Learning to fly

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. -- Leonardo da Vinci

Congratulations on your decision to learn more
about learning to fly!

Your introductory flight will be in a single-engine, four-seat training aircraft, and will include a flight lesson of approximately one hour along with pre- and post-flight ground briefings to familiarize you with the airplane and discuss the flight. Cost for this is $99.

Subsequent lessons will cost around $85 per hour for the airplane (prices vary by specific aircraft and include fuel) as well as $50/hour for instruction. A typical lesson leading towards a Private Pilot Certificate will last 70 minutes with 20 minutes of ground briefing.

Requirements for the Private Pilot Certificate include a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, about half of that consisting of dual instruction and the rest solo practice time (depending on progress). So, for example:

Airplane rental	$85/hour	40 hours	$3400
Flight instruction	$50/hour	20 hours	1000
Ground instruction	$40/hour	10 hours	400
Books and supplies			350
Flying club membership		6 months	180
FAA 3rd Class medical exam			60
FAA written test			80
FAA practical (flight) test			350
Approximate total cost			$5820

Note that all students are different, requiring in some cases more than the minimum training time specified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but many do finish at minimums. The above estimate is based on that assumption.

At the completion of this stage of your training you will have an unrestricted Private Pilot Certificate, allowing you to fly for business or pleasure anywhere in the US or internationally, day or night, in VFR (visual flight rules) conditions.

There are numerous steps along the way to obtaining your private pilot certificate and we are more than happy to help you chart that path. From advice regarding the required FAA medicals to joining the flying club that is right for your needs; written and oral exam preparation to scheduling the FAA-designated examiner for your final practical test we are here to assist throughout your training.

We are very passionate about flying, and teaching people to fly is an awesome privilege. In my opinion, the rewards of personal flight are among the greatest in human experience.

It is hoped that the above information helps to answer some of your early questions; please feel free to contact us with any others you may have.

learn2fly@airriess.com
(619) 393-1941