Any pilots in here?

[Money$hit]

Just wondering. Is there anything you would do differently, reconsider, or otherwise go back in time to correct when getting your private pilots license?

Im kinda interested, but dont want to get ripped off or have a bad experience.

[Pinepig]

MEII here. Only thing I would have changed is instead of getting my ASEL in a shitbox Cessna I should have done it in a Citabria ( Tailwheel ), you'll have superior stick ad rudder skills compaired to a nose-dragger student/pilot.

Ask around at your local airports for a good flight school and a good instructor, take a " be a pilot" ride and see if you click with your instructor, if not try a different one, it should be fun you know.

You'll be out somewhere between 8-10k by the time you are done, more if you dink at it, less if you fly 2-3 times a week, I recomend you bust it out in minimal time, you'll save a couple of thousand that way. I busted mine out in 2 1/2 months with 42.5 hours in the logbook ( 40 is FAA minimums ) My last student had 130 hours in his logbook and from start to finish it took him 24 years ( 2 years dinking around twice a month with me ).

[Money$hit]

I thought a private was generally no more than 5k? Must be fuel costs.

[bjhcamaro]

I'm a helicopter pilot. I have my private license now and about half way through my instrument rating. I'm looking to make a career out of flying. Not sure what your intentions are but if you are planing on just doing this for recreational flying it is quite expensive. A small two seater will cost around 240-260 an hour to rent.

[Pinepig]

I thought a private was generally no more than 5k? Must be fuel costs.

172s at the places around here are 120 or more an hour wet, add in 50-75 for an instructor and it starts adding up. When I got my private 172s were 40$ an hour. Hell, I have 125hrs in a Seminol that didn't cost much more than 172s today.

[Hallen]

I'm a pilot rated in helicopter and airplanes. Got lots of hours in clouds and low level and under goggles. But, since I didn't have to pay money for my training (just my entire life), I probably can't help you much with that part.

I will say that as soon as you get your private license, take some instrument lessons. It will do several things for you. You will be a better pilot. Learning to properly scan instruments and how to talk on the radio to ATC is a big benefit. It is also a huge safety factor. Even if you are just a VFR happy day pilot, you can and probably will run into situations where you go inadvertent IFR. Knowing how to keep the greasy side down while in the muck will save your life. And if you think that being able to fly a flight sim at home under instruments will help, no, it really won't. Sims are good procedure trainers, but until you actually get in the muck and turbulence, you don't know how disorienting it can be. Gets some good instrument training. It is best to do it right after you get your private license while everything is still fresh. You don't necessarily have to keep your instrument rating current... and you don't necessarily have to finish the training, but make sure you are competent enough at it and practice when you can.

Good luck, have fun with it, and be safe.

[Mot]

Im a aviation science student, working on my Private... with the goal of going all the way to commercial with a CFII rating.

Hallen I would love to chat with you man, I'm sure you have a lot of knowledge for me.

[h0lmes]

I don't have my private yet but I do have some advice for you. When you go to get your medical, don't tell them anything about your past unless it is absolutely necessary. I am not telling you to lie just be careful what you tell them. I was honest and told them about medication I took in my younger years. They have denied me a medical until I get thousands of dollars worth of psychological testing done. I really got fucked. I had 30 hours of dual done and was going to have my private by September of last year. Now im considering if it is even worth it. Medical problems that you may have had when you were a child and do not have any longer are you business and not the FAA's. Fuck those Nazi bastards.

[Vedubin01]

I went to ComAir Aviation Academy in Sanford FL. Went all the way though with an MEI. I spent upwards of 80k to obtain that. The school is better than anything I have seen yet. Better than Embry Riddle. In fact our instructors that did not make it would go there to continue to fly.

Its a hard industry to get in right now. Unless you have a connection or your own plane, your about shit out of luck finding a job. Pilots are being let go at the highest rates so far. Guys with more hours will continue to get first pick and the older pilots that are signing on with a new carrier will be hired because they will time out before they are fully vested in the company.

I can not hold my medical today due to my cancer fight. My friends that went though class with me are all captains today. They are looking for jobs outside the airlines just in case.

Air traffic control is were its at today. Great pay, hard work but mad benefits. Comair now Delta Academy has about 90 percent drop out rate. Two biggest keys in flying is Weather and Charts. Flying is the easy part of being a pilot.

good luck on your quest. Its the best feeling in the world to me, I just will have to wait and hope there is a market when I get better to return!

[Money$hit]

Oddly enough, I got recruited by Embry Riddle in HS for cross country and track. I visited, and it was a really impressive place.

Im not looking to become a pilot as a career, just want to obtain a private license just for fun. Maybe down the line militarily it will come into play, but for now its just for fun.

[Jparkr]

I just wanna tell you guys good luck. Where all counting on you back here.

sorry couldn't resist.

[Money$hit]

I just wanna tell you guys good luck. Where all counting on you back here.

sorry couldn't resist.

wtf are you talking about?

[James Crivellone]

wtf are you talking about?

Or because I found this picture awesome

[Ral]

I got mine in high school, and loved it. If you have the money to support it, as it is very expensive, it is really, really rewarding, challenging, and just an all-around incredible experience that gives you a completely different look on the world. (I guess I'm a bit biased though.) Like someone stated earlier, get through it as quickly as you possibly can, it will save you time, money, and frustration. Also, if you travel any amount for business (or can somehow convince the IRS that it's for business) then many of the expenses are tax-deductible. Not to mention the time savings over driving, though coordinating ground transportation can be a hassle.

[Hallen]

Im a aviation science student, working on my Private... with the goal of going all the way to commercial with a CFII rating.

Hallen I would love to chat with you man, I'm sure you have a lot of knowledge for me.

Sure, anytime. Just send me a PM. I have been out of the business for about 4 years now. I retired. :D

Remember, all my experience is military. While any IFR work and cross country stuff is just the same as civil, the rest wasn't.