To be a pilot?

Question

I want to learn to be a pilot and i know that you can start from age 17. I dont waant to fly in the army or anything just get a lisecence and maybe buy my own helicopter or something for personal use.....is that possible and if so what do i do?...Any good schools in sacramento,ca area? Thanks

Answer 1

To obtain a Private Pilot certificate, you need to fulfill certain requirements set by the FAA. Your first step will be to get a flight physical by a doctor designated by the FAA. You will need at least a 3rd class medical certificate (which also serves as your student license). I recommend getting a 1st class medical since that is what you will eventually need to be an airline pilot or equivalent. This way if any medical defects are noted, you will be aware of it now rather than later after spending $30,000 for a pilot career.

The Private Pilot flight experience requirements:

1. 40 hours of total flight time

2. 20 hours of flight instruction (of which is included in the 40hrs total flight time)

3. 10 hours of solo flight time (included in the 40hrs of total flight time)

Included in the above flight hours, you must complete:

1. 3 hours of cross-country flight training (a cross country is a flight 50 miles or more from the departure airport)

2. 3 hours of night flight instruction (one cross country flight over 100 nautical miles and 10 takeoff's and landings to a full stop)

3. 3 hours of flight training involving flying solely by reference of instruments

4. 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test in a single engine airplane

5. 5 hours of solo cross country time

(a) one solo cross-country flight at least 150 nautical miles with full stop landings at a minimum of 3 points.

6. 3 take offs and 3 landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.

7. Must be 16 years of age

Pass the FAA Private Pilot written exam.

Instrument



One of the more challenging yet rewarding ratings you will need to get is the Instrument rating. Nothing gives you more satisfaction than flying through the clouds with no visible horizon outside the cockpit and then breaking out of those clouds at 200 feet above the ground and 1/2mile from the runway in order to make a landing. Without this important rating, it is quite dangerous to fly in the clouds or fog. Another aspect to flying instrument that you probably didn't use very much with just a VFR Private license, is that you will be communicating with ATC (Air Traffic Control). They will be responsible for separation between you and other aircraft as well as aid you in navigating to the final approach course to your destination airport.

The Instrument Rating flight experience requirements:

1. At least 50 hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command (PIC)

2. A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time to include:

(a) At least 15 hours of instrument training from a Certified Instrument Flight Instructor

(b) At least 3 hours of instrument training in preparation for the practical test

3. Instrument training on cross country flight procedures that include at least one cross country performed under IFR and consists of:

(a) A distance of at least 250 nautical miles along airways or ATC directed routing

(b) An instrument approach at each airport (3 different type of instrument approaches)

4. Of the 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, 20 hours maximum can be in an approved flight simulator or training device.

Pass the FAA Instrument Pilot written exam



Commercial Pilot



The Commercial Pilot certificate is required if you want to use your talents as a pilot to make money. Without this certificate, you cannot charge anyone for your services but instead split the expenses equally. The Commercial Pilot training will teach you to sharpen your skills as a pilot and master your aircraft. You will also need a minimum of a second-class medical certificate to operate as a Commercial Pilot.

Commercial Pilot flight experience requirements:

1. Log at least 250 hours as a pilot that consists of at least:

     (a) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes

     (b) 100 hours of pilot in command flight time, which includes:

            (i) 50 hours in airplanes and 50 hours in cross country flight of which 10 hours must be in airplanes.

2. 20 hours of training that include at least:

     (a) 10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a single engine airplane

     (b) 10 hours of training in an airplane that has retractable landing gear, flaps and a controllable pitch propeller

3. One cross country flight of at least 2 hours in a single engine airplane in day VFR conditions consisting of one leg of 100 nm.

4. One cross country flight of at least 2 hours in a single engine airplane in night VFR conditions consisting of one leg of 100 nm.

5. 3 hours in a single engine airplane in preparation for the practical test.

6. 10 hours of solo flight which include at least:

     (a) One cross country flight not less than 300 nautical miles total distance with landings at a minimum of 3 points, one leg at least 250 nautical miles

7. 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 take offs and 10 landings at an airport with an operating tower

8. Must be 18 years of age

Pass the FAA Commercial Pilot written exam



Airline Transport Pilot



The Airline Transport Pilot certificate is the "PhD" of pilot certificates! It will give you the opportunity to act as Pilot-in-Command in an aircraft weighing more than 12,500lbs. It requires a lot of flight time in your logbook before you are eligible to become an ATP. Most airlines or other aviation employers will pay for you to get your ATP when you upgrade to the captain's seat. You will be required to hold a first class medical certificate when acting as an ATP.

Airline Transport Pilot flight experience requirements:

1. 1500 hours total flight as pilot which include:

(a) 500 hours of cross country flight time

(b) 100 hours of night flight time

(c) 75 hours of instrument flight time, in actual or simulated instrument conditions

2. 250 hours of flight time in an airplane as a pilot in command which include:

(a) 100 hours of cross country flight time

(b) 25 hours of night flight time

3. Not more than 100 hours of the total aeronautical experience requirements may be obtained in a flight simulator or training device.

4. A person who has performed at least 20 night takeoffs and landings to a full stop may substitute each additional night takeoff

and landing to a full stop for one hour of night flight time to satisfy the requirements of the 100 hours of night flight time however

not more than 25 hours of night flight time may be credited in this manner

5. Must be at least 23 years of age

Pass the FAA Airline Transport Pilot written exam



Additional ratings



In addition to the pilot certificates and ratings listed above, there are a few more that will help you advance in your aviation career. Any time you can get another rating or add to your qualifications as a pilot, the better! Earning all these ratings is a remarkable achievement but will do you no good if you don't stay proficient. And a proficient and knowledgeable pilot will produce a safe pilot! SAFETY COMES FIRST! Here is the list of additional pilot ratings you might want to consider:

1. Certified Flight Instructor - This certificate comes in three variations:

(a) CFI - Allows you to teach Private and Commercial and students.

(b) CFII - Allows you to teach Instrument students.

(c) MEI - Allows you to teach multi-engine students

2. Multi-Engine Rating - This rating can be held with a Private or Commercial Pilot's certificate with IFR or VFR privileges.

This rating is required to get any job flying multi-engine airplanes. The best way to build multi-engine time, besides buying

a twin engine airplane or paying to rent one, is to get your MEI. This way you can teach multi-engine students and log the flight time.

The multi-engine rating can also be held in a "land" based aircraft or a "Sea" plane.

3. Seaplane Rating - This rating can be held with a Private or Commercial certificate and as a single engine or multi-engine rating.

For more information on Pilot certificates and proficiency requirements

visit the FAA's website at http://www.faa.gov/

Answer 2

When I did my PPL back in '98 I was enrolled in an Aerospace Science class and did my flying through the local FBO, which I believe was under $4,000. Then maybe get IFR rated then go for a PPL/H for heli. I'm sure there are tons of flight schools around that area, but I would do an FBO (fixed base ops) b/c it may be the cheapest route.