Private Pilot Private Pilot CertificateCertificate

What You Can DoWhat You Can Do

Fly in VFR weather conditionsFly in VFR weather conditions Fly at any time, day or nightFly at any time, day or night Fly without an instructor approving Fly without an instructor approving

your flightplan your flightplan Fly into/out of any civil U.S. AirportFly into/out of any civil U.S. Airport Carry passengersCarry passengers

Passengers can pay up to their equal Passengers can pay up to their equal share of the flight costsshare of the flight costs

Why Fly?Why Fly?

Requirements on the Requirements on the GroundGround

Third Class Medical CertificateThird Class Medical Certificate Required for your first soloRequired for your first solo Get this early in your training or before Get this early in your training or before

you beginyou begin Valid for 3 yearsValid for 3 years

70% or better on written exam70% or better on written exam Take the exam as early as you canTake the exam as early as you can Exam cannot be taken without an Exam cannot be taken without an

instructor’s write-off.instructor’s write-off.

Requirements in the AirRequirements in the Air

At least 40 hours of flight time (50-At least 40 hours of flight time (50-70 average)70 average) 20 hours with instructor20 hours with instructor

3 hours cross country3 hours cross country One flight over 100nm start to finishOne flight over 100nm start to finish

3 hours night3 hours night 3 hours instrument3 hours instrument

10 hours solo10 hours solo 5 hours cross country5 hours cross country

One flight over 150nm with three landingsOne flight over 150nm with three landings

A Typical LessonA Typical Lesson 2 hour block2 hour block

1 hour of maneuvers/skills practice near 1 hour of maneuvers/skills practice near airportairport

Steep turnsSteep turns Slow flight/stallsSlow flight/stalls Instrument flyingInstrument flying Emergency proceduresEmergency procedures

½ hour of pattern work½ hour of pattern work Different types of takeoffs/landingsDifferent types of takeoffs/landings

½ hour to park plane, debrief lesson½ hour to park plane, debrief lesson Other lessons may be ground school or Other lessons may be ground school or

longer flights (ex: cross country)longer flights (ex: cross country)

What You’ll FlyWhat You’ll Fly

2 Seater: Piper Tomahawk, Cessna 2 Seater: Piper Tomahawk, Cessna 150150

4 Seater: Piper Warrior, Cessna 1724 Seater: Piper Warrior, Cessna 172

The CheckrideThe Checkride

Two partsTwo parts Oral Exam cover flight planning, “what Oral Exam cover flight planning, “what

if” scenarios, aircraft systemsif” scenarios, aircraft systems Flight Exam is just what it sounds likeFlight Exam is just what it sounds like

Start a cross-country flightStart a cross-country flight Basic Flight ManeuversBasic Flight Maneuvers Pattern workPattern work

Must pass every partMust pass every part

Checkride TipsCheckride Tips

Plan aheadPlan ahead Do all of the flight planning (except for the Do all of the flight planning (except for the

weather) the day before the examweather) the day before the exam Be professional from beginning to endBe professional from beginning to end If you’re unsure of an instruction, askIf you’re unsure of an instruction, ask Take your timeTake your time Be calmBe calm

Your instructor signed you off; you’re Your instructor signed you off; you’re preparedprepared

CostCost

2-Seat Airplane ~$90/hr (60hr = 2-Seat Airplane ~$90/hr (60hr = $5400)$5400)

Instructor ~$50/hr (35hr = $1750)Instructor ~$50/hr (35hr = $1750) Examiner ~$350Examiner ~$350 Written Exam ~$80Written Exam ~$80 Supplies ~$400Supplies ~$400 Total: $7980Total: $7980

CostCost

My costMy cost 51 flight hours @ $85/hr ($4335)51 flight hours @ $85/hr ($4335) 30.5 hours instruction @ $60/hr ($1830)30.5 hours instruction @ $60/hr ($1830) Checkride ($350)Checkride ($350) Supplies (~$400)Supplies (~$400) Written Exam ($80)Written Exam ($80) Total: $6995Total: $6995

What You Should BuyWhat You Should Buy

HeadsetHeadset Review book/practice testReview book/practice test Charts, AFDCharts, AFD Log BookLog Book Flight computerFlight computer Fuel testerFuel tester Gleim kit has most of the aboveGleim kit has most of the above

Training in BostonTraining in Boston Three main airportsThree main airports

BedfordBedford Can get very busy with Can get very busy with

jet jet and small aircraft trafficand small aircraft traffic

Great practice talking Great practice talking with a towerwith a tower

LawrenceLawrence BeverlyBeverly

Public TransportationPublic Transportation T runs to Bedford from T runs to Bedford from

Alewife (Red Line to Alewife (Red Line to #76)#76)

Pros of Training in Pros of Training in BostonBoston

Busy airspaceBusy airspace Lots of communications practiceLots of communications practice Lots of practice sharing airspaceLots of practice sharing airspace

Lots of airports for cross countriesLots of airports for cross countries Can train during the school yearCan train during the school year

Cons of Training in Cons of Training in BostonBoston

Busy airspaceBusy airspace Some flights may be delayed on the Some flights may be delayed on the

ground or in the traffic patternground or in the traffic pattern ExpensiveExpensive

Other locales will have less expensive Other locales will have less expensive aircraftaircraft

SuggestionsSuggestions

Keep a computer backup of your Keep a computer backup of your logbooklogbook

Ask lots of questionsAsk lots of questions Find a pilot friend to ask if you don’t Find a pilot friend to ask if you don’t

want to ask your instructorwant to ask your instructor Prepare as much as possible before Prepare as much as possible before

the lesson slot beginsthe lesson slot begins Weather briefingWeather briefing Flight PlanningFlight Planning Preflight (if plane is available)Preflight (if plane is available)

More SuggestionsMore Suggestions Armchair fly before and after each flightArmchair fly before and after each flight

Remember what you did well, and think about how Remember what you did well, and think about how to improveto improve

If you’re tired or not feeling well, take a breakIf you’re tired or not feeling well, take a break Don’t be afraid to cancel a lessonDon’t be afraid to cancel a lesson

Listen to liveatc.netListen to liveatc.net Get more familiar with ATC and airport proceduresGet more familiar with ATC and airport procedures Hear and critique yourself on the radioHear and critique yourself on the radio

Fly oftenFly often The more you fly, the less time it takes to get your The more you fly, the less time it takes to get your

license (calendar time and logged flight time)license (calendar time and logged flight time)

Questions?Questions?