A340pilot From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 576 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 646 times:
Can someone tell me how difficult it is to get a private pilot license and how long it takes? I am interested in obtaining a license, not for commercial use or for a job, just for personal use! And what are the differences in obtaining a license in Canada to that of the United States ( ie:Are the courses a lot harder or easier etc!)
CcrlR From United States, joined Aug 2001, 2157 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 612 times:
The requirements are for the US is
Be at least 17 years old
You need be able to write, speak, and understand the English language
40 hours of instruction
Current Third Class medical certificate
Score at least a 70 on the FAA knowledge exam
Pass the FAA oral exam and flight check
Some of the courses are not hard if you know what you're doing but once when you get the info you can be able to finish and get your license.
"He was right, it is a screaming metal deathtrap!"-Cosmo (from the Fairly Oddparents)
Startvalve From , joined today!, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 577 times:
A lot of it really depends on money, it is very expensive to learn to fly (if it has wings or a skirt you can't afford it). Sure you need 40 hours of instruction but say that costs $100 an hour (a conservative estimate at least in my area). Not a lot of people can just throw down the whole wad of cash and say lets get private pilot certified in a week. Also it takes some people more time than that to get comfortable enough with flying. I also believe there is an additional time requirement at least in the US to become private pilot rated.
I found most of the ground school instruction books to be a quick read and the questions fairly easy for someone truly interested in aviation. Pick of a copy of the FAR/AIM (Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical information manual) and start reading that as soon as possible too. Also go to the local airport and find an instructor. Many community colleges offer an Aviation program and those are usually a good way to start out. Also in the case of the community college I took aviation at the classes were a lot of times taught by commercial pilots with major or not so major airlines that had either recently retired, or had a predictable schedule. In which case if you do decide to pursue a career in aviation that can be a good networking opportunity.
A340pilot From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 576 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 556 times:
Well, IM pretty sure that I will not become a Commercial Airline pilot because I own and operate a large trucking company with 17 trucks, so I think my career path is set, However I just want to fly for recreation, for fun, and maybe rent a Cessna and fly to another airport. I've only been on a Cessna once in my life and that was when I was 9. I've always wondered what its like to fly in a cockpit and see what the commercial pilots see!
Jhooper From United States, joined Dec 2001, 5966 posts, RR: 15 Reply 5, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 535 times:
I would say three months is very doable by most people, but it depends on your individual circumstances. The training is very flexible, so if all you want to do is live and breath flying for a few weeks, you can do it that quickly. Personally, it took me two years because of my age (I started at 15).
Last year 1,944 New Yorkers saw something and said something.
JMChladek From United States, joined Aug 2003, 331 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 528 times:
Cost for private flights when I did it was about $40 an hour. But that was years ago. I don't think its up to $100 an hour for plane rental just yet. First thing you might want to do is see if the aviation school offers a discounted discovery flight for about $25. This gets you into the air for about 45 minutes and lets you see if you indeed want to take the plunge.
But, you do need a good source of income period to keep up your hours on a private license. Part of the reason I never quite got that far was at the time I didn't want to go commercial and I didn't really have the funding to sustain a private license, even if I did get it. So I quietly bowed out for a bit. But these days, now that I have a steady paying job I am considering going back to it. Maybe after my car is paid off.
Lymanm From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 1119 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 514 times:
After doing my Canadian PPL and now years later working as an FAA instructor in the US, I can tell you the Canadian PPL is more thorough in virtually every facet. The hourly minimums are approximately the same, but the flight standards on the practical test are more rigorous, the oral exam more challening and the written exams are actually tough (they are a joke with the FAA). Mind you, they do not translate well anymore: prior to 9-11, it was just a matter of filling out some paperwork in both cases, but now both countries will make you do a written and practical test to convert your license. Good luck.
A340pilot From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 576 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 512 times:
I don't think the funding/financial situation is my problem, the problem that I would have is the time to get the hours, running a trucking business up and down the west coast I start at 6am and go all day into the night, plus If there is a problem anywhere on the coast I have to fly down to fix it asap, so I don't think I could set up appointment times! Is it first come, first serve for "air time"?
N766UA From United States, joined Jul 1999, 6716 posts, RR: 41 Reply 9, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 508 times:
Well, if you've only been in a plane once in your life before, I'd say you have several years and thousands of dollars of work ahead of you. It's taken me a year and a half just to solo and it'll be another 4 months till I get my liscence. I have about 20 hours in the Cessna and my 3rd Class medical... plus I've spent well in excess of 2,000 dollars on rental+instruction fees alone.
If God meant man to fly, He'd have given us bigger wallets.
JMChladek From United States, joined Aug 2003, 331 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 503 times:
Well, one advantage would be that if you did get a private license and the weather is good enough for VFR, you could just take a Cessna up and down the coast on the fly to clear up problems and declare it as a business expense.
Startvalve From , joined today!, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 495 times:
If I am not mistaken the requirements for a third class medical is little more than a pulse and the ability to see 5 feet in front of your face and the $40-$50 for the doctor to sign you off... As for the flight time at the local airport I was starting at plane rental, instructor and fuel even with the schools discount came out to a hair over $100 an hour for a Cessna 172
WERNAIR From Austria, joined Aug 2003, 164 posts, RR: 12 Reply 14, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 449 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW PHOTO SCREENER
Did mine in 21 days in Phoenix/Arizona during summer... If you got this time enough, all the money together and you really LOVE to fly, you can do it quite fast...
But I already had a glider license before, so I knew how to fly!
Regards, Werner
IflyORL From United States, joined Sep 2003, 159 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 441 times:
I just got my licence it took about three months. I was told this was relitivly quick. I'm in florida and did it over the summer so it took longer than it should with the afternoon thunderstorms.
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