How to Become a Pilot? Let’s discover the answer.

Just dream, everyday wake up early in the morning and get ready to go to your most beautiful office in the world and your job is to fly through the milky clouds and spectacular sights and brightest sunshine.

Imagine, wouldn’t it be amazing if you could go rent a plane on the weekends and go for a leisurely flight with your friends and family into amazing locations for fishing, hunting, camping and sightseeing?

There is nothing like the feeling of flying, being in control of a big gigantic plane, passing people, mountains, rivers, forests over 30000 feet sitting in your comfortable cockpit.

This is many people’s dream along with one big question in their mind “How to Become a Pilot?”

Let’s not kid ourselves, the reason so many people are reluctant to commit to something like obtaining a pilot’s license is, it is not a cheap hobby and it is not an easy hobby. Pilot training can cost several thousand dollars, it can take months before you are ready to get your own plane and fly solo.

There are certain pilot’s license requirements involving facts which I have mentioned below for a quick refer to, this might help to take the first step towards “Becoming a Pilot”.

• Eligibility: As directed by FAA the candidates should 17 years old and he or she should have a 3rd class medical certificate, this might differ in different countries.
• Expenses: The private aviation is often seen as a luxury given only to the rich. Luckily, this is not the case, scholarships and educational loans are not just for the scholarly. There are many organizations vigorously involved in funding new aspiring pilots. Just keep an eye and an ear open, be on the lookout for good deals on flight training and be on the lookout for ways to secure funding for your training.
• Instructor or School: There are, you are likely to find maybe a half a dozen different instructors or schools. It may seem like a hassle trying to narrow it down. You should prepare yourself with a basic checklist of requirements for selecting your flight or school.
• Distance from home.
• Experience of the instructor(s).
• Passing Your Tests: There are actually a few different tests you will need to take, including your final exams. However I have listed out some of the tests conducted in the training.
• Trail Instructional flight.
• PR-Solo, PR-Area Solo, and B.A.K – Exam.
• Aircraft Exam.
• Written and Practical Tests.

However, I would like to mention, the above mentioned points or the topics are not inclusive of all the points and is no training course for passing your pilot’s exams. Rather, the purpose of this article is to equip you with the right attitude, the right information, and the right way to approach getting your pilot’s license.

How To Fulfill Your Dreams Of Becoming A Pilot

Did you know that you can learn to fly an airplane without spending much? And contrary to some misconceptions held by some people, learning to become a pilot is fairly easy.

Flight School Entry Requirements

In most flight schools, you can attend pilot training courses if you are at least a high school graduate and can demonstrate ability in Math and Physics. Those who want to take such course also have to be medically fit. You have to undergo medical examination from accredited medical institutions and a governing authority would double check your medical examination.

What Theoretical Knowledge Should You Learn

Critical thinking skills is required if you wish to become a pilot. There are key concepts that you need to master. A well-designed flight training program will enable you to learn all important knowledge. Typically you would start with a course that would allow you to get your Private Pilot’s License or PPL. Lessons may include flight principles, aircraft component and structures, air law, plan for a flight, how to navigate, flight safety and your limitation, operation of a radio, meteorology, etc. Once you have mastered these subjects, you can advance to the course module designed to get a commercial pilot license.

How To Obtain Your PPL

PPL is your license. Without it you are not be allowed to act as the pilot-in-command in any private aircraft. Completion of the required hours is necessary to obtain this certificate. Usually your initial pilot training course covers the number of flight hours required for PPL. But aside from this, you also need to complete the required solo flight hours, pass some written examinations, and show your flying skills to an examiner. If you have gone through the process with good grades, then governing authorities will give you the license.

Choosing A Reputable School

Fulfilling your dream to become a pilot is never too late. The key is to think about your childhood dream, add dedication and passion, and look for pilot training courses. You may have a different career path now but you can still learn how to fly an airplane in a flight school that values high standard of excellence. Make sure as well that your chosen school adheres to prevailing regulations. And if possible, go to a reputable school that is located near an airfield with little commercial traffic. This way you can spend more time in the air and it would be beneficial for you as you can practice flying more.

How To Earn Your Pilots License For Less Then $5,000

The biggest thing to remember is that aviation is very versatile. You have pilots who fly hot-air balloon, gliders, helicopters, and even ultra-lights. The thing is that many people dive right into flight training, pay $4000-5000, get to about 30-40 hours, run out of money, time, motivation, or all three, and just give up.

Unfortunately I’m here to tell you that if a person takes flying lessons and does so without first doing research into the process, that is almost a sentence to feel for sure. So, before a person even begins to consider taking flying lessons (here is the key)-they must know the process as thoroughly as if they were going to be tested on it. In other words you must become a professional student pilot, essentially anticipating what is coming up next your training. You must become an active manager of your training, learning the jargon and/or lingo of aviation.

Ground School Saves You Airtime=Saves You Money

Another thing you must do: buy a ground school course! I’m not talking about one of those silly courses that just focus on getting you to pass your written. If you just want to pass your written, go buy a book! Don’t pay $200 for a DVD course that only focuses on the knowledge part of flying (e.g. rules, navigation, etc..). You need something that is going to teach you how to actually-actually fly.

The course that you select should contain information on the four fundamentals of flight, take-offs and landings, stalls, steep turns, and performance maneuvers. If it doesn’t include actual in aircraft footage, you are wasting your money! There are two fantastic courses available that incorporate the knowledge and practical aspects into one course. I want the reader to know however that I don’t endorse one for the other. The first one is King Schools, and the other is Sporty’s. Now I selected Sporty’s, why?

Well to be honest I am partial to Sporty’s because it was easy to understand and pretty straight forward. The seven or so DVD’s were packed full of everything you could ever possible want to know about flying. The whole course was shot in or around airplanes, and you felt like you were flying a lot of times just watching the course. Sporty’s can pretty much be used at any flight school. So whether you are taking lessons from a individual Flight Instructor, or you are going to a pretty sizable flight school with multiple instructors on staff, these course will still benefit you.

Your Options

What about King Schools? Well, I think King Schools is a great option, but there is a catch. In order to use King Schools ground-school, you must be taking lessons from a Cessna Pilot Center. The thing about a Cessna Pilot Center is that it generally costs about $6,000 to get your license from one. The training is great, and the instructors are usually extremely trained beyond your conventional instructor, but it is for that reason that you will pay more. Speaking of flight schools did you know there were two types?

The government differentiates between flight schools by putting them in two categories. Part 61, and Part 141. So Part 61, what is that? A part 61 school can be as simple as a flight instructor who owns a plane and gives lessons, or it could also include a larger school. Part 61 has its own set of rules for earning a certificate, and are pretty standard. Part 141 schools are usually more career oriented. However they have the distinct advantage of reduced training requirements.

Also some 141 schools allow you to use your training as part of college credits. The thing to remember is that a 141 school is usually gonna cost more. A Part 61 school is usually gonna be your best bet on a budget. Some Part 141 schools have gotten approval to train their students without ever requiring them to take an exam.

The reason being because they have passed so many students that the government goes ahead and waves the requirements. Part 61 schools don’t ever have that option. In comparison you could view a Part 141 school as a University vs a Part 61 school as a trade or technical school.

To be honest both ways you will end up with a license, your license won’t say where or how you earned it. Both types of schools are subject to government inspections, and are held to very strict standards.

So you have decided to take lessons… That is excellent! However there are a few things you should be aware of. First of all, you can save a great deal of money depending on the aircraft you rent. Since you are only charged for the time that the engine is running, it works out pretty good. The thing is no matter what airplane you decide to train in, you still will end up with a private pilots’ license.

It doesn’t matter if it is a 4 seat Cessna 172 or a 2 seat Cessna 150/152. Here is another important tip: When you first start off, why not take your lessons in the smallest and cheapest airplane available. That means that for 30-40 hours you will be flying something that costs way less.

Don’t pay for extra seats if you don’t have to! Just before your checkride it is just as simple to transition over and get checked out in a larger roomier airplane. That away you will only spend 5-10 hours in the more expensive airplane vs a full 40 hours. The savings could shave off an easy $1000 from your training!

Two For The Price Of One

Another thing, if you have gliders where you live my recommendation is to get a few hours in them first. You could even get a glider pilots license, then transition over to airplanes. Glider time is interchangeable with powered flight time. So in the end you could end up with two pilots’ licenses, and for less than $4000! I did that back in 2010, for less than $4000 I got my glider and powered license. Impossible you say? Well I have the receipts to prove it!

Ok, now I bring you to the point that you must always, always remember. What I am about to tell you can save a bundle, and it is summed up in this one phrase: Never learn to fly in an airplane… Ok, before you turn off the computer thinking I am some crazy guy, let me explain. The thing that gets most students, and causes them to spend a bundle is this: they show up at the airport, hop in the plane, and just takeoff.

The instructor says; OK show me slow flight… Of course you have no idea what slow flight is, so then the instructor shows you and then you end up spending the entire flight on that one maneuver. What can you do to remedy this problem?

First of all learning a new concept should be done before the engine ever starts, and remember when the engine is running you are paying. You should be familiar with what you are going to do before you do it. The time you spend in the air should be time that you are simply spending to hone your skills, not learn them! The time in the air is to practice what you are already familiar with, not to learn what you don’t know!

Know Thy Maneuvers

Before you takeoff you should already have an idea as to what you are going to do, and how to do it. Your instructor must be viewed as just a safety pilot there to make sure you don’t do anything dangerous. The best way to practice maneuvers is to buy a simulator.

I recommend either X-Plane or Microsoft Flight Simulator. Watch your training video, and then go practice the maneuver in the simulator. That means when your instructor asks you to show him slow flight, you will not have to ask what it is.

You enter right into the maneuver and get the feel of it in an actual airplane-which is exactly the whole point. The only thing your instructor will need to do is just offer tips on how to fine tune your technique. And then guess what, if you do it satisfactorily the instructor will mark that training area as complete.

This means that you will be able to move on to other areas, and complete your training within your budget. Now I must caution you that simulators do not do a good job of teaching you how to land. But they are good at teaching procedures-such as traffic pattern entry, steep turns, or even emergency procedures.

Money Tight? Simulate Your Lessons

The last area I’d like to discuss is that of how frequently you fly during your training. Now, I’ll admit that flying as much as possible is a good idea. But, let’s face it, if you are on a budget, it doesn’t always work out that way. You honestly can get away with flying once a week, even once every two weeks. How?

It goes back to that little investment you made toward a simulator. When you can’t fly, use a simulator to remain sharp. So whether you are flying each week or not, continue using your simulator. Apply the techniques your instructor pointed out, and you won’t lose to much in the process.

Concluding Thoughts

So, to sum it all up: Buy a DVD course; buy a simulator, practice-practice-practice at home before your lessons. Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the training process, and be an active manager of your training, anticipating each step and phase of your training! If you apply these techniques you will be assured of earning your pilots license on a budget!

Sun Country Airlines And American Airlines: The Smartest Way To Fly Is With Them!

Sun Country Airlines is a low-cost American airline, which has its headquarters in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul suburb of Eagan, Minnesota. It is based out of nearby Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The airline’s main focus is flying people to warmer destinations during the winter months, such as Florida and Mexico.

Accordingly, in the summer months, it focuses on flying people between Minneapolis and the east and west coast. It operates scheduled and charter flights to destinations in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Sun Country deals make sure that your vacation starts the moment you decide to get Sun Country Airlines tickets because they offer a completely hassle free travel experience.

Trust us when we say this, it is almost invariable that you will choose to fly with them continuously because no other leading airline offers such competitive prices and certainly nobody can match up to bar set by them.

We cannot think of anyone who would not appreciate cheap airline tickets. Sun Country airlines offers just the same but with the added benefits of a luxury flying experience. The base fares are designed exclusively keeping in mind the budget constraints of a passenger.

What is more reassuring is that Sun Country airlines emphasises on the fact that the comfort of the passenger is first and foremost and they leave no stone unturned in achieving that.

American Airlines flights, otherwise simply known as “American” are arguably the most preferred flights in the entirety of the USA. American Airlines flight tickets offer the services of tracking your bags from your smartphone, laptop and tablet which is going to save you from the hassle of waiting in long lines and wasting time, for your luggage to arrive.

They have also introduced new aircraft with better entertainment options which will make sure that you are not bored during the duration of your flight.

One of the many things that ‘flying American’ will do for you is that they will allow you to access their baggage allowance changes, the all new phishing email alerts and the ability to turn miles into happy memories with their Advantage program.

American Airlines, Inc is the epitome of strength in numbers because it is the world’s largest airline when measured by scheduled passengers, revenue, fleet size and the second largest by the number of destinations visited.

American Airline Flights are also extremely environment friendly because they have a wastewater treatment plant which recycles water to wash the aircraft, irrigate landscape and process rinse water tanks. It has led to reduction of waste material by 50% since 2000.

It is a win-win situation for everyone who wants to avail the services of a major airline with the added advantage of knowing that the airline is giving back to the environment.

American Airlines reservations have made check in, boarding and arrivals extremely easy. You can check your flight status, security and collecting information if and when you please. They are truly dedicated to providing a comfortable experience to all their customers. Their services are of the highest quality and indispensable for an enjoyable journey with the added advantage of fairly cheap airline tickets.

What It’s like to Fly the Beech Bonanza F33/A

First lesson, November 2002; completed Private Pilot Certificate, July 2003; First Aircraft purchase, August 2003; type of aircraft, Beech Bonanza F33A, date of this article, huge smile on my face.

During the final stages of my lessons for the Private Pilot Certificate, I have to honestly say that I spent half of my study time researching airplanes to purchase. My research extended from Cessna 210’s, to Saratoga’s, to even the Aztec. My conditions were simple, yet hard to fill. I wanted a true 4-5 placed aircraft with speed, range and comfort.

After tons of research, I found a ’74 Beech Bonanza F33A. 4 adults, true airspeed of 176 kts, full fuel and still room for luggage. Added to this aircraft was the IO-550 for 300 hp, tip tanks for 30 more gallons, GNS 530 with KFC 200 autopilot for navigation and auto-control, WX-1000 for thunderstorm awareness, and gami-injectors for better performance and engine efficiency.

It’s quick, it’s solid, it’s stable and it’s amazing. After rotation and gear up, the plane jumps from field elevation to 3000 feet in less than 3 minutes. Once level, the airspeed indicator pushes over 175 knots. Crosswind landings are not much of a problem for the steady and sturdy Bonanza.

Landing the aircraft was the biggest adjustment from landing a Cessna. The attitude is more nose down, the airspeed is higher, you aim for the numbers and then pull back and keep it off the ground until the airspeed bleeds off. The trim is anywhere from 9-12 degrees nose up by the time you touch down.

The big difference between the F33A and the A36 Bonanza is the length. The F33A can have an aft cg issue if you aren’t careful with the weight and balance. It has a useful load of over 1100 lbs, but you have to keep the big people up front. In regards to comfort, the plane is roomy for my 6′ 2″, 215 lb. frame.

Though the seat is all the way back, it’s right where it would go even if I had another two inches to go back. Headroom is no problem either, but if I was 6′ 4″, I could see it being an issue. However, my passengers (including the front passenger) have no problem reclining all the way back for a catnap.

I was able to acquire an insurance policy with the conditions that I had to acquire my IFR and15 hours dual time with an instructor who had 25 hours in the F33A. The premium of the insurance policy was $6400/annual. OK, it’s up there, but it will go down once the policy is due again.

Next was the annual, which was due the same month of the purchase. I did an extensive “pre-buy” inspection with the intention that I was going to roll it into an annual. The annual was $4500. I did some non-mandatory maintenance so that I would feel that I was starting with a fresh, new plane. Another annual cost that should be less expensive next year.

Jet Airways – The Joy of Flying

Jet Airways is one of the largest private airlines in India. The airline was amongst the first few privately held companies that were started after the Indian Government opened its skies for the private player in 1990. The company was founded in 1992 by Naresh Goyal and his five other associates. The company commenced its operation in 1993 and since then there was no looking back.

The airline is headquartered at Mumbai and has its headquarters at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Besides this, the airlines also have its secondary hubs at various other airports of India such as Chennai International Airport and Indira Gandhi International Airport. The company also had its international hub at Brussels Airport but it had to be withdrawn because of economic crises and turmoil.

Since its inception, the company has been known for its sheer class and luxury. The airline company is second largest airline after Air India in terms of operations and fleet. The company has launched two subsidiaries for low cost arena such as:

JetLite: It is the wholly owned subsidiary of company. This company was established in 1991 as Sahara Airlines and started its operations with few Boeings and Bombardier planes. This company was earlier known as Sahara Airlines that was acquired by Jet Airways in 2006 for about $450 million. The company was then renamed to JetLite.

Jet Konnect: This is the low cost arm of Jet Airways that operates mainly on the domestic routes. This subsidiary was launched in 2009 and shares the same fleet and designation as that of Jet Airways.

Today, the airlines operates more than 400 flights to more than 80 destinations that are situated all over the world. The company hold 30 per cent share of Indian aviation sector and more than 15 million passengers travel by this airline annually. The company has also started its operations to many other exotic destinations of the world that are located in Europe, Asia and North America.

The airlines have been rated as one of the best long haul airlines by “Which” magazine, which is a popular travel magazine in the South East Asia.

Jet Airways has a number of codeshare agreements with some of the best airlines in the world such as Air Canada, Alitalia, American Airlines, Qantas, Malaysian Airlines, Kenya Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and much more. Another interesting partnership that the company has entered into is with the Thalys European Rail Service, which is second best rail service in Europe after Eurostar.