By Michael E.C. Gery
- 1: Introduction
- 2: Preparing for Takeoff
- 3: Taking Flight
- 4: How to Be a Pilot
- Download the full
article as a
How To Be a Pilot
To take a $49 introductory flying lesson, contact
Be A Pilot at www.beapilot.com or
(202) 842-4099. Among more than 1,600 Be A Pilot flight schools nationwide,
55 are in North Carolina.
Here are some facts about becoming a pilot:
- 40 hours of certified instruction for a private pilot license, including 10 hours flying solo, 5 cross-country (50 miles and back), 3 with instruments, 3 at night, and 10 night take-offs and landings. Most students take at least 50 hours.
- Start learning at any age, but you need to be at least 16 to solo.
- You must pass a physical examination (20/40 vision with or without corrective lenses, good balance and hearing, no serious physical problems).
- Final test includes an oral exam and flight test with an FAA- approved examiner.
- You can complete lessons in three or four months. Instruction costs between $4,000 and $5,000 to get the license.
- Renting a plane (about $100 per hour) is most common among pilots who don’t need to fly all the time. Or you join a club that owns one
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