Just about anyone . . . Aviators come from all kinds of backgrounds, each with their own unique reasons for flying. Attitude is more important than age or skill. A commitment to take the training seriously, and stick with it, will serve you well.
Learning to fly involves some expense. But it’s important to examine and view this expense as an investment. One that will provide a lifetime of returns. You can find cost estimates on the Learn to Fly Page. For the following pilot licenses. The Solo Pilot License, a Sport Pilot License, and, the Private Pilot License.
When for example, you need to travel coast-to-coast, for about 2,900 miles, flying the airlines will be safer than driving your car for 42 hours (Or walking 948 hours, according to Google maps). The safety of flying your own plane will depend on your proficiency and the kind of plane used.
It may not be immediately obvious how your plane flies. And it may take a few lessons before you will have figured out how the laws of aerodynamics work. But most of your doubts will soon pass as you get the hang of it. The most difficult aspect – mastering landings, will come sooner, rather than later.
It depends upon how frequently you fly. A major milestone in your training is your first Solo. This is when you fly the plane without your Flight Instructor. Most students reach this point after 20 – 30 hours of flight instruction. If you take a 2-hour lesson once a week – consisting of both a Ground Briefing and In-Flight Instruction – it may take you about 20 to 30 weeks to obtain a Solo Pilot License. If you would fly twice as much, it would take you roughly half that time. The process will be easier, and more enjoyable, when you instill positive learning attitudes.
To start Flight Training no medical exam is needed. For Solo Pilot License, or Sport Pilot License certification, you can use a US Driver License as evidence of medical fitness. For Private Pilot certification, a basic medical exam from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) must be completed. There are hundreds of AMEs across the county. And you’ll most likely find one very close to your home. Your flight physical will be a brief medical exam. Including tests of your hearing, vision and blood pressure. Wearing glasses is not a problem.
You’ll need no materials to take your first flying lesson. But once you sign up to take flight training, you should get a Kit with pilot supplies. And access to interactive, online study materials.
You can take lessons at any age — there is no minimum and no maximum age limit.
You can fly, for example, to another State, in a simple morning’s flight. From Palo Alto, California, you can take a trip over San Francisco, or fly around the SF Bay in an hour. You can pop over to Half Moon Bay Airport, with a 10-minute flight, walk to the HMB Harbor and have lunch. You can go hiking anywhere in the Western United States. Go skiing in Lake Tahoe or Durango, Colorado, or go sailing in Puget Sound or San Diego. You can fly to places where they offer zip-line tours, see a Shakespeare Play in Ashland Oregon, or visit family or friends in other States. Or see Santa Fe, NM . . . . and You name it, and you can fly there, within a relatively short amount of time.
For some students, obtaining a Pilot’s License makes them stand out on their College / Job Applications and Resumes. Some other Members like to volunteer for “Angel Flights” (They help ferry patients). And some other Members like to use their Pilot License to visit family / dates, or commute to a 2nd home. In general, as a pilot, you can cut your travel time by hours, and, road-miles by up to 1/3.
Learning to fly can provide magnificent views. It will broaden your horizons, figuratively as well as literally.
Pilots can navigate using one or more of the following:
For more information please call the Club or consult the Aircraft Page