Learning to fly as a civilian

[Ironnads]

You have to have your pass your written before you can take the practical. Your CFI also has to review with you the areas in which you missed questions on the test. After which he will give you a log book endorsement stating that he has done so. He will also have to give you an endorsement for the practical. (some instructors combine these into one endorsement). The practical consists of a checkride and an oral exam. These are almost always done at the same time. If for some reason the examiner tells you that you've failed during any portion of the practical, request to complete the exam. Then, when you come back again you will normally only have to redo the parts that you screwed up.
As for the comment about flying being expensive. Thank the trial lawyers. Light aircraft would probably cost around 1/4 of what they do now if it wasn't for all of the frivolous lawsuits filed during the 80's and 90's and the resulting insurance premiums. If you think it's expensive now, wait until you tack on an mel, inst., comm., CFI, CFII, and MEI. It cost me about $30,000.

Travis Alexander

 

[ghost_ttu]

Yeah, but you are a great pilot *laughs* I'd say about $30,000 worth of great pilot!

Eliminate distractions, focus on your goals and visualize what you hope to accomplish.

 

[Ironnads]

That last post was for Farkle.

John, I wasn't really reffering to ramp checks. You do have rights when it comes to a ramp check. I was referring more to violations. There are stories in AOPA all of the time about pilots being called in on by people saying that they buzzed their house. How is it possible for the FAA to determine if a pilot flew within 500 feet of a house? It is impossible, but they slap pilots with disciplinary actions all of the time. Here is another example. An instructor at my first flight school had a student in the owner's personal arrow which was for hire. They were practicing T&G's at an airport about 20NM away and on one of the landings the right main collapsed and the aircraft veered sharply to the right and off the runway taking out the VASI and a runway edge light. The FAA reviewed the accident and the logbooks and discovered that the transponder check had expired which had absolutely nothing to do with the accident. The aircraft owner who was also the owner of the flight school received no punishment, but the instructor had to teach x number of hours of FAA sponsored safety seminars as punishment. Where is the justice in that? That is what I meant when I said that you're at the mercy of the FAA.

Travis Alexander

 

[psrogers]

Thanks to all, this has been very helpful. I dare say I came to the right place.

Later...Paul

 

[grouch]

An old ground instructor at the flight school I went to had a bumper sticker on his desk that read "What is the difference between the FAA and the Titanic? The Titanic had a band." It was always funny to see the visiting FAA in his office when one of them notices the sticker.

 

[psrogers]

HAHA

I just ordered the Jeppesen Private Pilot Manual from www.jeppesen.com

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti

 

[D_mac05]

You should have tried www.half.com or ebay first. I just purchased the Deluxe Kit (Like the one on www.jeppesen.com) for $80. Great deal, considering it is $175 brand new (yes, it is an updated version...2002 matter of fact).

Dustin

 

[psrogers]

I don't know about that. I have no idea what any of that stuff is, and the kit doesn't look like it includes the same book that I purchased. The PPM cost me $78 with shipping. At this stage of the game, I don't need a whole bunch of extras...yet.

 

[D_mac05]

Well, if you were just looking for the PPM manual, I just saw it sell brand new in packaging for $41 on ebay. I was just wanting to let everyone else know that there are more options than just buying it from the manufacturer. www.amazon.com , www.half.com are both good sites that have sellers that sell their books both new and used, usually for dirt cheap.

 

[psrogers]

Rats, I should have thought of Ebay. For the PPM though, Amazon is actually more expensive. Cool though on the kits.