"Deftly they opened the brain of a child, and it was full of flying dreams" - Stanley Kunitz
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"Deftly they opened the brain of a child, and it was full of flying dreams" - Stanley Kunitz
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PRIVATE PILOT'S CERTIFICATE Earning your private pilot's certificate will be one of the most rewarding accomplishments you achieve. For the most part, learning to fly an airplane is the same as learning to drive a car. You must learn the regulations and skills necessary to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The big difference for most of us is that we did not have the benefit of riding with our parents for 15 years in an airplane before beginning the learning process. Flying presents a whole new experience of sights, sounds and sensations that we must process into meaningful understanding. Call or visit your local airport today and schedule an introductory lesson! Training with Mason's Flight Training Co. I provide private pilot training to individuals on a limited basis. While earning your private pilot's certificate is not difficult, it does require desire, time and yes unfortunately, expense. In order to provide quality training on a one-on-one basis, I only train three private students at any given time. How Much Does It Cost? This is the most asked question and the hardest to answer. To earn your private pilot's certificate, you can expect to pay $1,500 for the instructor only. For most, the cost of flying will be between $50 and $150 dollars per hour of flying for the rest of your life. You may have spent around $5,000 at the time you get your certificate, but you will continue to pay the hourly cost of airplane rental or ownership after you earn your certificate. Unfortunately, this is something many people do not consider and is the reason many people give up flying after earning the certificate. What Kind of Person Does it Take? You must be brave, bold, fearless, strong, and extremely intelligent. Ok that is what some pilots gathered in a session of "hangar flying" might lead you to believe. But none of that is true. If you can drive a car, you can most likely pilot an airplane. The rest is Hollywood. In fact there is an aviation saying "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots. But there are no old bold pilots." As mentioned above, it does take time and expense. Most importantly - It Takes Desire. If you truly have the desire, you will find the time and money to make it happen. You can have all the time and money in the world but without desire, you will not achieve the certificate. Do some real soul searching on this one before you begin. What are the Requirements? Flying and flight training is regulated by the government under the direction of the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA. The FAA specifies the requirements in the Federal Aviation Regulations. In summary the Private Pilot Certificate requires the following: Minimum Age to Solo an Airplane: 16 Minimum Age for Private Certificate: 17 Minimum Total Hours: 40 Minimum Dual Instruction Hours: 20 Minimum Solo Hours: 10 The applicant must pass a written test, oral exam, and flight test. In addition, the student must have a medical certificate which requires a physical from a FAA designation physician. How Do I begin? Visit or call your local flight school and take an introductory ride. Talk with different flight schools, instructors, and past students to find the best match for you. It is very important that you and the instructor have personalities that work together. There's a lot of knowledge that must be transferred, and face it, you are going to be sitting next to this person for over 20 hours? Have you ever been on an airline flight where a 2-hour flight was unbearable because of the person next to you? No joint armrest in these planes folks. You are joined at the hip for a minimum of 20 hours! All kidding aside, take the time to find the right match for you and don't be afraid of flying with different instructors to find that match. All instructors realize the importance and most will go out of their way to help you find the right person. Who knows, if you really clash, they may be willing to pay the other instructors to fly with you! How Much? Re-read question 1 above. If that doesn't scare you, here are the rates: Instructor: $25 per hour ground and flight time. You will be meeting with the instructor before and after the flight. The time is billed from Hi to By. Airplane: Mason's Flight Training Co. trains students initially up to solo in a Citabria. The rate is $115 per hour for dual (airplane and instructor). Tax: Washington State does not require sales tax on professional services which includes flight instruction. Dual flight instruction which includes the airplane is not taxable. Solo rental of the airplane is. I am not interested in flying your Cessna 140. Are there other Options? Yes. The student may supply their own airplane. This could be a club, borrowed, rented, or owned aircraft. The only requirement is that I be specifically listed on the insurance policy to provide instruction in that airplane. At Chehalis Airport, Central Aircraft Repair currently has two airplanes available for rental. A Cessna 150 and a Piper Cherokee 140. The student may rent the airplanes directly from Central Aircraft Repair and I am authorized to provide dual instruction in them. What Commitment Does Mason's Flight Training Co. Require? You must fly a minimum of twice a week. If you only fly once a week or less, you are wasting your time and quite frankly, mine. Since I will only train three students at any given time, this commitment is required from the start. Of course weather and other commitments of the student's and mine can make the two flights a week not possible at times. But if the student is not able to keep up with the training schedule, they will be asked to wait for a future opening or train with another instructor. Do you take your children to soccer practice or piano lessons only when it fits into the schedule? As pointed out above, flying is not hard, but it does take commitment and DESIRE. Are you a high school student with desire and time but low on cash? Flying an airplane can provide not only a lifetime of enjoyment, but for many, a wonderful career. I recognize that there are many young people who desperately want to get started in aviation but can not afford the cost of aviation at this point in their life. I also recognize that students with the desire and commitment to pursue aviation have their whole life ahead of them where the sky is not the limit. I will train one student per year without charge for his time. Or course there are strings attached. To name a few, the student must demonstrate a true desire in aviation, must maintain a minimum "B" average in school classes, and must agree to try to help another young person later in their career. For further information, contact me. |
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