OBTAINING YOUR PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE

We would like to welcome you to Pinnacle Aviation Academy. I clearly recall all of the fun and excitement of earning my private pilot certificate. There was hard work with hours of study and flight lessons, but one of the most exciting times of my life was my first solo flight. After a series of takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern, I taxied in to my tiedown spot with the widest grin imaginable. I returned to the flight school and my instructor cut the back of my shirt off and applied artwork and words of wisdom to the shirttail. This has become a custom since the beginning of manned flight. A few months later, I completed the curriculum and passed my private pilot checkride.

You are likely contemplating a similar challenge. You will have many of the same questions that I had prior to starting my lessons. Our staff at Pinnacle Aviation Academy or I will be pleased to answer all of your questions. The following information may also be helpful.

Even though there are only about 650,000 licensed pilots in the United States which is less than 1% of the population, flying does not require superhuman talents and degrees in math and science. Normal people just like you and I learn to fly everyday. Learning to fly does take some study but it is very worthwhile when you join that very small but distinguished group known as aviators.

How do you get started? Well it's easy! You have begun the first step, which is to come out to the airport and interview (yes interview) flight schools. You will want to find a school with friendly, knowledgeable people and quality aircraft. We hope you will choose Pinnacle Aviation Academy!

The private pilot curriculum is made up of two types of learning; study of all aspects of aviation and learning to fly an aircraft. Pilots learn faster by simultaneously studying the materials and flying aircraft. ( Sort of the lecture / lab concept.) Many people choose to train in a Cessna 152 or a 172. The Cessna 152 is a two-seat trainer and is designed for people training for their private pilot certificates. Some people choose to fly the larger Cessna 172. Normally you will want to fly 2 to 3 times per week. Some people fly less some more. The more frequently you fly, the faster you learn (least number of total hours) because we all tend to forget details over time. If you fly less frequently, it will generally take a greater number of hours to complete the Private Pilot curriculum because your instructor will likely need to provide more review time in each lesson prior to introducing new material. We will have more on this later.

The study portion of the curriculum may be completed by several methods. Classes are available at Palomar College. This is a semester course, which is available in the aeronautical sciences department. There are "weekend" ground schools for accelerated learning (and sometimes accelerated forgetting). We do not recommend this method because the objective of these courses is to pass the written test, not develop a long lasting knowledge required in aviation. The use of self-study at your own pace is becoming increasingly popular among students.

We recommend the self-study method because it allows our busy students to study at the times that are most convenient. Cessna Pilot Centers feature the new Cessna Private Pilot CD-ROM study kit with can be used at home with your own computer or "on the road" with a laptop computer. The CD-ROM package has excellent presentations and provides for self-testing after each topic. If a computer is not available, we also have the Jeppesen textbook method of self-study along with video presentations available for viewing at our school.

As you complete your study of the materials, there are sample tests in your kit to prepare you for the required FAA written test. We also have sample tests available on a computer in our briefing area for further practice. We find the score you get on the practice tests is very close to the score you will get on the FAA test. When you are ready to take the test, your instructor will arrange a time and date with our computer-testing center located Pinnacle Aviation Academy. Upon completion of the test, it will be graded instantly and you will receive your certificate before you leave the testing center. Completion of the FAA written test is not required for solo flight, but it is required prior to your final checkride.

The flight portion of your training is divided into three phases. The presolo portion teaches you all you need to know to safely solo the aircraft. Prior to your solo flight you will be given a short quiz at our flight school by your instructor. You will also need to take a physical exam to receive your medical and your student pilot's certificate prior to solo flight. We will provide you with a list of medical doctors who are authorized to provide the exam on behalf of the FAA. Additionally, you will have your first class time and flight with our Chief or Assistant Chief instructors. We care about you and your training at Pinnacle Aviation Academy and you will have management instructors involved in your training throughout the curriculum. After solo, you will spend some flight time practicing in the local area and some dual instruction to learn specialty types of takeoffs and landings along with night flying.

The second phase will train you to navigate and fly to airports that are more than 50 nautical miles from Palomar Airport. You will first practice "cross country" flight with your instructor. Just prior to your solo cross-country flights, you will have your second class time and flight with the Chief or Assistant Chief Instructors. Afterwards, you will fly solo to airports designated by your instructor. These airports will give you experience flying over longer routes and increased traffic density to prepare you for real world flying after you receive your Private Pilot Certificate.

The third phase of your training will specifically prepare you for your Private Pilot End of Course Check with a Chief/Assistant Chief Instructor. Just prior to your End of Course Check, you will have your third class time and flight with our Chief or Assistant Chief Instructors. During this time we will provide you with a practice End of Course Check prior to meeting with a different instructor for the final flight.

Now for the fun part! You may now take passengers flying and rent aircraft to visit friends, relatives and travel to other fun places. Many pilots choose to check out in different types and larger aircraft for this part of their flying career. In ever increasing numbers, after some experience, many pilots choose to return to Pinnacle Aviation Academy to add advance certificates and ratings such as learning instrument flying.

Now for the particular flight times and costs for the Private Pilot certificate. First, the FAA has two minimum time requirements depending if you choose the standard method of training which is described in the Federal Air Regulations (FAR) Part 61 or you attend a FAA approved school which is described in FAR Part 141. Pinnacle Aviation Academy is a FAA approved school (FAR Part 141), however we also offer training under FAR Part 61 if it is more cost effective for our students (Usually for students with prior flight experience). Either way you will receive the exact same training at Pinnacle Aviation Academy.

The FAA requires a minimum total flight time of 35 hours for FAR Part 141 and a minimum total flight time of 40 hours for FAR Part 61.

Having reviewed the minimum FAA requirements, it is important for you to know that most people take substantially longer than the minimum requirements to become proficient in our higher density Southern California air traffic and airspace system. If you fly in Southern California, you are qualified to fly anywhere in the United States. This is not always true for people who learn to fly with the minimum hours in a sparsely populated area.

We find the average Southern California pilot will require around 55 hours to become proficient. For budgetary purposes we have two examples of flight training costs.

We hope your find this information informative and choose to train with us at Pinnacle Aviation Academy. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly staff.

FAA MINIMUM PRIVATE PILOT TIME

AVERAGE PRIVATE PILOT TIME

The above totals do not include the study materials and pilot supplies ($350.00) FAA written test fee (approx. $90.00), the FAA medical examination fee (approx. $60.00) and the examiner's fee (approx. $300.00). Remember, the cost of instruction and flight time is pay as you learn basis. The above costs are typically spread over a four to six month period.
* The actual training cost depends on the rate of learning of each student.