Private Pilot

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• You must be at least 17 years of age.
• You must be able to read, speak, write and understand English.
• You must obtain a Third Class Medical Certificate.
• You must receive Private ground instruction.
• You must pass a written examination with a score of 70% or better.
• You must have logged at least 40 hours of flight time, consisting of:
  • 20 hours of flight instruction of which
    • 3 hours is cross-country
    • 3 hours at night (10 takeoffs & landings to a full stop & one cross-country at least 100 NM)
    • 3 hours of instrument training
    • 3 hours in preparation for the flight test within the preceding 60 days
  • 10 hours of solo flight time
    • 5 hours of solo cross-country
      • One cross-country of 150 NM with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is more than 50 NM between take off and landing locations.
    • 3 solo takeoffs & landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.
  • 10 hours are optional for use as either solo or dual, whichever the instructor feels is needed to best prepare the student.
• You must successfully complete a flight test given by an FAA Inspector or Designated Examiner.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTION

You are required to log a minimum of 20 hours of flight instruction. However, most students require additional instruction in order to meet FAA proficiency standards. In addition to "logged" flight instruction, most students will require additional "ground instruction". Ground instruction is the time spent on the ground before and/or after a lesson such as the preflight discussion of maneuvers to be performed during a lesson and the post flight review of those maneuvers. In order to facilitate your training we suggest that you schedule a minimum of one lesson each week. This will help you retain a high percentage of your previous lesson's training thereby reducing the time spent reviewing maneuvers and concepts. Each lesson will last approximately two hours, which will consist of a half hour preflight, one hour flight, and a half hour post flight review.

WRITTEN TEST

Prior to taking your flight test you will be required to pass a "written exam". This is a computer based test and you must obtain a score of 70% or better. You are required to satisfactorily complete a ground instruction course (ground school) or home study course prior to taking this test. We offer you several ways of preparing for the test. We have a formal, comprehensive, video ground school which offers a professional, organized, and concentrated approach to instruction. We also offer a new, fully computerized, interactive ground school which utilizes state of the art technology creating the most modern and advanced learning system available.

FLIGHT TEST

Upon the successful completion of your written examination and flight training you will be required to take and pass a flight test (check ride) administered by a FAA Inspector or Designated Examiner. This flight test will be conducted as specified in the FAA's Practical Test Standards (PTS) book.

COST

The cost of obtaining your license varies dramatically with each students ability, skill, and desire to learn. Some places advertise for less than $4500.00. Usually these advertised prices only pay for the MINIMUM time required by Federal Regulations. This seldom includes the cost of materials, equipment or ground school, not to mention additional instruction and airplane rental fees over the minimum Federal requirements. In reality very few people are able to earn their license by completing only the minimum Federal requirements. Our experience has shown the average TOTAL "real" cost ranges from $5000 to $7000.

Here is an estimate using our current prices for Regular Club Members:

MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT

You will need the following items by the conclusion of your flight training: FAR/AIM, Sectional Map, Flight Computer, Plotter, Textbook, Pilot Logbook, Written Test Guide, PTS, Oral Prep Guide.

(Most of these items are included in our "Private Pilot Kit".)

INSTRUCTOR RATES

For more information contact: info@sheridanftc.com