Aero-Tips!
A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard
this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer
statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of
"there are no old, bold pilots.")
Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner,
master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us
-- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you
may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be
something we might never have considered before, or something that
didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized
it for the practical test.
Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you
through the Aero-News Network.
Aero-Tips 11.27.06
Comes now the happy day
when you decide it's been long enough, and you will finally begin
your training to become a pilot. In very general terms, for you
planning before that first discussion with a flight instructor,
what is required of you to learn to fly in the United States?
Basic eligibility
To be eligible for a student pilot certificate you must:
- Be at least 16 years of age, except
-
- Be at least 14 years of age for the operation of a glider or
balloon and
- There is no minimum age requirement for student pilots in
ultralight aircraft;
- Be able to read, speak and understand the English language
(unless you have an accepted and documented medical condition that
prevents this); and
- Be a citizen of the United States or pass a naturalization
review administered by a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) using
Federal guidelines and in some cases involving the Federal
government.
Medical qualification
Before you fly solo (alone in the aircraft, generally after 10
to 20 hours of "dual" instruction with an instructor pilot) you
must pass a Third Class medical certificate for flying in most
airplanes, and in rotorcraft. The Third Class certificate serves as
your student pilot license, and is valid for three years after
issue (for pilots under age 40) or two years after issue for pilots
over age 40, unless there are special circumstances (for example, a
heart condition) that place additional limitations on your medical
certificate.
If you're flying balloons, gliders/sailplanes or Sport category
airplanes you do not need a medical certificate, but merely have no
known medical condition that prevents you from safely flying the
airplane. For Sport aircraft you must not have failed your last
attempt to obtain a flight physical.
For all types of aircraft, pilots are responsible to
"self-certify" their medical condition as sound for each
flight.
Aero-tip of the day: See if you meet the
general and medical requirements for learning to fly -- then go for
it!