Airfreddy's Flight Training Blog

Private Pilot Course

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:37:52 PDT

Hello all aviators out there

I have just updated my 10 day Private Pilot Course. I have added a lot of new information in it for you.

For detailed information just visit my Private Pilot site

Hope to See you in the Sky

Airfreddy

Airfredd's Private Pilot Website

Private Pilot License

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:32:34 PDT

Hello All:

I have recently updated the Private Pilot License Section of my website. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like to see

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Manual

Pilot License

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:01:42 PDT

Hello All:

New section on the Types of Pilot Licenses. I will be continually updating these pages

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Site

Flight School Courses

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:39:13 PDT

Hello All:

I have a new section explaining the Flight School Courses you will find at your local flight schools.

Hope to see you in the Sky

Airfreddy

Arizona Flight Training

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Information Website

Accelerated Flight Training

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:39:45 PDT

Hello All:

I have a new section with all of my accelerated flight training options.

Hope to see you in the Sky

Airfreddy

Flight Training

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Information Website

Private Pilot Training

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:40:13 PDT

Hello All:

I have a bunch of new updates to my website for you. I have just updated the Private Pilot License Section For you.

Hope to see you in the Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Guide

Private PIlot License Training

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:50:01 PST

Flight Training Tip: If you are in the process of you Private Pilot License you should be familiar with the Trim wheel. Some planes will also have a rudder trim. On a recent flight test one of my examiner friends said one student was weak with his right rudder. HM?. On another flight test my examiner friend figured out the problem and it was something that I completely missed. Yes the Rudder trim.

There are very few C-172's that have rudder trim but one of the planes I was using had it and it was set 2 notches to the right of takeoff. This was always set there. I don't think anyone had moved it in months. Since the C-172 I mostly fly doesn't have a rudder trim I never picked it up. If you are a pilot already you know how many mistakes you make!.

So if you are training in a plane that does have rudder trim, don't use it. Leave it in the takeoff position. This way you will exercise your right leg and use the rudder properly.

Hope to See You In the Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Guide

Learn to Fly Cost

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:41:00 PDT

Now I am going to add all of this up for you. As you can see from breaking your private pilot training down into three sections and then adding in books and materials, this is probably quite a bit higher than most flight schools will lead you to believe.

Like I said there are a lot of great flight schools out there and then there are a lot of bad ones. The key to the entire process is planning and researching. From the other three articles here, I have put down all of the costs together to come up with a realistic cost estimate for you.

Once again I will use an aircraft rate of $120 Per hour For a C-172 and $45 for the Instructor Since that is what I charge. Remember you will find many different rates in different areas of the country so just use my numbers as a guide for you. After you read this you can use the cost estimate workbook at the bottom of the page to plug in the rates for the aircraft and flight instructors in your area.

Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost

Private Pilot License Kit $200.00

Aviation Medical $100.00

Headsets $290.00

Total $590.00

Private Pilot License Pre Solo Cost

17 Hours Dual Instruction @ $165 Per Hour

5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

Total Dual Instruction $2805.00

Total Ground Instruction $225.00

TOTAL # 2 $3030.00

Private Pilot License Post Solo Cost

11.1 Hours Dual Instruction @ $165 Per Hour

2.5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

5 Hours of Solo Flight Time @ $120 Per Hour

11.1 Hours Dual Instruction $1,831.50

2.5 Hours Ground Instruction $112.00

5 Hours of Solo Flight Time $600.00

TOTAL# 3 $2543.00

Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation Cost

3 Hours Dual Instruction @ $165 Per Hour

5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

10 Hours of Solo Flight Time @ $120 Per Hour

Flight Test Examiner Fee

Flight test (airplane)

3 Hours Dual Instruction $825.00

5 Hours Ground Instruction $225.00

7.5 Hours of Solo Flight Time $900.00

Flight Test Examiner Fee $400.00

Flight Test (airplane) $180.00

Total # 4 $2,530.00

Total Private Pilot License Cost

Now when we add all of this up we get the following cost Estimate:

Books and Materials $590.00

Pre Solo Flight Training $3030.00

Post Solo Flight Training $2543.00

Flight Test Preparation $2530.00

TOTAL $8693.00

So you can see this is probably more than most flight schools will lead you to believe. There are some honest one out there. You just need to research before you start flying.

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Handbook

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Ecourse

Airfreddy's Flying Stories

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

Private PIlot License, Flight Test Preparation Cost

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:19:50 PDT

This is the finish up part of your Private Pilot Training where you will get prepared for the flight test. Now the one thing that you want to keep in mind is, if you have been going at a steady pace through your Private Pilot Training this phase will be just getting everything up to the practical test standards.

If you have gotten all your cross countries done and waited two months, guess what, it is going to take more flights to get you up to speed. So you can see how having all of this planned out from the beginning can really benefit you.

You want to be proficient for the flight test, if you can continuously fly from the beginning, this is going to be much easier. This is why I am training students 4 times per week now. I remember one of my students last year came within $300 or so of my cost estimate. He was done in about 8 weeks since the thanksgiving holiday week was at the end of his training. This is pretty good and the student was VERY happy.

If there had not been a holiday at the end of his training he would have been done in 6 1/2 weeks.

Here I add all of the left over solo time since most people end up getting it at the end for practice before the flight test. You are going to want to get out there by yourself before your flight test.

The requirement by the FAA is 3 Hours within 60 days of the flight test. I find that I am still doing about 4-6 hours with the students and 7-10 hours of ground instruction on average. If you are on track and have been studying hard, you can get done close to the hours I list below.

I use rates of $120 Per Hour for the airplane and $45 Per hour For the Instructor. I also use an examiner fee of $400.00.

Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation Cost

3 Hours Dual Instruction @ $165 Per Hour

5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

10 Hours of Solo Flight Time @ $120 Per Hour

Flight Test Examiner Fee
Flight test (airplane)

3 Hours Dual Instruction $825.00

5 Hours Ground Instruction $225.00

7.5 Hours of Solo Flight Time $900.00

Flight Test Examiner Fee $400.00

Flight Test (airplane) $180.00

Total # 4 $2,530.00

Now this is realistic if you have been training consistently. If you have started and stopped for some reason, make sure you can do the solo cross country phase and then jump right into the Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation.

Private Pilot Cost

Hope to See You in the Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Guide

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Course

Airfreddy's Flying Stories

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

Private PIlot Cost, Post Solo Flight Training Costs

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:43:41 PDT

The Post Solo Training Costs associated with the Private Pilots License are normally close to the pre solo phase but will burn your money up the fastest. Once you break this down you want to look at the big picture of the entire license. You don't want to get stuck and run out of money because in this phase of your training, you are doing longer flights and will have more ground instruction.

Once again there are some requirements put out by the FAA that have to be done before you can do your solo cross countries. Some training syllabuses will do some of the things I list below before solo but I like to build each lesson on top of the other so you learn one thing and then integrate it into the next lesson.

A perfect example is the simulated instrument training. I have this broken into 2 post solo flights. That will get about 2.2 hours of simulated instrument time. Then I have a lost procedures lesson where we will get about another .3 hours then the rest I will pick up at the flight test preparation stage. Bottom line is you need the three hours but if you are getting a little here and then a little there, chances are someone misses it and the examiner picks it up on flight test day and then walks out because you aren't qualified.

The other thing that can happen is your instructor picks it up and then up you go for an extra flight. The same thing can happen with the night time. I can't tell you how many times it has even happened to me no matter how careful I was. Now I do all the night time in one flight so it is over and done with. You don't want to get a call from your instructor the night before your flight test telling you to meet them at the airport to get some more flight time.

For our purpose here I will just list the requirements and then give you an estimate on the cost. The Private Pilot Post Solo requirements can be found at the link below. I will just outline the cost for you:

Private Pilot License Requirements

Basically there are 5 things needed before you can go on solo cross countries.

Soft Field Takeoffs and Landings

Short Field Takeoffs and Landings

Simulated Instrument Time

Vor Navigation

Cross Country Flight Training

Now the Hour Requirements are just for the Private Pilot License Aeronautical Experience but you have to have logged the above subject areas. I also Include the Dual Cross Countries Day and then all the night time Required.

1.5 Hours Dual Instruction for Soft-Field / Short-Field Takeoffs and Landings

2.2 Hours Dual Instruction / Simulated Instrument Instruction

4.4 Hours Dual Instruction for Cross-Countries

2.5 Hours Ground Instruction

3.0 Hours Dual instruction for Night Flying

5 Hours Solo Cross Country

In my syllabus, I have two dual cross-country flights, and each averages 2.2 hours. The FAA only has an hour requirement for the private pilot certificate, but I personally think that students need two different cross-country flights and about 2-3 hours of ground instruction. I am also going to add the solo cross country hours here since the goal here is to get the solo cross country requirements and move on to the flight test preparation portion of your Private Pilot Flight Training.
If we add this all up we get the following cost for this part of your private pilot training:

Private Pilot License Post Solo Cost

11.1 Hours of Dual Instruction @ $165 Per hour $1831.50

2.5 Hours of Ground Instruction @ $45 Per Hour $112.50

5 Hours of Solo Cross Country Flight $600.00

Total $2543.00

Once again with a good instructor and flying consistently, you should be close to this amount for this phase of your Pilot License Training. Depending on the instructor or the syllabus you may do one day cross country and then one night cross country. I personally have two different day cross countries to different types of airports.

Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost

Private Pilot License Pre-Solo Pilot Training Cost

Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation Cost

Private Pilot Cost

Hope to see you in the sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Manual

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Course

Airfreddy's Flying Stories

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

Private Pilot License, Pre Solo Flight Training Cose

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:10:34 PDT

Your Pre- Solo Training is the first Part of your Private Pilot License Training. In order for you to solo you have to be instructed and be found " COMPETENT" in the areas listed in the Student Pilot Regulations of the FAA. I Have them listed in the Private Pilot License Requirements section. You can find them by clicking the link below.

Student Pilot Requirements

Now there are 15 Aeronautical Experience areas that need to be covered and you need to be proficient at them. I am finding two different types of students have two different ideas about soloing.

The Younger Student: The younger students want to get soloed as fast as possible.

The Older Students: I have a lot of students who are my age or older. These students are going after their life long dream but are now in the phase of their life were they don't want to do anything stupid. In these cases the student doesn't really care about soloing. So I move them ahead and go through the cross country phase. I have had many older students that get to about 30 hours, I have completed almost everything with them and finally say, " It is time to get out there on your own" At this time they go do all of their solo time. Then we come back and finish up with the flight test preparation.

In Either case if the student is not ready to solo I move them forward.
For the purpose of this article I just add up the cost for you to get up to that phase of your training. If you are not ready to solo I just move on to the Post Solo Requirements.

From the requirements above you can see that there are 15 areas that you have to be instructed in and it has to be logged in your logbook with an instructors signature. I always tell students not to focus on the solo. You want to focus on being a safe pilot and getting your Private Pilot License done on schedule and on a budget.

Now in my syllabus I have 13 Flights to cover these areas with the addition of a Spin Entries Lesson and a Review Flight. In know that spin entries are not required but years back I had a student get himself into a spin. Since then I try and show every student spin entries and recoveries.

Here is the story:

Spin Flying Story

All of this training adds up to about 17 hours and 3-5 hours of ground instruction. Now you have to remember that is me. If you have a good dedicated instructor, you should be somewhere close to this. If you are at a school that is going through flight instructors left and right, you can expect having different instructors. This turns out to be more money. Once again the reason I tell people to plan things out ahead of time.

I will use an aircraft rate of $120 Per hour For a C-172 and $45 for the Instructor Since that is what I charge. You will find many different rates in different areas of the countries so just use my numbers as a guide for you. I have put 1.5 hours of solo time in here since your first and second solo should be close to this. If you are not ready to solo you will pick it up later on.

17 Hours Dual Instruction @ $165 Per Hour

1.5 Hours Solo @ $120.00 Per Hour

5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

Total Dual Instruction $2805.00

Total Solo Time $180.00

Total Ground Instruction $225.00

TOTAL $3210.00

Now you want to remember this should be close with a dedicated flight instructor and flying on a regular basis. I would suggest 4 lessons per week. If you are not ready to solo, you should ask your instructor to move you forward. Most people have problems with landings so there is no reason not to move forward with the rest of the requirements because each flight you have to land. You will get the lightbulb to come on soon or later. Many times you will find that if you stop focusing on just landings you will start to get them nice and smooth.

One other thing you want to remember is you are not the only person in the world who has problems in certain areas. Most students in general have the same problems and usually it is landings. Don't let it bother you, you have been driving a car all your life and it takes a very long time to break the habits.

Soloing is a great milestone but you want to remember that your main goal is to be a safe and confident pilot. I always ask students, would you rather solo in 10 hours or would you rather be prepared to handle any emergency that came up. You are dealing with a machine and sometimes no matter how well maintained they are, they are going to break.

Your goal is to "FLY THE PLANE" and handle the emergency so you can make it to happy hour.

The Links to the Rest of the costs are listed below:

Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost

Private Pilot License Post- Solo Pilot Training Cost

Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation Cost

Private Pilot License Total Cost
Hope to see you in the sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Guide

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Stories

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Course

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

Private PIlot FLight Training Cost

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:14:34 PDT

If you have been looking around the internet on information about the cost of a private pilot license, I am sure you have seen some articles written by people who are not even in the industry and others written by private pilots who may have just received their private pilot licenses. Some of the information may be close and others are pretty far off.

There are a lot of factors that will determine what a Private Pilot License (Certificate) will cost you. The first things you want to think about are:

1: Airplane Price Per Hour

2: Flight Instructor Price Per Hour

Depending on where you are in the country these rates can be dramatically different. These two rates will be the most important factors however, there are other factors that can dramatically increase your cost. I will give you some examples of things you want to look at.

1: The Flight School Itself: You need to poke your nose around the community and see what is going on. You will want to ask people who recently got their Private Pilot License and ask them how much it cost and how many hours they ended up having.

In many cases you will see much more than the flashy clean flight school. I know of many Flashy High Dollar Flight Schools that once you get out into the aviation community, you will want nothing to do with them. You may find many of the people you talk to ending up with an excessive amount of hours and may have had up to six instructors. I know this first hand since many of those students come to me half way through their training. This is one reason I always tell people to take some time and research and come up with a plan first.

There are on the other hand many flight schools that are concerned about their students and are willing to work with students to get them licensed in a cost effective manner. You just have to find them.

2: The Flight Instructor: If your instructor is not a good teacher your chances of getting your private pilot license in a cost effective manner get slimmer. You need to look into this. Other factors that have to do with the flight instructor is their aviation game-plan. If they are a good flight instructor that cares about his/her students you can plan with them and get things done in a cost and time effective manner. If you have an instructor that is just trying to get to the magic hiring number for an airline, your flight training will be compromised and you can plan on spending a lot more money.

3:Books and materials: In most cases you can get home study courses for about $200 or so. Some schools will require you get their $500 DVD packages. I have always told students to do what is best for them. All of the courses out there cover the same material taken from the official FAA publications. The material that is used for your practical test is the FAA publications.

4:Examiner Fees: This part most flight schools don't even mention at all. Once again depending on where you are in the world, this price can vary a lot. One part of the country you may find a private pilot flight test for $200 but in others like here in phoenix it will around $400.

A few of these factors put together can make the difference between a happy safe confident Private Pilot and a frustrated student pilot. If you are on a tight budget and have been saving for a long time, these factors will make a difference.

Planning this out is the most important thing you can do. In order to pass the Private Pilot License flight test you need to be proficient. Depending on the rates, instructor, and Flight School You Choose, $8,000 - $9,000 is a realistic budget and finishing at 45-50 hours is realistic.

The Planning process is the most important part. There are many delays that can happen, weather, maintenance and people getting sick.

For Explaining this I break the Private Pilot License Cost down into four parts. I do this so you can understand each phase of training. Then we will add it all up and you can see were the expenses are coming from. I break everything down in the following manner:

Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost

Private Pilot License Pre-Solo Pilot Training Cost

Private Pilot License Post- Solo Pilot Training Cost

Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation Cost

Private Pilot License Total Cost

Each one of these areas has a cost. It is easier to understand when you have everything broken down in front of you. Planning for the Private Pilot License is the most important thing you can do.

Hope To See You In The Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Guide

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Stories

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License E-Course

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

Copyright@ 2008. All Rights Reserved
Frederick J Longe / Professional Flight Instruction Service
1340 South Sandal Street, Mesa, AZ 85206

Private PIlot License, Flight Test Requirements

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:22:50 PDT

It is time to tie all of the Student Pilot /Pre-Solo and Post Solo Requirements together. In order to be eligible for the Private Pilot License Practical test, you have to have everything that I have listed so far DOCUMENTED in your logbook I go more in detail in my book but I will get you up to speed on this.

Now I will explain the requirements for you to be eligible for your Private Pilot Practical Test. All of the Previous requirements have to be completed for the student solo and the student solo cross countries. If you haven't looked at them yet here they are:

Now this is where the requirements that usually show up on the internet come from. This is only the aeronautical experience regulation. This is the regulation that most flight schools make their cost estimates from and where most people who have nothing to do with aviation write their articles from.

(a) For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (k) of this section, a person who applies for a private pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b)(1) of this part, and the training must include at least—

(1) 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane;
(2) Except as provided in §61.110 of this part, 3 hours of night flight training in a single-engine airplane that includes—
(i) One cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance; and
(ii) 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport.

(3) 3 hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to instrument flight;

(4) 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test in a single-engine airplane, which must have been performed within 60 days preceding the date of the test; and

(5) 10 hours of solo flight time in a single-engine airplane, consisting of at least—

(i) 5 hours of solo cross-country time;
(ii) One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total distance, with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations; and
(iii) Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

Then there is the other eligibility regulation for the Private Pilot License Flight Test

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, to be eligible for a practical test for a certificate or rating issued under this part, an applicant must:

(1) Pass the required knowledge test within the 24-calendar-month period preceding the month the applicant completes the practical test, if a knowledge test is required;

(2) Present the knowledge test report at the time of application for the practical test, if a knowledge test is required;

(3) Have satisfactorily accomplished the required training and obtained the aeronautical experience prescribed by this part for the certificate or rating sought;

(4) Hold at least a current third-class medical certificate, if a medical certificate is required;

(5) Meet the prescribed age requirement of this part for the issuance of the certificate or rating sought;

(6) Have an endorsement, if required by this part, in the applicant's logbook or training record that has been signed by an authorized instructor who certifies that the applicant—

(i) Has received and logged training time within 60 days preceding the date of application in preparation for the practical test;
(ii) Is prepared for the required practical test; and
(iii) Has demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas in which the applicant was deficient on the airman knowledge test; and

(7) Have a completed and signed application form.

There is also the ground instruction requirements. Lately the FAA has been getting very tough on this. There have been many cases where students have been signed off for flight tests and the instructor never did any ground instruction with them.. You want to remember that your instructor needs to have this documented for you to be eligible for the flight test.

Personally I make up one sheet with all the flight training and all the ground training and sign it at the bottom. This way I have a complete record and the examiner can plainly see every subject area.

Within these three regulations are all of the others listed in the student pilot requirements and the student pilot pre solo cross country requirements. Most people don't have a clue about all of this. And once you have started on the wrong track on your Pilot Training, it can become a very expensive venture.

This was the main reason that I ended up Writing "Airfreddy's Guide on Learning To Fly". This happens all of the time all over the country. I can't tell you how many emails I get from people who are frustrated at the entire process. If they had planned and researched ahead of time, they would have gotten done in a realistic budget and on a realistic schedule.

Getting your Private Pilot License and Learning to Fly can be a great experience, but if you don't understand that every time to delay, switch instructors, schools or wait to get your written test done. You will get more and more frustrated and I see it ALL THE TIME.

Your goal is to become a safe and proficient pilot on a realistic budget. Planning this process out is the most important thing you can do. You don't want to jump and and then find you are on the wrong track.

Private Pilot License, Pre-Solo Training Requirements

Private Pilot License, Post-Solo Training Requirements

Private Pilot License Requirements

Hope To See You In The Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Guide

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Course

Airfreddy's Flying Stories

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

Private Pilot License - Post Solo / Pre Solo Cross Country Requirements

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:46:39 PDT

After you solo or have completed the solo requirements, your instructor should move you ahead to the next phase of training even if you are not quite ready to solo. Like I have said before many flight schools and instructors will not move you forward until you have solo'ed.

I personally move everyone forwards since the goal is to get you licensed on a budget without loosing quality of Pilot Training.

Here are the Post Solo Requirements for your Private Pilot License Training. Once again they start off general and get more specific.

(a) General. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student pilot must meet the requirements of this section before—
(i) Conducting a solo cross-country flight, or any flight greater than 25 nautical miles from the airport from where the flight originated.
(ii) Making a solo flight and landing at any location other than the airport of origination.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must:
(i) Have received flight training from an instructor authorized to provide flight training on the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought;
(ii) Have demonstrated cross-country proficiency on the appropriate maneuvers and procedures of this section to an authorized instructor;
(iii) Have satisfactorily accomplished the pre-solo flight maneuvers and procedures required by §61.87( The Pre Solo requirements ) of this part in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft for which solo cross-country privileges are sought; and
(iv) Comply with any limitations included in the authorized instructor's endorsement that are required by paragraph (c) of this section.

This is once again a general requirement for Student Pilot Solo Cross Countries.

Now I will dig into them a little more and you find the following.

(3) A student pilot who seeks solo cross-country flight privileges must have received ground and flight training from an authorized instructor on the cross-country maneuvers and procedures listed in this section that are appropriate to the aircraft to be flown.

There is a lot more in this regulation. There is a link to it in your book " Learning To Fly, What it will Cost You" But the important part for this discussion is what is required for you to be eligible for Solo Cross Countries: As you move down this regulation you find the following:

(e) Maneuvers and procedures for cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane must receive and log flight training in the following maneuvers and procedures:

(1) Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage and dead reckoning with the aid of a magnetic compass;

(2) Use of aircraft performance charts pertaining to cross-country flight;

(3) Procurement and analysis of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts,
including recognition of critical weather situations and estimating visibility while in flight;

(4) Emergency procedures;

(5) Traffic pattern procedures that include area departure, area arrival, entry into the traffic pattern, and approach;

(6) Procedures and operating practices for collision avoidance, wake turbulence precautions, and windshear avoidance;

(7) Recognition, avoidance, and operational restrictions of hazardous terrain features in the geographical area where the cross-country flight will be flown;

(8) Procedures for operating the instruments and equipment installed in the aircraft to be flown, including recognition and use of the proper operational procedures and indications;

(9) Use of radios for VFR navigation and two-way communications;

(10) Takeoff, approach, and landing procedures, including short-field, soft-field, and crosswind takeoffs, approaches, and landings;

(11) Climbs at best angle and best rate; and

(12) Control and maneuvering solely by reference to flight instruments, including straight and level flight, turns, descents, climbs, use of radio aids, and ATC directives.

Notice there are no hour requirements in this regulation. All of these areas need to be in your logbook but the hour requirements only come into play in the general requirements.

Private Pilot License Requirements

Hope to See You In the Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Manual

Airfreddy's Pilot Training Stories

Airfreddy's Learn To Fly Online Course

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

Private Pilot Licnese Training Requirements, Pre Solo Student Pilot Requirements

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:02:37 PDT

The pre solo maneuvers are the first required for your Private Pilot License. There are a number of Requirements needed before you can do your first solo. Now in many cases I will move on to the post solo requirements if someone is not quite ready to solo yet. I do this because I am not going to sit in the traffic pattern with someone for 5 extra flights to get their landings down. The lightbulb will come on and my goal is to have you licensed and a safe / proficient pilot by the time of your flight test. Also I want you to be in your budget.

Many instructors and schools will not move forward until you have solo'ed I think this is a complete waste of money. For this reason some people may say that the pre solo phase is the most expensive. When I see someone who has 40 hours, hasn't soloed and on top of that has not done the cross countries, soft field / shortfield takeoffs and landings, night or simulated instrument time, the only thing I can think of is that poor student got ripped off.

The main reason people don't solo is they don't have their landings down. So why wouldn't the instructor move ahead. You have to do Soft Field / Short Field Takeoffs and Landings, 10 Night takeoffs and Landings, Dual Cross Countries ( Yes More Landings). This is usually plenty of time for the Landing ( Lightbulb) To come on.
Here I have listed the Pre Solo Requirements for you. Remember there are two parts Aeronautical Knowledge and Aeronautical Experience.

(a) General. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student has met the requirements of this section.

(b) Aeronautical knowledge. A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test that meets the requirements of this paragraph:

(1) The test must address the student pilot's knowledge of—
(i) Applicable sections of parts 61 and 91 of this chapter; (FAR"S )
(ii) Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed; and
(iii) Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown.

(2) The student's authorized instructor must—

(i) Administer the test; and
(ii) At the conclusion of the test, review all incorrect answers with the student before authorizing that student to conduct a solo flight.

(c) Pre-solo flight training. Prior to conducting a solo flight, a student pilot must have:

(1) Received and logged flight training for the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft to be flown; and

(2) Demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety, as judged by an authorized instructor, on the maneuvers and procedures required by this section in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft to be flown.

(d) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for a single-engine airplane rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:

(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;

(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;

(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;

(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;

(5) Climbs and climbing turns;

(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;

(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;

(8) Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations;

(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;

(10) Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;

(11) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;

(12) Ground reference maneuvers;

(13) Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions;

(14) Slips to a landing; and

(15) Go-arounds.

All of the above areas need to be covered and Documented in Your Logbook. And it needs to be signed off by a Certified Flight Instructor. Yes I have seen people that have gone up with their friends, and their friends have signed their logbooks. These areas can only be given by a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)

Student Pilot Requirements Post-Solo

Private Pilot License Flight Test Requirements

Hope to See You In the Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Guide on Becoming A Pilot

Airfreddy's Pilot Training Stories

Airfreddy's Private Pilot license Course

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

Private Pilot License Requirements

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:49:45 PDT

The private pilot license requirements are broken down into a few different sections. In most cases you will see something like this:

40 Hours Total

20 Hours Dual Instruction

10 Hours Solo

Now in other places you may see some added information

3 Hours Instrument

3 Hours Night

5 Hours Solo Cross Country

Now this is correct and the FAA regulations for the private pilot license do state this. The things that are missed are all of the area's of operation within these requirements. Many times the student doesn't realize what is exactly required, this can add up to more flights if something is missed by the flight instructor. The worst case scenario is this is picked up by the pilot examiner on flight test day.
If you have read over my Private Pilot License Cost section you can see that I break the cost down the same way. This is because you have to realize that there is a lot of subject areas that need to be DOCUMENTED. If they are not documented in your logbook you are not qualified for your flight test.

I can't tell you how many stories I have heard from examiner friends of mine about this. It happens all the time on flight test day. In many cases the flight instructor is nowhere to be found and the student has to reschedule the flight test. This happens so often that I made some special sections in my book called ( Keeping Your Instructor In Check )

So I will point them out to you so you can double check your instructor. Once in a while a student of mine will remind me of something, even after 20 years of doing this Better a week before the flight test than on you Private Pilot Flight Test Day.
The above requirements for the Private Pilot License are the Minimum Requirements. Within these requirements are a lot of subject areas.

In addition to the Aeronautical Experience Requirements ( Flight Time) There are Aeronautical Knowledge Requirements. Most people just look at this is the FAA written Test. You have to realize that once again your instructor has to DOCUMENT each of the subject areas. The FAA is starting to get very tough on this. If these subject areas aren't documented on flight test day, the examiner walks out.

Hopefully your instructor is somewhere to be found but if he/ she isn't, then you will have to reschedule your flight test.

I will outline all of these Private Pilot License Requirements for you and try to make it as simple as possible. So like my cost estimates I will break everything down into The Following:

Private Pilot License, Pre-Solo Training Requirements

Private Pilot License, Post-Solo Training Requirements

Private Pilot License Requirements

The reason I do this is so you can get an idea of what you are required to do at each stage of your training and then what is required for you to take your flight test. There are a lot of things to learn so my advice is to plan this process out before you spend a dime flying.

Hope to See You In The Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Guide

Airfredy's Private Pilot License Course

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Stories

Airfreddy's Flight Training Site

New Flight Training Website for People who want to learn to fly and Get a Private Pilot License

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:41:11 PDT

I have just put up my new flight training website up for people who are interested in Private Pilot License Training

I have detailed every aspect of the private pilot training process. The links are below

Private Pilot Training courseDetailed Ecourse on the Private PIlot Training

Pilot training Cost

Pilot Training Requirements I have detailed explaination of the requirements for your private pilot training

Pilot Training Guide Step by step guide to the private pilot training process

Pilot Training Stories All of the stories from airfreddy's guide on learning to fly in a new Ebook

Hope you like what I have put up

Airfreddy

Arizona Flight Instruction

Flight Training: New Flight Training Stories Book

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:08:07 PST

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Frederick Longe (Airfreddy )NEW FLYING STORIES BOOK.

For those interested in Learning to Fly and obtaining a Private Pilot License, career flight instructor Frederick Longe (Airfreddy) has just released the first volume of his aviation stories. “Airfreddy’s Aviation Stories”

These 18 stories are all real life flight training stories about the author, students and other pilots. Every pilot will enjoy reading these very real flying stories.

• Airfreddy's Interview
• Student Instructor Happy Hours
• I wasn't Qualified to Sign off a Student
• The Day I met My Buddy
• The Day I Learned Crosswind Landings
• New Engine, Not To Worry?
• Runway ITIS
• Bad Day in the Runnup Area
• My Worst Day as a Flight School Owner
• Fred, I Need Some Spin Training
• I Can Do Aileron Rolls, Can You?
• Bad Weather On a Second Solo
• Fred, I Didn't Need the Airspeed Indicator
• Engine Failure on a Flight Test
• From "I Can't," to "I Am an ACE"
• Almost Upside Down at Night
• Late for the Flight Test
• The Day She Passed Her Flight Test

About the Author: Frederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has owned many airplanes and even owned a flight school in Mesa, Arizona . He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. He also has two degrees in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Airfreddy's Flying Stories

Press Release: NEW FLYING STORIES BOOK.

Flight Training and Instruction Arizona: What CFI Training to Expect

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:22:06 PDT

Hello aviators out there:

I had a student on one of the aviation forums ask a question about flight instructor training even if they were proficient in all the maneuvers from the right seat. I told the student to expect the following:

20 Hour Dual Instruction
40 Hours Ground Instruction

Then the student ask why so much training. Here is my reply:

I even checked around some of my local flight schools and they are quoting between 10-20 hours in the airplane and between 20 - 40 hours on the ground.

I have taught quite a few and that is what it takes my students to understand and explain everything. I will just point out a few things.

First you can expect an 8 hour flight test on average about 6 on the ground and 2 in the air. Once again EVERYTHING IS FAIR GAME.

if you haven't looked at the CFI PTS you may want to it is almost 200 pages long. Here are a few things I just pulled from the PTS

First of all you have to have instructional Knowledge of everything. Below is directly from the PTS

The term "instructional knowledge" means the instructor applicant is capable of using the appropriate reference to provide the "application or correlative level of knowledge" of a subject matter topic, procedure, or
maneuver. It also means that the flight instructor applicant's discussions, explanations, and descriptions should follow the recommended teaching procedures and techniques explained in FAA-H-8083-9, Aviation Instructor's Handbook.

Now here are the references that the FAA can and will use on the flight test:

14 CFR part 1 Definitions and Abbreviations
14 CFR part 23 Airworthiness Standards: Normal, Utility, Acrobatic,
and Commuter Category Airplanes
14 CFR part 39 Airworthiness Directives
14 CFR part 43 Maintenance, Preventative Maintenance,
Rebuilding, and Alteration
14 CFR part 61 Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors
14 CFR part 67 Medical Standards and Certification
14 CFR part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules
NTSB part 830 Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents and
Incidents
AC 00-6 Aviation Weather
AC 00-45 Aviation Weather Services
AC 60-22 Aeronautical Decision Making
AC 60-28 English Language Skill Standards as Required by
14 CFR parts 61, 63, and 65
AC 61-65 Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors
AC 61-67 Stall and Spin Awareness Training
AC 61-84 Role of Preflight Preparation
AC 61-94 Pilot Transition Course for Self-Launching or
Powered Sailplanes (Motorgliders)
AC 61-107 Operations of Aircraft at Altitude Above 25,000 feet
MSL and/or Mach Numbers (Mmo) Greater than
.75
AC 90-42 Traffic Advisory Practices at Airport Without
Operating Control Towers
AC 90-48 Pilots’ Role in Collision Avoidance
AC 90-66 Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns for
Aeronautical Operations at Airports Without
Operating Control Towers
AC 91-13 Cold Weather Operation of Aircraft
AC 91-55 Reduction of Electrical System Failures Following
Aircraft Engine Starting
FAA-H-8083-1 Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook
FAA-H-8083-3 Airplane Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-9 Aviation Instructor’s Handbook
FAA-S-8081-4 Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards
FAA-S-8081-12 Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards
FAA-S-8081-14 Private Pilot Practical Test Standards
FAA-H-8083-15 Instrument Flying Handbook
FAA-H-8083-25 Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
Order 8080.6 Conduct of Airman Knowledge Tests
AC 150/5340-1 Standards for Airport Markings
AC 150/5340-18 Standards for Airport Sign Systems
AC 150/5340-30 Design and Installation Details for Airport Visual
Aids
AIM Aeronautical Information Manual
A/FD Airport/Facility Directory
NOTAMs Notices to Airmen
POH/AFM Pilot Operating Handbooks and FAA-Approved
Airplane Flight Manuals
USCG Navigation Rule: International - Inland

Now you also have the TASKS in the PTS

The Objective of a TASK that involves pilot skill consists of four parts. The four parts include determination that the applicant exhibits:

1. instructional knowledge of the elements of a TASK. This is accomplished through descriptions, explanations, and simulated instruction;

2. instructional knowledge of common errors related to a TASK,including their recognition, analysis, and correction;

3. the ability to demonstrate and simultaneously explain the key elements of a TASK. The TASK demonstration must be to the COMMERCIAL PILOT skill level2; and

4. the ability to analyze and correct common errors related to a TASK.

Just being able to nail the maneuvers from the right seat is just a fraction of the flight test.

Instructional knowledge put simply means you know it and you know how to explain it and you know how to identify what the student is doing wrong and then correct the problem.

You can take all your books to the flight test but I can guarantee you if you use them more than 2 maybe three times you will get a pink slip. You have to know it inside and out.

So that is what all the ground time is. Do you think you want to go up against the FAA with 5 hours of ground instruction?

airfreddy

Arizona Flight Training and Instruction

Flight Training: Forgetting to Fly the Plane on Final Approach

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:35:58 PDT

Hello All:

I figured I would share a little story that just happened last night.

I was on a night cross country with one of my students last night from Falcon Field to Wickenberg, AZ We left falcon field and headed out toward Scottsdale Airport. A little while went by and my student decided to turn the landing light off since we were out of Falcon Fields Airspace. The plane has strobes and a beacon so I had no problem with that.

So we get over wickenberg and enter Downwind. The student does his landing check but forgets to turn the landing light on. So we are on final approach and he still doesn't notice. About the time we cross the threshhold, the student decides to forget about his #1 Job at this time " Fly the airplane". He decides to look into the cockpit and try and find the landing light switch [:O]

I try not to grab the controls from student but every once in a while I have to " I like happy hours" So I ended up leveling the plane off.

This just shows you how a simple thing like a landing light switch can get you in big trouble if you stop flying the airplane. So if you find yourself forgetting something, just go around and fix the problem. Once you turn final you should be focusing outside the airplane. I quick glance at the airspeed indicator is all you need.

Hope to See you in the Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Information Website

Arizona Flight Training and Instruction

New Learn To Fly Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:35:18 PDT

Hello all:

For those of you interested in getting your pilots license or learning to fly, I have spend most of the summer working on my latest book " Airfreddy's Guide on Learning To Fly and the Private Pilot Certificate.

This is not your everyday Private Pilot manual. I have spend hundreds of hours putting together a book that not only explains step by step the entire process from planning to your flight test but also has stories and Handouts from me.

I cover just about everything you can think of that concerns learning to fly and the private pilot certificate.

If you are interested, Please visit me at:

Airfreddy's Private Pilot Training Information Website
Hope to See you in the Sky

Airfreddy

Arizona Flight Training and Instruction

Flight Training with a 9000 Hour Flight Instructor: Now Taking On New Students Phoenix Area

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:34:03 PDT

Hello Fellow Aviators

I am now taking on new students for all fixed wing airplane ratings in the Phoenix Arizona Area. I have been an active flight instructor for 18 years and have accumulated approximately 8500 of Dual flight instruction given. If you are looking for any type of flight training I can help.

I mainly fly out of Falcon Field in Mesa Arizona and Stellar Airpark in Chandler Arizona. If you have your own airplane I can also meet at Williams Gateway airport in Mesa Arizona and Chandler airport in Chandler Arizona.

My Ratings

Airline Transport Pilot: Multi Engine Land
Commercial Pilot: Single Engine Land
Flight Instructor: Airplane Single engine/ multi engine / instrument

If you are looking to learn to fly, need an additional rating or need to get back into the air I would be glad to help you. I have access to several C-172’s on Falcon Field in Mesa Arizona or can fly with you in your own airplane.

If you have any questions about flying or obtaining a pilot certificate, please feel free to visit me

Arizona Flight Training and Instruction

Hope to see you in the Sky

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Information Website

Flight Training: TO SPIN OR NOT TO SPIN THAT IS THE QUESTION

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:33:06 PDT

The FAA requires that you have Knowledge of spins and recoveries. They do not require that you actually go up in the airplane and do spins. So the question becomes should I have an instructor spin me or not. In most cases the student will just follow the flight instructor in the training course syllabus. If spins are not there then you won’t do them.

For a period of time I was actually requiring students that I trained go up and do spins and I will tell you that story. Out of all the students I have instructed over the years. I only had one that was totally opposed to doing spins and I did loose that student. My reaction was at least my signature is not in your logbook when you kill yourself.

A little story to think about. Back in about 1992 after I had been instructing for a few years I was in the office of the local FBO I was working for. I was waiting for one of my students to come back from a solo flight. A little while later my student came in. He looked like he had just seen a ghost. He was shaking and sweating and you name it. He flat out didn’t look good. I asked him what happened. The answer that I got was one that most flight instructors would not want to hear. “I was practicing stalls in the practice area and all of a sudden I was upside down and then just spinning towards the ground” . “ I didn’t know what to do but I heard your voice tell me to pull the power back and just let go of the control column and the plane will stabilize.”

If you know anything about small Cessna’s they tend to have a forward CG and will recover if you just let go of the controls for a second. That is if you are not in a fully developed spin. So that is what the student did. The even more upsetting part to me was the fact that he stated once the plane stopped spinning and the nose started to come up, he looked at the altimeter. He said it was reading about 1800 – 1900 Feet.

If you fly in the phoenix area you know that the ground elevation is approximately 1500 FEET MSL. So my student recovered about 300 to 400 Feet about the ground. This is far below normal traffic patterns. So my question to you is would you like this to happen to you. Because it can happen to you. Or would you rather have an instructor go over spin entries and recoveries with you?

I was taking aerobatic flight lessons at the time and had practiced plenty of 3 to 4 turn spins so I got the parachutes on and Up we went. So I started demonstrating spins and spin entries and he just kept saying “ nope that is not what happened. It finally dawned on me what had happened and I said to him is this what happened and sure enough I had hit the nail on the head.

The spin my student got himself into was one of the worst cases you could imagine. He was practicing power off stalls. So the normal recovery is to lower the nose and add power and start retracting flaps 10 degrees at a time.

Little did my student know that the plane had started to enter the spin when he added full power.The result was a torque roll that placed the plane upside down at first, then continued to spin with the help of the full power setting. I didn’t think that a 152 was capable of that but sure enough it was. So he pulled the power and let go of it recovering about 400 feet above the ground.

So I think every pilot out there should had done some type of spin training. Now that I don’t have an aerobatic airplane I do a flight the shows the students how to enter and recover from the spin. This is not a full spin lesson but it shows the student what to expect.

If you would like more information on this here is the FAA Advisory circular on Spins.
spin awareness

Hope to see you in the Sky

Airfreddy

Arizona Flight Training

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Information Website

Questions about Flying

noreply@blogger.com (Airfreddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:31:20 PDT

I have been an active flight instructor for the last 17 years. I have trained hundreds of pilots and Logged over 8000 hours of flight instruction given. If you feel lost or confused about anything that relates to flight lessons, flight training, learning to fly or the general aviation industry just post a question below and I gladly help you out

Airfreddy

Airfreddy's Private Pilot License Information Website