Is there an age limit for obtaining a Private Pilot rating?
(what about max age?)
A:
The Federal Aviation Regulations require
an individual to be at least 16 years of age to operate an
aircraft solo, and 17 years of age to obtain a Private Pilot
certificate. There is not an age limitation on beginning
flight lessons with a certified flight instructor. There is
no maximum age for acquiring a private pilot certificate.
Once someone gets this certificate, they may exercise the
privileges of that certificate as long as they continue to
get a medical certificate and a biannual flight review.
Q:
What written tests and flight
tests are required to obtain my Private Pilot rating?
A:
Student pilots have to pass
a pre-solo written exam before solo, a Private Pilot Written
Exam (FAA), and a Practical Exam (flight test).
Q:
What exams are required to get my Private
Pilot rating (and where do I take them)?
A:
To obtain
a Private Pilot rating, you must obtain at least a 3 rd
Class Medical, and these are available from FAA Medical
Examiners (refer to phonebook or contact flight school).
Q:
What is a medical certificate?
A:
Every pilot must obtain a medical
certificate in order to exercise the privileges of their
pilot's license---there are three classes, 1 st (most
stringent, and good for six months), 2 nd (good for one year
and required for use with a Commercial rating), and 3 rd
(good for three years if you are under 40, two years if 40
or older).
Q:
Are there any medical restrictions to prevent me from
becoming a pilot?
A:
Some medical conditions may
require a waiver for a pilot to get a medical certificate,
and these are best described by the FAA Medical Examiner.
Q:
Am I required to have special insurance to be a pilot?
A:
No, but some insurance
companies do specialize in insurance for pilots.
Q:
What is the optimum progression through the ratings?
A:
This depends on why the
student is achieving the ratings, but the progression that
occurs most often is: Private rating, an addition of an
Instrument rating, then a Multi-Engine rating. The next
progression is to a Commercial rating, and the prior ratings
apply to this one.
What financing options are available to
help cover the cost of my training?
A:
Generally, for students, there is
financing available through Sallie Mae Company, Pilot
Finance, and Key Bank. Many students also use local banks
for flight training loans.
Q:
Are there financing options available for
international students?
A:
Generally, financing companies will
finance domestic and international students, depending on
individual credit-worthiness.
Q:
Does the Sallie Mae loan program apply only
to obtaining a Private Pilot rating?
A:
You may use the Sallie Mae
loan as you see fit. You may use it to purchase any service
or product offered by a Cessna Pilot Center.
Q:
What is the maximum amount of
money that can be borrowed with the Sallie Mae program?
A:
The amount of the loan you
qualify for will be based on your current income and credit
history.
Q:
Do I have to be a student to
take advantage of the Sallie Mae student loan program?
A:
No. Anyone seeking financial
assistance for the expenses incurred for flight training at
a Cessna Pilot Center can qualify, with approved credit.
Q:
What expenses will the Sallie
Mae loan cover towards getting my pilot rating?
A:
All expenses, services,
products, or items the Cessna Pilot Center offers can be
paid for with the loan money you qualify for. It may also be
used to cover other incurred costs of flight training as the
borrower sees fit.
What is the difference between a Part 141
School and Part 61?
A:
The “Parts” refer to
different sections of the Federal Aviation Regulations, and
the different Parts dictate different requirements for
flight schools. Generally, Part 61 flight schools have less
stringent requirements – no Chief Flight Instructor
required—and they have the flexibility to progress through
their training syllabi as needed. Part 141 schools must have
a Chief Flight Instructor, have their syllabus, or training
course outline (TCO) approved by the local Flight Standards
District Office (FSDO), and progress through that syllabus
exactly as outlined--no flexibility.
Q:
What is the difference
between a Cessna Pilot Center (CPC) and a flight school?
A:
Cessna Pilot Centers must
meet higher standards than the typical flight school in
order to be eligible to operate under the Cessna logo. They
must be clean, neat, and provide superior customer service
and flight training. They must make available for flight
training, fully insured, new Cessna 172 aircraft that are
currently under factory warranty. Most importantly, Cessna
Pilot Centers are the only schools that utilize Cessna's
integrated computer based instruction - a revolutionary
method of teaching ground school that is easy, thorough, and
fun.
Q:
If I live outside the U.S.,
what is required for me to train in your country?
A:
It is recommended to visit
sites, such as www.aopa.org
, where U.S. requirements for foreign citizens are
posted. Once in the U.S., the training requirements for a
citizen of another country are the same as for a U.S.
citizen.
A Discovery Flight is a
flight of approximately 30 minutes, intended to familiarize
a student with the airplane, the airport, and with the
flying environment. During most Discovery Flights, the
student sits in the left seat, and the instructor allows the
student to fly for a majority of the flight.
Cessna Pilot Centers sell
gift certificates for Discovery Flights, or if there is not
a CPC near you, download a Discovery Flight certificate from
www.beapilot.com .
Q:
Is there an expiration date
on the Discovery Flight coupons?
A:
No. Discovery Flight Coupons
are always valid at participating Cessna Pilot Centers.
Please contact your nearest
Cessna Pilot Center to inquire about their participation
in the program. Please ask for the Flight School Manager
when making this inquiry in order to get the most current
information on the program .
What makes the Cessna CBI program better
than other ground school training courses?
A:
The Cessna Computer-Based Instruction
(CBI) is the only truly integrated flight- training
curriculum. By this, the curriculum is designed so that the
student completes a lesson and then a flight lab that
corresponds to that lessons. Therefore, the student
progresses through the program and is able to associate the
flying lab with what he/she just learned in the lesson.
There are other Computer-Based flight
training programs on the market, but Cessna's Computer-Based
Program is the only integrated flight training system
available.
The CBI is designed specifically to be
interactive - students use "drag and drop" and question and
answer sessions to learn in a fraction of the national
average. According to our own research , we are finding that
Private Pilot completion times using the CBI product are in
the low 50 hours range, compared to the national average of
65 – 70 hours. This is due to the benefits of the CBI
integrated flight-training method.
Q:
Does the CBI program qualify as my ground
school training?
A:
Yes, it's the most complete course we know
of. In fact, many Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part
141 flight schools chose to become CPCs and use Cessna's
CBI courses as their approved curriculum. In addition to
covering the ground school, the CBI courses also cover the
tasks you will perform on your training flights.
Q:
How long does it take to complete the CBI
program?
A:
If you consider that training is matched
with completion of the Private Pilot course, it takes an
average of 4 – 6 months.
Q:
Where can I purchase a CBI program?
A:
The program can be purchased at your
nearest Cessna Pilot Center. To find the Cessna Pilot Center
nearest you call us at 1-877-359-2373 or (316) 517-6056, or
use our online locator . There is also a form on our
website,
www.learntofly.com/order.chtml , that can be printed and
faxed to us at (316) 206-9562.
Q:
Can more than one person use the CBI kit?
A:
The kits are designed so that one
person may register and use them. It may be
possible for more than one person to use a kit, but the
second person would not be able to obtain the intended
benefits from the program.
Q:
If I am enrolled in a flight school that is
not a CPC, can I still use the CBI kit?
A:
Yes. Cessna offers a complete syllabus
that can be used at any flight school or by an independent
flight instructor.
Q:
What does “activating” the CBI kit mean?
A:
The first six lessons of the CBI kit come
fully functional. However an authorization code provided by
a Cessna Pilot Center is required before you can access the
remaining lessons on the CD-ROMs. This allows the CPC flight
instructor to evaluate and direct your flight training
progress in Cessna's exclusive course management module.
Q:
What items are included in the CBI kit?
A:
The kit contains 24 CDs, a Pilot
Information Manual (either 172R or 172S), Pilot Safety &
Training Supplement, Practical Tests Standards, 3.5” Floppy
Disk, Cessna Pilot Logbook, Textbook, and a Syllabus.
Q:
Can I purchase pieces of the CBI kit
separately?
A:
No, the kit is intended to be a complete
flight-training product. Therefore, it is sold as a package.
Q:
Is the CBI kit available on DVD?
A:
The CBI kit is not currently available on
DVD.
Q:
Is the CBI compatible with MAC computers?
A:
No.
Q:
Is the CBI kit valid outside the U.S.?
A:
CBI/ICBI kits are based upon U.S. Federal
Aviation Regulations and airspace. Anyone who can understand
English may use the kit outside of the U.S., but the rules
and regulations would not apply.
Q:
What is the difference between the CBI and
ICBI?
A:
The CBI is the Private Pilot ground school
training course. The ICBI is the Instrument ground school
training course.
Q:
Are the CBI and ICBI kits included in one
package, or are they separate kits?
A:
The CBI and ICBI programs are sold
separately.
Q:
Is there a warranty or guarantee on the CBI
kit?
A:
Since CBI/ICBI kits are sold by
individually owned and operated CPCs, they may have
warranties or guarantees on the kits – however, since Cessna
Aircraft Company does not sell the product, we do not offer
such.
Q:
Is there technical support for the CBI
program?
A:
There is 24-hour technical support
available through 1-877-435-7272.
What is the average length of time needed
to obtain a Private Pilot rating?
A:
On average, it takes about five months.
You must complete a minimum of 40 hours of flight
instruction (the national average is 75), and study to pass
the written and oral exams (typically 40 hours of study
material).
Q:
What is the average cost of obtaining a
Private Pilot rating?
A:
The cost varies by location and the type
of aircraft used for training, but the average cost is
between $6,000 - $8,000.
What is the average length of time required
to obtain an Instrument rating?
A:
This depends primarily on how frequently
the student flies, but an average is three to six months.
Q:
What is the average cost of obtaining an
Instrument rating?
A:
The cost varies across the U.S., but the
average cost is between $5,000 - $6,000.
Q:
What can I do with my Instrument rating?
A:
With an Instrument rating, you may
navigate by reference to aircraft instruments, or without
reference to outside visual cues (Instrument Flight Rules,
IFR).
