SO YOU WANT TO FLY?

There are many exciting activities you can learn to master, but few will offer the challenge or sense of accomplishment comparable to flying. Only three out of every 1,000 Americans are pilots – that equates to only .3 percent of the population.

¨ Why do you want to fly?  I guess the answer to that question might be different for every person. Some want to get where they are going quicker, some want an unusual hobby, some want a challenging and lucrative career. You may not even be able to clearly describe the reason why you want to fly, but you just know you must try it.

¨ Minimum Requirements for the Private Pilot License – You must be 17 years of age, have a current 3rd class medical certificate and complete 35 hours of flight training*.

¨ So what is involved? How do you get started?  Start by contacting RICK AVIATION’s Flight School at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. RICK’s is a company that sells aviation fuel, provides maintenance for privately owned aircraft, provides Charter Service and has FAA Approved flight instructors on staff. We offer a Private Pilot course consisting of both ground/textbook study and actual flight training which we conduct in Cessna type aircraft.  The course is taught on a self-pace track for ease of training. Once your flight instructor has been appointed, your flight lessons can be scheduled. 

¨ Preparing for the written exam - The Student Pilot must take a Knowledge Test. The test itself is actually from a bank of about 800 questions. You will answer only 60 questions drawn from this bank. Your flight school will have study guides that go over each question and answer so that you can prepare for the test. 70% or higher is a passing score. Once you are ready to take the Knowledge Test, your flight instructor will help you get scheduled.

¨ Preparing for the Checkride - to become a pilot you must pass a Practical Test (sometimes called the "checkride"). The Practical consists of both an oral exam and a flight test. You and your flight instructor will spend plenty of time in preparation for this. The checkride itself is usually less intimidating after it gets started than most think. The person giving the test (an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner) is of course interested in you demonstrating the skills necessary to become a certificated pilot.

¨ How much will it cost?  Whenever you take a flight lesson, you must rent an airplane to take the lesson in and pay for the fuel and flight instructor. Later when you fly solo, you pay for only the airplane and fuel. The cost will vary somewhat based on the type of airplane (we have different types). Keep in mind that the national average for attaining a Private Pilot Certificate is around 65 hours total-flight-time and, although you may spend more or less, be prepared to invest around $8,500 to earn yours.

¨ Additional Certificates - Once you've earned your Private Pilot Certificate, there are subsequent licenses that you can study and train for. These include the Instrument Rating, the Commercial Certificate, the Multi-Engine Rating, the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate, and the Airline Transport Pilot Rating.  Speak with your flight instructor to learn more about the cost and training requirements of each.

¨ Continuing education - Just because you've completed your training and have your certificate in hand, doesn't mean the learning process is complete.  Pilot proficiency involves continuous training. Your safety and the safety of others depend on continuous fine tuning of your piloting skills. Remember, flying is for "life-long learners!" Re-visit your flight instructor routinely to keep sharp!

No matter which path you take: career or personal, Recreational or Business, you cannot get started without taking the first step. So take that first step today and get started!

* Based on minimum 141 requirements