Flight Training

 

Sport Pilot

  1. The Sport Pilot certificate was created in September of 2004 after years of work by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in an effort to lower the cost of aviation for recreational flying. It offers limited privileges mainly for recreational use. It is the only certificate that does not require a medical certificate; a valid driver's license can be used as proof of medical. It requires only 20 hours of total flight time as compared to 40 hours for private pilot.
  2. Limits sport pilots to flying low performance airplanes: maximum weight 1320 lbs, maximum stall speed 45 knots, maximum speed 120 knots, fixed landing gear, and a fixed pitch propeller.

FAA Light Sport Pilot

To qualify for the Sport pilot certificate, an applicant must:

Sport Pilots are only eligible to fly aircraft that are either certified specifically as light-sport aircraft (LSA) or were certified prior to the LSA regulations and are within the maximum weight and performance limitations of an LSA.

Sport pilots are limited to:

Time in light-sport aircraft can be used towards the experience requirement for other ratings.

Private Pilot

In the early 1950's, the FAA set the minimum requirement for a Private Pilot Certification at 40 hours of total flight time. Today you can expect it to take 60+ flight hours to accomplish due to the complexities of the current airspace system and advances in navigational technology.

Must be 17 Years old for airplane

Read, Speak, Write, Understand English (unless restricted (61.103.c))
Have Knowledge test endorsement per 61.103.d
Pass knowledge test
Have logbook endorsements for practical test
Have aeronautical experience per 61.109 including:

40 Hours minimum total time which include the following:

20 hours flight training which includes:
3 hours night
  w/ x/c 100+ NM total
  10 TO/Landings to full stop

3 hours Instrument
3 hours of cross country flight training
3 hours preperation for practical test within 60 days prior to it

10 hours of solo flight time, which include:

  5 hours of cross country flight time including:
  one cross country flight of 150+ miles with one leg >=50 miles,
  with full stop landings at 3 different airports

  3 full stop landings at airport w/ operating control tower

 

Commercial

Be 18 Years old

Read, Speak, Write, Understand English (unless restricted (61.123.b))
Have Knowledge test endorsement per 61.123.c
Pass knowledge test
Have logbook endorsements for practical test
Have aeronautical experience per 61.129 including:

250 Hours minimum total flight time experience which includes:
      100 hours powered aircraft
       50 hours in airplanes
       50 hours of cross country flight time
       10 hours of which must be in airplanes

       20 hours of flight training
       10 hours instrument training
         5 hours in single engine airplanes
       10 hours training in complex or turbine

    1 daytime cross country VFR flight of at least 2 hours and 100 NM leg length
    1 night night time cross country VFR flight of at least 2 hours and 100 NM leg length

    3 hours of test prep in a single engine airplane within the preceding
        60 days prior to practical test

   10 hours solo flight time (after having attained a Private Pilot Certificate), including:

       1 solo cross country flight of at least 300 NM w/ 3 points one at least one 250 NM leg
       5 hours night solo w/ 10 takes offs & landings at airport w/ operating control tower

 

Instrument

(a) General. A person who applies for an instrument rating must:
(1) Hold at least a current private pilot certificate with an airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought;
(2) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
(3) Receive and log training from an authorized instructor as detailed in Sec. 61.65 of the FARs

consists of--
(A) A distance of at least 100 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed
routing;
(B) An instrument approach at each airport; and
(C) Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems;
and for an instrument--powered-lift rating, instrument training specific to
a powered-lift on cross-country flight procedures that includes at least one
cross-country flight in a powered-lift that is 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; and
(C) Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems.
(e) Use of flight simulators or flight training devices. If the instrument
training was provided by an authorized instructor in a flight simulator or
flight training device--
(1) A maximum of 30 hours may be performed in that flight simulator or
flight training device if the training was accomplished in accordance with
part 142 of this chapter; or
(2) A maximum of 20 hours may be performed in that flight simulator or
flight training device if the training was not accomplished in accordance
with part 142 of this chapter.

 

Multi-Engine

In your Aircraft

 

Flight Reviews

We customize your Flight Review to expand your knowledge and skills.

 

Insurance Checkouts

Offering checkouts to meet insurance requirements for the Zenair and AMD CH601/CH650 models.

 

Mountain Flying

Learn to read mountain weather and maneuvers

 

Technically Advanced

Garmin G1000, Garmin GNS530, Aspen Avionics

 

 

Top of Page