AboutMike Burbridge Expertise General aviation technical, training, rules and regs., instrument flying and training for the private license, the instrument rating, and commercial license.
Experience I have roughly 400 hours flying time, an instrument rating, complex endorsement, and currently working on commercial license and multi-engine rating
Organizations Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Question i'm 20 years old i wish to get my pilots license to fly solo not become a pilot or anything i just wish to get my license to fly singal engine planes and maybe with just 2-4 people in the plane with me how much would it be and how long does it usually take and also where can i go to have this happen in the next 5 years?
Answer First, go to www.aopa.org and check for airports close to your home.
Then, check out the flight schools on the field.
You're better off going to a smaller airport, as opposed to a major hub.
You'll be looking to get a Private Pilot License with Airplane, Single-Engine Land Rating.
Here are the basic requirements:
You must be at least 16 years old. (to take the test, you must be 17)
You must read, speak, and understand the English language.
(The above meets the requirements for training as a student pilot)
At some point during your training, you will need to pass a Class 3 Medical exam, which will allow you to be signed off for solos.
You'll need a minimum of 40 hours of training. (The average is about 50-55 hrs.)
You will also need to take the written exam shortly before your check-ride. (This is so the info is fresh in your mind on the day of the test.)
After getting a sign-off from an instructor, you will then take the check-ride. This is a flight with an FAA Designated Examiner.
It consists of an oral test and then a flight test.
The cost of training will vary slightly, depending on the aircraft you fly and the area of the country where you live.
You can get a Cessna 152 for as little as $75/hr. Add another $30-40/hr. for the instructor.
If you are tall or fairly big, you'll want to use a Cessna 172, which can run from $90/hr. to $110/hr.
So, it's about $100-125/hr while training, cheaper when you fly solo.
It may seem like a lot of money, but it's WELL worth it.
There are also many scholarships available. Do a web search for aviation scholarships, you may qualify. Also AOPA.org has info as well. As a matter of fact, I would recommending joining AOPA soon.
For $39 a year, you get access to lots of info and a Flight Training Magazine for free.
As far as how long it takes: It depends on how many hours a week you can afford. But, even if you could do one hour a week, you'd be done in a year.
Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Mike B.
