Flight training is by no means a light undertaking. Leaning to fly is one of the most challenging things a person can learn how to do, however, it is also one of the most rewarding. Before pursuing a certificate of any kind, it is a very good idea to learn a little about the process, which we outline here. Please note that the Private Pilot certificate is the most basic license, and where all pilots begin. The instrument pilot information is for individuals already holding a Private Pilot certificate and wishing to add on to it. The information labeled "Medical Certificate" applies to all individuals interested in training, and the section labeled "Foreign Students" applies only to individuals who are not United States citizens.
Private Pilot Certificate
The Regulations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), long ago, laid out a set of minimum training requirements a student must fulfill in order to take the practical flight exam. The key to this is "long ago". These regulatory minimums were laid out before the United States had 50 stars on its flag. Since then, the complexity of flight training has increased, and as such, in actuality, it takes much longer. The minimums however are as follows:
-40 hours of total logged flight time, of which...
-20 hours of dual flight (the student and instructor fly together)
-10 hours of solo flight (the student takes the aircraft up alone)
These hours are broken down further into specific activities you must complete with your instructor, but these are the number of flight hours that must be in your logbook by the time you take your flight exam.
The Reality
While the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) lay out 40 hours as a minimum for training, the actual number completed is higher. Why? As time went on, things such as radar, radios, and GPS (global positioning systems) have made flying more involved. These have created enormous advantages and safety in the air, but do take longer to learn. In addition, the location of the Santa Monica airport plays a role. Santa Monica Airport lies within some of the busiest airspace in the world. But fear not! The result is that after you obtain your certificate, you will be prepared to fly in almost any environment in the world. Now explained, the practical breakdown of your training will be typically as follows...
-65 hours of flight time in the aircraft.
-65 hours of flight and ground instruction with the instructor.
This is not a fixed number! Over the course of our decade-long operation, we have determined this to be a good estimate of how long it will take to complete your training. This is a relatively low number of hours for this flight environment. Your total time training is dependent however, on a few important things:
1) Dedication! The more often you study and the more regularly you come in, the shorter your training will be (and consequently the less money it will cost). Ideally, we like to see students at least 3 times per week. Any less than that and too much time between lessons leads to much time spent on review. While we are happy to see students as many times a week as possible, be careful. Being too intensive in your flight training can lead to feeling too run down to put in the effort required to complete a valuable lesson. This is not to say intensive training doesn't work, but it should be considered between each student and their instructor carefully beforehand.
2) Money! Money makes the world go 'round, and it makes airplanes go 'round the world!* Flight training is not an undertaking that can be paid for with pocket change. The complexity of operating an aircraft makes it an inherently costly adventure. There is financing available, and we encourage anyone to take advantage of it, but please do not try to strain your wallet in order to fly. Again, flight training is something that needs to be consistent, so having to stop due to financial difficulties will in the end make your training take longer and cost more. Overall, it is better to make sure adequate funds are available for this venture than to dive in with no idea how the financial situation will resolve itself.
We hope this has helped you understand what goes into learning to fly. Our absolute best advice is to come in, sit down, have a cup, talk to our staff, see the airplanes; and get a personal feeling for flight by taking an introductory lesson.
*Fun fact: The first global circumnavigational flight departed from and returned to Santa Monica Airport (then Clover Field) in 1924.
Instrument RatingThe Regulations
Again, it is important to note that these numbers were set by the FAA before things such as GPS. So please be aware that the regulatory minimums are simply minimums. Just like your private pilot, this is likely to take a bit longer.
-50 hours cross-country pilot-in-command time (this is a prerequisite to the instrument checkride)
-40 hours of flight with reference only to the flight instruments (this can be simulated or actual)
-15 hours of instrument flight with a instrument instructor
All other instrument flight time may take place with a "safety pilot", an individual with at least a private pilot certificate who is current to fly that aircraft.
The Reality
As with the Private Pilot certificate, reality and regulations differ quite a bit. It is safe to assume that instrument training will take longer than the regulations require. Proteus' years of operation have resulted in averages of...
-45 hours flight time
-45 hours flight and ground time with the instructor
These numbers are not fixed! Just like the private pilot certificate, these depend heavily on your dedication. Please refer to the paragraphs above to see our explanation of the two factors that most heavily impact your training.
Medical CertificateEveryone who wishes to fly needs a medical certificate before completing their training. These are obtained from a FAA certified doctor called an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). The FAA provides a list of AMEs through their website, located here. Obtaining a medical certificate is not a step in your training that needs to be completed before you walk through our door. By all means, you should fly before obtaining a medical. If you have any questions, please talk to us beforehand.
Foreign StudentsThe Transportation Security Administration has imposed certain procedures upon individuals wishing to flight train but who are not United States citizens or nationals. The process involves an application with the TSA, approval, paying a fee, and getting fingerprinted. While time-consuming, its necessary. We are allowed to give 3 hours of flight instruction before you must begin this process, and we encourage you to do so. This allows you to find out if you like flying before going through the process.
To begin the application process, please go to the Alien Flight School Program website and click "New Student Account".
We hope we have done all we can to enlighten you a little bit more about the wonderful world of flight training, and encourage you to further explore our site. And of course, give us a call if you have any questions!
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