Common Concerns
It's too expensive.
The cost of earning a private pilot certificate is typically between
$8,000 and $12,000 dollars. Please don't be fooled by flight schools that
advertise prices as low as low as $4,000 for a private pilot certificate. They
arrive at this price by calculating
the cost of flight instruction and airplane rental for the absolute minimum
time a person can earn a private pilot certificate in, 40 hours. What they
conveniently leave out of their calculations is the fact that most people
take 70 hours of flight time to earn a certificate, and testing fees and supplies cost up
to $1,000.
That said, I believe the time and money used for flight training
is an investment, and one that pays off for a lifetime. (You'll notice
when you get your certificate that it has no expiration date.) Flying
is something that a privileged minority of people gets to experience,
and if you enjoy the freedom and adventure of flying, becoming a pilot
is a worthwhile investment.
Of course, most people are on a budget. The two secrets to minimizing
flight training costs are:
- Study before each lesson. Showing up prepared increases efficiency
by reducing the number of times a maneuver must be practiced or a
concept needs to be explained by the instructor.
- Condense the flight training into as short a period of time as your
schedule allows. Scheduling your lessons in close succession helps
you retain the knowledge and muscle memory gained on each lesson so
that it can be applied to the next lesson. Two to three flights a week is ideal.
If you proceed at a more
leisurely pace, you might spend an amount near the higher end of the
spectrum.
Isn't flying dangerous?
Flying small airplanes
is more dangerous than flying on airliners or even driving in a car.
The good news is that your fate is in your own hands in a small plane.
The vast majority of small aircraft accidents are caused by poor
pilot decisions. Good judgment and a little humility go a long way to enhance safety. If you
fly with me, I will emphasise safety and risk management throughout your training.
I'm too old.
Quick reflexes do not make a good pilot. Ask any of the 59 year-old airline
captains who pilot 747s around the world every day. Knowledge, good judgment,
and smoothness - not superior hand-eye coordination - are the biggest assets
for pilots. These attributes often develop with time, allowing many pilots to fly well after retirement age.
My vision/health isn't good enough.
All you need is vision correctible to 20/40, and in some cases less.
Other physical problems can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Only
severe disorders, like narcolepsy, might prevent a person from flying. Call me
with any questions about particular health issues.
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