Introduction to Flying

flight training for the private pilot certificate, commercial How To Find a Reputable Flight Program pilot certificate, instrument rating, and ATP certificate. To obtain information about pilot training, contact the local FSDO, which maintains a current file on all schools within its Flight schools operating under 14 CFR part 141 are district. The choice of a flight school depends on what type of certificated by the FAA. Application for certification is certificate is sought, and whether an individual wishes to fly voluntary and the school must meet stringent requirements as a sport pilot or wishes to pursue a career as a professional for personnel, equipment, maintenance, facilities, and must pilot. Another consideration is the amount of time that can teach an established curriculum, which includes a training be devoted to training. Ground and flight training should course outline (TCO) approved by the FAA. The certificated be obtained as regularly and frequently as possible because schools may qualify for a ground school rating and a flight this assures maximum retention of instruction and the school rating. In addition, the school may be authorized achievement of requisite proficiency. to give its graduates practical (flight) tests and knowledge (computer administered written) tests. The FAA Pilot School Do not make the determination based on financial concerns Search database located at http://av-info.faa.gov/PilotSchool. alone, because the quality of training is very important. asp, lists certificated ground and flight schools and the pilot Prior to making a final decision, visit the schools under training courses each school offers. consideration and talk with management, instructors, and students. Request a personal tour of the flight school facility. Enrollment in a 14 CFR part 141 flight school ensures quality, continuity, and offers a structured approach to flight Be inquisitive and proactive when searching for a flight training because these facilities must document the training school, do some homework, and develop a checklist of curriculum and have their flight courses approved by the questions by talking to pilots and reading articles in flight FAA. These strictures allow 14 CFR part 141 schools to magazines. The checklist should include questions about complete certificates and ratings in fewer flight hours, which aircraft reliability and maintenance practices, and questions can mean a savings on the cost of flight training for the for current students such as whether or not there is a safe, student pilot. For example, the minimum requirement for a clean aircraft available when they are scheduled to fly. Private Pilot Certificate is 35 hours in a part 141-certificated school and 40 hours in a part 61-certificated school. (This Questions for the training facility should be aimed at difference may be insignificant for a Private Pilot Certificate determining if the instruction fits available personal time. because the national average indicates most pilots require 60 What are the school’s operating hours? Does the facility have to 75 hours of flight training.) dedicated classrooms available for ground training required by the FAA? Is there an area available for preflight briefings, Many excellent flight schools find it impractical to qualify postflight debriefings, and critiques? Are these rooms private for the FAA part 141 certificates and are referred to as part in nature in order to provide a nonthreatening environment 61 schools. 14 CFR part 61 outlines certificate and rating in which the instructor can explain the content and outcome requirements for pilot certification through noncertificated of the flight without making the student feel self-conscious? schools and individual flight instructors. It also states what knowledge-based training must be covered and how much Examine the facility before committing to any flight training. flight experience is required for each certificate and rating. Evaluate the answers on the checklist, and then take time to Flight schools and flight instructors who train must adhere think things over before making a decision. This proactive to the statutory requirements and train pilots to the standards approach to choosing a flight school will ensure a student found in 14 CFR part 61. pilot contracts with a flight school or flight instructor best suited to their individual needs. One advantage of flight training under 14 CFR part 61 is its flexibility. Flight lessons can be tailored to the individual How To Choose a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) student, because 14 CFR part 61 dictates the required Whether an individual chooses to train under 14 CFR part minimum flight experience and knowledge-based training 141 or part 61, the key to an effective flight program is the necessary to gain a specific pilot’s license, but it does not quality of the ground and flight training received from the stipulate how the training is to be organized. This flexibility CFI. The flight instructor assumes total responsibility for can also be a disadvantage because a flight instructor who training an individual to meet the standards required for fails to organize the flight training can cost a student pilot certification within an ever-changing operating environment. time and expense through repetitious training. One way for A CFI should possess an understanding of the learning a student pilot to avoid this problem is to ensure the flight process, knowledge of the fundamentals of teaching, and instructor has a well-documented training syllabus. 1-19