Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does it cost to become a Private Pilot?

A: The cost of flight training can vary but if you can come out on a regular basis you should be close to (or possibly under) the estimate listed on the PRIVATE PILOT page.

Q: How long does it take to get a Private Pilot Certificate?

A: Along with the cost, the time can vary as well, but those who are able to complete 2-3 flight lessons per week average 2-3 months.

Q: What is a typical flight lesson like, how long is it?

A: With the exception of a few 3-4 hour cross-country flights, your flight lessons are 2 hours in length. At your request we can make them longer or shorter, but this seems to be a good time frame. When you arrive you will spend 5-10 minutes doing a preflight inspection of the airplane, then join your flight instructor for a 10-15 minute pre-flight briefing that will address review items from last time and a thorough discussion of how to accomplish this flight's goals. Then the fun part. The flight itself will usually last between 1 hour 10 minutes, and 1 hour 40 minutes. The flight will be followed by a post-flight briefing of today's flight and what you can look forward to for next time.

Q: Do I need to have perfect eyesight?

A: Absolutely not. As long as your eyesight is correctable to 20/40, you should be able to pass the vision portion of the medical required to become a Private Pilot. The eye exam is basically the same as your Driver's License eye exam.

Q: Do I need to have an extensive knowledge of math or physics?

A: This is another myth. As long as you can add, subtract, multiply and divide you'll be ok. And if you can't, bring a calculator, but you will rarely need to do any math. As far as physics goes, yes there is about 2 hours of talk about it in the ground school, but it is explained in a very simple way that everyone can understand.

Q: When I get my Private Pilot Certificate, where can I go?

A: With the exception of certain areas (ie Military Airports and Airspace), you are not restricted to any specific area. Many of our renters migrate North to Canada for some fishing in the summers, Florida in the winters, and even the occasional trip to the Bahamas. If you're stumped, we have plenty of exciting suggestions.

Q: Can I take anyone with?

A: Absolutely. Your Pilot Certificate allows you to take passengers if you like. We can even transition you into one of our bigger and faster airplanes as you gain flight experience.