phase concentrates on learning how to land and becoming proficient at simulated emergencies such as practice power-off approaches. The solo phase culminates with the student making their first solo flight. This phase takes about 45% of the students time and resources and encompasses most of the reading.
The Cross-country phase starts with specialty takeoff's and landings, introduces radio navigation & flight by reference to instruments. Then several dual Cross-country flights are made first, then several solo cross-country's. This phase takes about 35% of a students time.
During the final phase the student takes the written knowledge test (if they have not already), continues solo and dual practice of all the maneuvers required by the FAA for the practical test as well as preparing for the oral portion of the practical test. This phase takes about 20% of a students time. Do simulators help save time and money?
Simulators save time by allowing you to do all of the following: re-position the plane is seconds. Place the aircraft at any position relative to an approach procedure, hold or other navigational objective; change with wind direction and velocity to practice many possible correction techniques; fail instruments in a realistic way; seeing the plane's position on a map from time to time help's develop situational awareness.
Simulators save money in several ways: First by being over 3 times less expensive that the typical IFR (instrument flight rules) training plane; also you do not have to preflight them; and you can log all of the hobbs time without having to subtract 2 or 3 tenth's from each flight the way you must for airplane flights (For startup, taxi, takeoff, landing, and taxi back to parking.
For any further information please contact me at 650-270-5820, or andreicfi@gmail.com
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