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Where to start? (Read 841 times)
Oct 13th, 2009 at 10:02pm

tcco94   Offline
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Go Avs!
Bay Area, California

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Well im 15 1/2 and starting my permit and I told my parents once I got my permit I wanted to start to becoming a pilot. I know you have to go through ground school and what not and all this but im nots sure how it all works out.

Where do I start.  Wink Cool
 
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Reply #1 - Oct 13th, 2009 at 10:35pm

Rocket_Bird   Offline
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Well I'm speaking from the perspective of a Canadian, so it may be a little different from what you get in the States.  Here its pretty much walking into some local flight school, telling them that you want to sign up (lol, its pretty simple), and next thing you know you end up trying out a discovery flight where you get to left-seat a small airplane (with an instructor of course).  They will tell you everything you need: like how to get your medical from the doctors, give you some reading on obtaining a radio license, etc. 

Ground school comes at the same time while your doing your flying, though you probably need to write a written exam for it by the time you reach certain hours.  From then on, you'll be obtaining lessons from your instructor, and every once in a while you will get to fly solo (once your instructor trusts you Wink).  From then on, its just flying enough till you get used to your plane, and getting the minimum hours required to get your first pilot's license.  After your first license, you can move up, and the process is pretty much the same. 

 

Cheers,
RB

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Reply #2 - Oct 14th, 2009 at 6:47am

beaky   Offline
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An intro flight of some kind is obviously the best place to start. Doesn't matter if it's the airplane or school you definitely want, just get up there and get an idea of what it's all about.

Some schools are a good deal, but assuming you (and your folks) aren't made of money, you should consider a flying club that has member-instructors... this is usually a much cheaper way to complete the PPASEL. It's also usually a more social and supportive atmosphere.
But not all clubs are worth joining, same as with all flight schools. Shop around, ask local pilots, and be sure to consider all factors: getting to and from the airport, operational cost of the aircraft, etc.
If you sign up with a flight school, be very wary of making a big deposit (to get an hourly discount). More than one eager student has shown up for a lesson and discovered the school has packed up and left overnight, without notifying anyone. If this happens with a club, you are actually more likely to get your buy-in money back, as the principals usually aren't going anywhere.

Other than schools and clubs, another option is to hook up with an independent instructor. This is usually a word-of-mouth thing, not easy to coordinate... and most of them do not instruct in their own planes, which complicates matters. But they are out there, and some of them are excellent teachers who are not looking to build hours or take all your money. So be sure to ask around... or put up a flyer at the nearest small airport, etc.

Not sure what your long-term flying goals are, but if you are looking to fly professionally some day, don't sign on with some fancy outfit for the PP because they've convinced you they will make a pro out of you in no time. You'll be paying for a lot of crap you don't need. Be especially wary of the "zero time to ATP in 6 months- guaranteed airline interview- only $60,000!" outfits; most of them are a total ripoff.
The check ride examiner will not care if your instructor wears a tie and has a big watch... for the PP, just about any training plane, instructor, or environment is adequate, as long as you learn what you need to learn. The plane can be brand-new with all the latest bells and whistles, or a 60-year-old Champ with no radio and patches in the fabric, it doesn't matter. The ground classes can be in a fancy classroom with fake plants and slide shows, or it can be you and the CFI sitting on the hood of the car in the parking lot talking about the curriculum... it doesn't matter.

A final thought:Gliders!
A glider club is the cheapest way to start, and you can solo a glider at 14, get your PP-glider at 16, and your commercial and CFI tickets in gliders at 18. It is challenging enough to make you feel like you are really earning your wings, but simpler than the ASEL curiculum, and easier to proceed rapidly. Teens seem to take to gliding like fish to water- the success rate is very high.

This is a great way for a guy your age to get a very solid foundation of flying skills built, network with all sorts of pilots at the home base, and learn about the world of aviation, without spending an arm and a leg. Moving on from there to powered aircraft is easily done and much simpler (and cheaper!) because you will already have your foundation of skills and PIC attitude built up.

Notable glider pilots: "Sully" Sullenberger (the guy who successfully ditched an A320 in the Hudson recently), and Neil Armstrong (the guy who made the first landing on the Moon- with the autopilot off!). And oh yes, the Wright Bros. started in gliders... Grin


These guys might be able to help you, if you are interested in starting in gliders:

http://www.norcalsoaring.org/

And here's where I got that info... a great source of general information on soaring:

http://www.ssa.org/
 

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Reply #3 - Oct 14th, 2009 at 1:24pm
SeanTK   Ex Member

 
As said above, due to your age, try gliders first, then proceed with the rest. That way you'll find out if it's really what you want to pursue, and as said earlier, it will serve as an excellent aviation foundation for you.
Once you get into the realm of powered flight, you may need to go up initially in something  like a Cessna 150 until the solo flight, but after that point comes, try to switch over to a 172. You'll get signed off on it, and it's more practical to use personally than a 150. With that in mind, if possible at the transition point, switch into something that you can get your complex aircraft endorsement in while getting your private license training. (like a 172RG). Kills two birds with one stone that way, and saves money.
(Of course I don't know what the Piper equivalents are..so if you school doesn't use Cessnas, disregard the above.)

A note about your aircraft selection:
Your flight school might try to pressure you a little bit to do your initial training on a glass cockpit. Don't do it. Mainly for cost, and besides that, most aircraft that you will probably have available to you are analogue, plus you can always get glass training later if you really want it. I personally believe that you'll form a better sense of situational awareness by learning to interpret the various analog navigation instruments and maps rather than starting out with a "just follow the purple line on the moving map" scenario.


After the private, just go out and enjoy your license for a while, and when you are ready, go for the instrument. This could possibly be the most challenging thing you'll ever do aviation-wise, but it's really nice to have, and is a requirement if you are going after a career as a pilot.

Good luck!  Smiley

PS. Was just thinking that if you are not planning to do aviation as a career, there is the sport-pilot route as well.
 
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Reply #4 - Oct 14th, 2009 at 9:55pm

Jersey Flyer   Offline
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at.
Newark, New jersey

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Okay, I am your man to talk to  Wink

I just turned 17 last month, and I'll take you through what I'm doing right now with lessons, send me a PM
 
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Reply #5 - Oct 15th, 2009 at 9:25pm

tcco94   Offline
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Bay Area, California

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Okay well thanks for the help guys. Im going on Saturday for my first flight (im not sure what ill do maybe watch him fly and teach me som of the main stuff while flying or something) with a local flying club at my local airport.  Wink

Then ill let you know of any questions and what not, thanks!  Cheesy

http://www.sterling-flight.com/
My dad told me ill be in a Cessna 172. Cool
 
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Reply #6 - Oct 15th, 2009 at 10:37pm

Mobius   Offline
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Highest Point in the Lightning
Storm
Wisconsin

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Sounds like fun!  Sit back, watch, and learn.  Learning to fly is a lot of work but it's also loads of fun.  I've been doing flight training for roughly half of my flying career and when I'm not taking a lesson of some sort, I miss it. Grin
 

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Reply #7 - Oct 16th, 2009 at 6:04am

beaky   Offline
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Newark, NJ USA

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tcco94 wrote on Oct 15th, 2009 at 9:25pm:
Okay well thanks for the help guys. Im going on Saturday for my first flight (im not sure what ill do maybe watch him fly and teach me som of the main stuff while flying or something) with a local flying club at my local airport.  Wink

Then ill let you know of any questions and what not, thanks!  Cheesy

http://www.sterling-flight.com/
My dad told me ill be in a Cessna 172. Cool



Well, it's a commercial school, not a club... but it looks pretty good. Those rates are about average, not too bad.
Have fun!
 

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Reply #8 - Oct 16th, 2009 at 10:05am

olderndirt   Offline
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The instructor will probably demonstrate what the controls do then invite you to give it a shot.  At first you'll be a little tentative but try to push and pull a little and work the rudder pedals.  It'll be fun. 
 

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THIS IS NOT A PANAM CLIPPER

                                                            
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Reply #9 - Oct 18th, 2009 at 2:33am

tcco94   Offline
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Go Avs!
Bay Area, California

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You can read about it here
http://205.252.250.26/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1255847409/0#0

I actually did alot of flying, learned some good stuff I didnt know from the sim. I also got a Jeppesen bag I think for new pilots its got all the books to get your private pilots license. Lots of info I can read up on before ground school. I think I might go back up and fly again next month. What a journey it was!  Cheesy Smiley
 
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