Introduction to Flying

you, go to the FAA’s AME locator at www.faa.gov/pilots/ of training and testing materials which are available in print amelocator/. Medical certificates are designated as first class, form from the Superintendent of Documents, GPO, and second class, or third class. Generally, first class is designed online at the Regulatory Support Division: www.faa.gov/ for the airline transport pilot; second class for the commercial about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs600. pilot; and third class for the student, recreational, and private pilot. A Student Pilot Certificate can be processed by an FAA The CFI may also use commercial publications as a source inspector or technician, an FAA Designated pilot examiner of study materials, especially for aircraft categories where (DPE), an Airman Certification Representative (ACR), or a government materials are limited. A student pilot should Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). This certificate allows an follow the flight instructor’s advice on what and when to individual who is being trained by a flight instructor to fly study. Planning a definite study program and following it as alone (solo) under specific, limited circumstances and must closely as possible will help in scoring well on the knowledge be carried with the student pilot while exercising solo flight test. Haphazard or disorganized study habits usually result privileges. The Student Pilot Certificate is only required in an unsatisfactory score. when exercising solo flight privileges. The new plastic student certificate does not have an expiration date. For In addition to learning aeronautical knowledge, such as the airmen who were issued a paper certificate, that certificate principles of flight, a student pilot is also required to gain will remain valid until its expiration date. A paper certificate skill in flight maneuvers. The selected category and class of cannot be renewed. When the paper certificate expires, a new aircraft determines the type of flight skills and number of application must be completed via the IACRA system, and flight hours to be obtained. There are four steps involved in a new plastic certificate will be issued. learning a flight maneuver: • The CFI introduces and demonstrates flight maneuver Student Pilot Solo Requirements to the student. Once a student has accrued sufficient training and experience, • The CFI talks the student pilot through the maneuver. a CFI can endorse the student’s logbook to authorize limited solo flight in a specific type (make and model) of aircraft. • The student pilot practices the maneuver under CFI A student pilot may not carry passengers, fly in furtherance supervision. of a business, or operate an aircraft outside of the various • The CFI authorizes the student pilot to practice the endorsements provided by the flight instructor. There is no maneuver solo. minimum aeronautical knowledge or experience requirement for the issuance of a Student Pilot Certificate, however, the Once the student pilot has shown proficiency in the required applicant must be at least 16 years of age (14 years of age for knowledge areas, flight maneuvers, and accrued the required a pilot for glider or balloon), and they must be able to read, amount of flight hours, the CFI endorses the student pilot speak, write and understand the English language. There are, logbook, which allows the student pilot to take the written however, minimum aeronautical knowledge and experience and practical tests for pilot certification. requirements for student pilots to solo. Knowledge and Skill Tests Becoming a Pilot Knowledge Tests The course of instruction a student pilot follows depends on The knowledge test is the computer portion of the tests taken the type of certificate sought. It should include the ground and to obtain pilot certification. The test contains questions of flight training necessary to acquire the knowledge and skills the objective, multiple-choice type. This testing method required to safely and efficiently function as a certificated conserves the applicant's time, eliminates any element of pilot in the selected category and class of aircraft. The individual judgment in determining grades, and saves time specific knowledge and skill areas for each category and in scoring. class of aircraft are outlined in 14 CFR part 61. Eligibility, aeronautical knowledge, proficiency, and aeronautical FAA Airman Knowledge Test Guides for every type of pilot requirements can be found in 14 CFR part 61. certificate address most questions you may have regarding • Recreational Pilot, see subpart D the knowledge test process. The guides are available on- line (free of charge) at http://www.faa.gov/training_testing/ • Private Pilot, see subpart E testing/test_guides/. • Sport Pilot, see subpart J The knowledge-based portion of training is obtained through FAA handbooks such as this one, textbooks, and other sources 1-21