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If you think you might like to learn how to fly, sign up for an Introductory Flight Lesson. For $200.00, you will be, matched up with a Flight Instructor and given ground instruction pertaining to flight in a General Aviation Aircraft and then go through the pre-flight inspection of a Cessna 172 or other similar trainer. Then you and your instructor will take off and do some flying. You will be able to handle the controls and see what it is like to fly an airplane. If at that point, you think flying is for you, you can start the process towards getting your first Aviation License. But, if you know that you want to become a pilot, than start off with a full lesson to obtain log-able time toward your private pilots license Whether you are interested in Flying as a Career, for Business, for Pleasure or as a Hobby, here is what you will need to do. Although you might consider training for a Sport Pilot License, most students elect to train for the Private Pilot’s License (PPL) first. Although there is less time required to become a Sport Pilot, most people would prefer to opt for the few additional hours that eliminate much of the restrictions associated with a Sport Pilot License. Although the initial requirements are the same, lets focus on starting a program that, at minimum, will get you to obtaining a Private Pilots license that will let you fly during the day or night in Visual (clear weather) conditions and take along passengers. In order to start taking flight instruction, you will need to provide your training provider with either proof of your age and citizenship, or if you are a visitor to the United States, proof of your legal status in the United States along some addition requirements of the TSA. Once proof of citizenship is documented and after approval from the TSA for legal aliens, you may start your training. There will be a few additional requirements prior to your being able to fly an aircraft Solo, by yourself. These will include: • Be able to Speak and Understand the English Language • Have reached your 16th Birthday (though you can start training at any age) • Have established an account with the FAA and obtained a Student Pilots License. (Your instructor will help you through this NO COST License process) • Taken and Passed an FAA Medical Exam and received at least a 3rd Class Medical Certificate. • Obtained Aircraft Renters Insurance. Renter's insurance is available through most of the Aviation Insurance Companies. We recommend using WENK Aviation Insurance who we have been using for decades. Give Mike Schiller a call at WENK and he can provide you what is needed as well as the costs. You will find a link to the WENT Aviation Insurance Web Site in the main body of the web site, under "Affiliates" In order to qualify for a Private Pilot License, you will need to: • Have completed a minimum of 40 hours of flight, which must include: o At least 20 hours of Flight Instruction o A minimum of 10 Hours of Solo Flight Time o Cross Country Flights, both with an instructor and Solo o Night Time Instruction and a Night Cross County Flight o Instruction under simulated poor weather condition (IFR) o Have passed a short written exam prior to solo flight o Have passed a comprehensive written exam prior to taking your final check ride. o Passed an oral review by a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) o Passed a Flight Test also by the same Designated Pilot Examiner Although this may sound complicated, it is not and your instructor will be there to guide you each step of the way. The actual time that you will require to qualify for your Private Pilot’s License will be impacted by a number of things, primarily how much time you are willing to commit to both training and studying. Although your ability to grasp the concepts will affect the time needed, as will both weather and the availability of your instructor and training aircraft, your commitment will be the biggest factor. The more often you fly, the less you will have to re-learn from the prior lesson. During your training you will need, training materials, your instructor, your training airplane, renters insurance and fees for tests and your final check ride. The total cost will depend on a number of factors that your flight instructor will be able to discuss with you. The cost of each lesson will depend on how long the lesson will be, which aircraft that you use and which instructor you are matched up with. The aircraft cost runs from $200.00 (Orange County Location) and $210.00 or $220.00 per hour of use at East Hampton. Instructor rates will vary based on what level of training and the instructors experience level. At Orange County instructors rates are $60.00 and $75.00 per hour depending on the instructor. It is the same at Brookhaven. At East Hampton, the rate varies from $75.00 to $95.00 per hour. You should expect to spend somewhere between $14,000.00 and $19,000.00 to successfully obtain your Private Pilot’s License.