Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Do I need
perfect vision to be a pilot?
No. However, your vision needs to be correctable to 20/20. Many
professional pilots wear glasses.
Question: I’m not very tall, will that prevent me from becoming a pilot?
No, the airlines require that their pilots be able to reach all the
flight controls in the cockpit. Pilots’ seat in the cockpit move
up/down and forward/backward. So even some of the most “vertically
challenged” people are found in jetliners.
Question: At what age can I start to take lessons?
Believe or not, you can start taking lessons at any age. You are not
allowed to fly solo (without an instructor) until you’re 16. You need
to be 18 to get a Private Pilot’s License.
Question: I’m not sure if I will get airsick,
is there a way for me to take a
ride to see if I will like it?
Sure, every flight school offers “demo-flight” where you can pay
$40 (varies) and a Certified Flight Instructor will take you up.
If you're a VIA member and have networked yourself on the
forums, you can
also ask any pilots to take you up.
Question: Are small planes safe?
Absolutely! The misconception is that smaller planes are not safe.
The truth is, no matter what size the airplane, they are safe as long
as they are maintained and operated properly.
Question: Who is the FAA and what do they do?
The Federal Aviation Administration is this country’s (US) government
agency that deals with all aspect of aviation. They issue the
regulations that pertain to your flight training requirements.
Question: How much will it cost to get a Private Pilot’s License?
This will depends on the school you attend as well as your learning
curve. But the ball-park figure is between $3000 to $5000. For an up to
date cost, please visit us on the
forums for more
info.
Question: I work full-time and can only fly on weekends, will this
work?
Yes. Most working adults only take lessons on the weekends.
Question: How long
will it take before I can take my flight test?
This also varies; The FAA sets minimum requirements that have to be met
before you can take your flight test. If you can fly twice a week,
it
will normally take about 4 months.
Question: Are there any class-room courses that I will have to take?
The FAA requires that you take and pass a written test before you can
take your flight test. The subjects of said test can be covered in
a
“groundschool” environment. However, This can also be self-studied
by using various means available on the market (books and videos) if you
can’t attend class.
Question: Part 141, Part 61...What’s this all about?
Part 141 schools are “FAA approved”. Meaning the teaching course
(the syllabus) is reviewed, approved and monitored by the FAA.
While Part 61 schools are not. There will be no difference between
the
Instructors of either school. Part 141 schools are deemed as more
“structured”.
Question: Will my training be sub-standard if I
didn’t attend a Part 141
school?
Absolutely not! The quality of the training will depend on your
Instructor. You could get fantastic training from an Instructor from a
Part 61 school while getting lousy training from a Part 141. It’s all
up to you, your motivation and your Instructor.
Question: Which airplane should learn in?
That depends on personal preference, but if you want your training to
be as economical as possible, then choose something small. Have a
look
around the airport and compare prices between aircraft types. But most
commonly people learn on either Cessna or Piper’s aircraft.
Question: What time of year is best for starting training?
Since Private pilots training requires clear weather (no clouds). It is
preferable to start when your local climate yields the clearest
weather. This will minimize the delays of your progress.