What you will need:
For your first lesson or two, you don't need to bring anything. Early in training, you will need to obtain the supplies listed below:
- Headset. These can range in price from $99 to $1200, if you're not sure I'll be happy to share my thoughts on a wide range of them.
- Private pilot reference material. I prefer the Jeppesen Part 61 kit, but others are available in similar price ranges. As an alternative to commercially available products, the FAA pilot handbooks are available as a free download and cover the all required material (you will need the aeronautical information manual, airplane flying handbook, and pilots handbook of aeronautical knowledge).
- Logbook. Normally these are included in PPL kits.
- Charts. These can be purchased at the airport, at Marv's Golden Pilot shop near the airport, or from an electronic flight bag like ForeFlight.
- FAR/AIM. Hardcopy books are included in most PPL kits, but are otherwise available from Marv's (near Gibbs), amazon, or in foreflight. Electronic copies can be found on the FAA website.
- Headset. These can range in price from $99 to $1200, if you're not sure I'll be happy to share my thoughts on a wide range of them.
- Private pilot reference material. I prefer the Jeppesen Part 61 kit, but others are available in similar price ranges. As an alternative to commercially available products, the FAA pilot handbooks are available as a free download and cover the all required material (you will need the aeronautical information manual, airplane flying handbook, and pilots handbook of aeronautical knowledge).
- Logbook. Normally these are included in PPL kits.
- Charts. These can be purchased at the airport, at Marv's Golden Pilot shop near the airport, or from an electronic flight bag like ForeFlight.
- FAR/AIM. Hardcopy books are included in most PPL kits, but are otherwise available from Marv's (near Gibbs), amazon, or in foreflight. Electronic copies can be found on the FAA website.
A Brief Overview and Some Philosophy:
The private pilot course is divided into three stages. Maneuvering, Cross Country, and Checkride Preparation.
In stage 1, you will learn to master your aircraft. You will learn straight and level flying, turns, descents, steep turns, stall recognition and recovery, ground reference maneuvers, and of course takeoffs and landings. It can seem overwhelming, but within the first several lessons you will rapidly progress to a point that you can startup, taxi, takeoff, and navigate to the practice area with very little assistance (click here to take a peak at how you'll do that). At the end of stage 1, and when you feel comfortable and ready, you will conduct your first solo flight which will consist of three takeoffs and landings.
In stage 2 you will learn how to navigate to and from other airports outside of our local area. You will do some solo flight on your own in the local area. After we have completed some dual cross countries, you will do some solo cross countries, as well. This phase is a lot of fun and where you start to realize the benefit of having a private pilot license. During this stage, we will also mix in some night flying, attitude instrument flying, and performance takeoffs (short and soft field) and landings in as well.
When you've completed your cross country phase and solo time requirements, we will go back through all the maneuvers in preparation for your checkride, just in case anything has atrophied. There won't be any new maneuvers or requirements introduced in this stage, as this is our chance to make sure everything is within private pilot certification standards (ACS) prior to taking your checkride.
Once you meet all the FAA requirements for the private pilot license and we both agree that you are ready, you will take your checkride with a designated pilot examiner (DPE). A DPE is someone certified by the FAA to conduct airman certification. He or she will follow a structured format for the checkride using the ACS linked above as a reference. The checkride is usually done in about a 4 hour window with an approximate 2 hour oral exam and a 1.5 hour flight. There should be no surprises and you should be well prepared for anything that the DPE asks you to describe or perform in the airplane.
There are a lot of reasons for wanting to learn to fly. Regardless of your motivation, it's not uncommon to have some level of fear or apprehension regarding flying. Throughout your training we will discuss potential risks and I will emphasis good decision making and risk mitigations to reduce risks. These are things I'm always willing to discuss to improve your comfort level and maximize your ability to learn, so if there is something you fear or are uncomfortable with, please discuss it with me.
A professional pilot (regardless of certification level) demonstrates a high level of competence while maintaining a positive commitment to the safety of themselves and others. Flying is a perishable skill and the knowledge required to do it safely and legally requires frequent practice and review. As such, achieving a private pilot certificate is not the end of learning, but rather the beginning. There are many resources to continue learning from after achieving your certificate (AOPA, ASI, NTSB, etc.).
If you have questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me!
In stage 1, you will learn to master your aircraft. You will learn straight and level flying, turns, descents, steep turns, stall recognition and recovery, ground reference maneuvers, and of course takeoffs and landings. It can seem overwhelming, but within the first several lessons you will rapidly progress to a point that you can startup, taxi, takeoff, and navigate to the practice area with very little assistance (click here to take a peak at how you'll do that). At the end of stage 1, and when you feel comfortable and ready, you will conduct your first solo flight which will consist of three takeoffs and landings.
In stage 2 you will learn how to navigate to and from other airports outside of our local area. You will do some solo flight on your own in the local area. After we have completed some dual cross countries, you will do some solo cross countries, as well. This phase is a lot of fun and where you start to realize the benefit of having a private pilot license. During this stage, we will also mix in some night flying, attitude instrument flying, and performance takeoffs (short and soft field) and landings in as well.
When you've completed your cross country phase and solo time requirements, we will go back through all the maneuvers in preparation for your checkride, just in case anything has atrophied. There won't be any new maneuvers or requirements introduced in this stage, as this is our chance to make sure everything is within private pilot certification standards (ACS) prior to taking your checkride.
Once you meet all the FAA requirements for the private pilot license and we both agree that you are ready, you will take your checkride with a designated pilot examiner (DPE). A DPE is someone certified by the FAA to conduct airman certification. He or she will follow a structured format for the checkride using the ACS linked above as a reference. The checkride is usually done in about a 4 hour window with an approximate 2 hour oral exam and a 1.5 hour flight. There should be no surprises and you should be well prepared for anything that the DPE asks you to describe or perform in the airplane.
There are a lot of reasons for wanting to learn to fly. Regardless of your motivation, it's not uncommon to have some level of fear or apprehension regarding flying. Throughout your training we will discuss potential risks and I will emphasis good decision making and risk mitigations to reduce risks. These are things I'm always willing to discuss to improve your comfort level and maximize your ability to learn, so if there is something you fear or are uncomfortable with, please discuss it with me.
A professional pilot (regardless of certification level) demonstrates a high level of competence while maintaining a positive commitment to the safety of themselves and others. Flying is a perishable skill and the knowledge required to do it safely and legally requires frequent practice and review. As such, achieving a private pilot certificate is not the end of learning, but rather the beginning. There are many resources to continue learning from after achieving your certificate (AOPA, ASI, NTSB, etc.).
If you have questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me!