Private Pilot License
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Dreaming of Flight?
Dreaming of Flight?
Whether you are considering flying for a career or for a hobby, Cleared to Land Aviation can assist you with earning your Private Pilot License and beyond. We have helped numerous students across the country achieve flight ratings from Private to Commercial. If you are interested in getting started, contact us TODAY!
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
The first step towards beginning your flight training is research. And congratulations! You are accomplishing this step right now! Now lets get familiarized with what we need to do to get your private pilot's license:
Total Flight Time: 40 Hours
At least 10 of which is Solo flight time
At least 3 of which is with sole reference to aircraft instruments
At least 3 of which is at night
At least 8 of which is traveling to airport further than 50 miles away
+ more
Sounds Easy Right? Well, not exactly.
Sounds Easy Right? Well, not exactly.
Think about being able to fly your family safely, anywhere in the United States, even the busiest airports in the country. With the low time commitment of a single work week of training!
The point I am trying to make here is that constantly students come to me with this 40 hour number in their head and ask me if they'll be able to complete their private license in these 40 hours and unfortunately the answer is always- it depends. I've had students that are like sponges with how fast they learn complete their training close to 40 hours. I've had successful businessmen who completed their training close to 80 hours. It depends.
What Does the Typical Process Look Like and How Much is this Going to Cost Me?
What Does the Typical Process Look Like and How Much is this Going to Cost Me?
The first thing I recommend anyone to do is to obtain a medical certificate from an FAA approved physician. Although not entirely needed to start flying, it's good to know that you'll be able to pass the required health physical before you start sinking too much money into this process. For a Private License you only need a 3rd class medical. If you're looking to start a career, look into obtaining a 1st class medical.
Next, schedule a discovery flight! A discovery flight is a good way to see if you'll be comfortable training in a small airplane and if you are compatible with your flight instructor.
Now after completing these two steps we can jump into actual flight training. So what can I expect from here?
You can expect each flight lesson to be about 2 hours in length. Many students are able to fit a flight lesson in before or after they work.
Typically students are able to schedule at least twice a week. This keeps their skills sharp without breaking the bank.
At this pace you can expect the entire process to take around 5-6 months.
What is this going to cost me?
Dual Flight Training 50 Hours: $8,250
Solo Flights 15 Hours: $1,575
Ground Instruction 20 Hours: $1,200
Written Exam: $175
Checkride (Practical Exam): $800
Total Cost: $12,000
Ouch, that's a lot of money. Most student's next questions is how can I bring this number down?
The BEST way to bring this number down is to treat this endeavor like a second job. Realize that the flight training doesn't end when the flight lesson ends. I support my students self studying ground instruction topics. So there's at least $1000 slashed away. The above estimate assumes several repeat lessons due to performance or infrequent training. Schedule at least twice a week and study before lessons and we might be able to bring that dual number closer to 35 hours. Great that's an additional $2,475 saved!
Some Final Comments
Some Final Comments
If you've read down to here, awesome, I haven't scared you away yet! That wasn't my goal, I just wish to be as forward as possible with my potential students. Learning to fly is an extremely large commitment both timewise and financially. The above and especially the notes on how to save some money are some bits of advice I wish someone would've told me when I began flight training.
Although it's a long journey, I promise that the end goal is entirely worth the effort. The skills that I've learned have allowed me to travel the world flying some of the newest and some of the oldest airplanes in our skies.
As for my students, I've seen them put the skills they've learned to good use. Some have bought their own airplanes and travel with their families across the country. I've also seen students become instructors themselves and spread to the joy of aviation to upcoming students.
Either way, everyone has their own desire as to why they want to get into the vast world of aviation. And I am happy to help anyone along that journey. If you're ready to take the plunge give me a call today. 254-652-5367
Aaron Melveney
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