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Third-Class Medical Certificate

Leave a Comment / Private Pilot / By Jon Kotwicki

A third-class medical certificate, commonly referred to as a third-class medical, is a certification issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pilots in the United States. This medical certificate is specifically designed for pilots who operate aircraft under certain conditions, such as for recreational flying, flight instruction, or pursuing a private pilot license (PPL). The third-class medical certificate ensures that the pilot meets the minimum medical standards necessary for safe flight operations. It assesses various aspects of the pilot’s health, including vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, general physical condition, and mental fitness. Pilots must undergo a medical examination by an FAA-approved Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to obtain this certification. The third-class medical certificate is a requirement for pilots seeking a private pilot license (PPL) or operating certain types of aircraft for non-commercial purposes. It serves as a crucial component of ensuring aviation safety by confirming that pilots are physically and mentally fit to operate aircraft responsibly. Operations Requiring Third-Class Medical When exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate, recreational pilot certificate, or student pilot certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations. When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as the pilot in command or as a required flightcrew member. When taking a practical test in an aircraft for a recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, or airline transport pilot certificate, or for a flight instructor certificate. When performing the duties as an Examiner in an aircraft when administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization. Duration of Third Class Medical Certificate A third-class medical certificate is valid for a specified duration, depending on the age of the pilot: Under 40 years old: A third-class medical certificate is valid for 60 months. 40 years old and over: A third-class medical certificate is valid for 24 months. Application Process The application process for a third-class medical certificate involves several steps: MedXpress: Pilots are required to complete FAA Form 8500-8, also known as the Application for Airman Medical Certificate. This form collects personal and medical history information. You can complete this form online through the FAA’s MedXpress website. Locate an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME): Pilots must schedule an appointment with an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to undergo the medical examination. The cost of the exam is not set by the FAA, so it may be anywhere from $75-$200 depending on where you live. Medical Examination: During the medical examination, the AME will assess various aspects of the pilot’s health, including vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, and overall fitness. Submission and Review: Once the examination is complete, the AME will submit the medical certificate application to the FAA for review. With you potentially leaving the doctor’s office with your medical certificate in hand barring any underlying medical issues. MedXpress The FAA MedXPress system allows anyone requiring an FAA Medical Clearance or Medical Certificate to electronically complete the FAA Form 8500-8. Information entered into MedXPress will be available for your FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to review at the time of your medical examination. Third-Class Medical Requirments To be eligible for a third-class airman medical certificate, or to remain eligible for a third-class airman medical certificate, a person must meet the requirements. Eye Eye standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are: Distant visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) are necessary for 20/40 vision, the person may be eligible only on the condition that corrective lenses are worn while exercising the privileges of an airman certificate. Near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties. No acute or chronic pathological condition of either eye or adnexa that interferes with the proper function of an eye, that may reasonably be expected to progress to that degree, or that may reasonably be expected to be aggravated by flying. Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are: The person shall demonstrate acceptable hearing by at least one of the following tests: Demonstrate an ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at a distance of 6 feet from the examiner, with the back turned to the examiner. Demonstrate an acceptable understanding of speech as determined by audiometric speech discrimination testing to a score of at least 70 percent obtained in one ear or in a sound field environment. Provide acceptable results of pure tone audiometric testing of unaided hearing acuity according to the following table of worst acceptable thresholds, using the calibration standards of the American National Standards Institute, 1969: Frequency (Hz) 500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 3000 Hz Better ear (Db) 35 30 30 40 Poorer ear (Db) 35 50 50 60 No disease or condition of the middle or internal ear, nose, oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx that— Interferes with, or is aggravated by, flying or may reasonably be expected to do so; or Interferes with clear and effective speech communication. No disease or condition manifested by, or that may reasonably be expected to be manifested by, vertigo or a disturbance of equilibrium. Mental Mental standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are: No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following: A personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts. A psychosis. As used in this section, “psychosis” refers to a mental disorder in which— The individual has manifested delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of this condition; or2. The individual may reasonably be expected to manifest delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of this condition. A bipolar disorder. Substance dependence, except where there is established clinical evidence, satisfactory to the Federal Air Surgeon, of recovery, including sustained total abstinence from the substance(s) for not less than

BasicMed: Requirements and Limitations

1 Comment / Private Pilot / By Jon Kotwicki

One crucial aspect of aviation safety is the medical fitness of pilots. For decades, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated that pilots hold a valid medical certificate to fly. However, in 2017, a new alternative emerged – BasicMed. Since its inception, nearly 80,000 pilots have been qualified to fly safely under BasicMed. BasicMed privileges are authorized by the following countries: United States, Mexico, The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Here is how you can join them. Understanding BasicMed BasicMed is an alternative pathway for pilots to demonstrate their medical fitness to fly aircraft. It was introduced as a result of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016. The aim was to reduce the regulatory burden on pilots while maintaining safety standards. Requirements To qualify for BasicMed, pilots must meet certain criteria: Pilot Qualifications: Pilots must hold a valid U.S. driver’s license and have held a medical certificate issued by the FAA at any point after July 14, 2006. Medical Examination: Pilots must undergo a medical examination conducted by a state-licensed physician every 48 months. During the examination, the physician will assess the pilot’s overall health and determine their fitness to fly. Online Course: An FAA-approved online medical education course is required to be completed by pilots every 24 calendar months. This course covers various topics such as aeromedical factors, medications, and health maintenance for pilots. Documentation Submission: After completing the medical examination and online course, pilots must retain the required documentation for their records. This includes the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist and the Course Completion Certificate from the online course. Pilot Self-Assessment: Pilots must conduct a self-assessment of their fitness to fly before each flight. This assessment involves evaluating factors such as recent illnesses, medications, and overall physical condition. Limitations You may conduct any operation that you would otherwise be able to conduct with a pilot certificate and a third-class medical with certain limitations. Aircraft Eligibility: Pilots operating under BasicMed can fly aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of up to 6,000 pounds. Passengers: Carrying no more than five passengers. Non-Commercial Operations: BasicMed privileges do not allow to fly for compensation or hire. Visual Flight Rules (VFR) & Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Operations: BasicMed allows pilots to fly VFR & IFR, subject to appropriate ratings and currency requirements, within the United States, at or below 18,000ft MSL, and not exceeding 250knots. Comprehensive Medical Examination You must have a comprehensive medical checklist that shows your most recent physical examination was within the past 48 months. The chart below overviews what is examined during your visit with your medical provider and is a brief outline of FAA form 8700. Medical Examination Checklist 1. Head, face, neck and scalp 2. Nose, sinuses, mouth, and throat 3. Ears, general: (Internal and external (canals) and eardrums (perforation) 4. Eyes (general), ophthalmoscopic, pupils, (equality and reaction), and ocular motility (associated parallel movement, nystagmus) 5. Lungs and chest: (Not including breast examination) 6. Heart: (precordial activity, rhythm, sounds, and murmurs 7. Vascular system: (pulse, amplitude, and character and arms, legs, and others) 8. Abdomen and viscera: (including hernia) 9. Anus: (not including digital examination) 10. Skin 11. G-U system: (not including pelvic examination) 12. Upper and lower extremities: (strength and range of motion) 13. Spine and other musculoskeletal 14. Identifying body marks, scars, and tattoos (size and location) 15. Lymphatics 16. Neurologic: (tendon reflexes, equilibrium, senses, cranial nerves, coordination, etc.) 17. Psychiatric: (appearance, behavior, mood, communication, and memory) 18. General systemic 19. Hearing 20. Vision: (distant, near, and intermediate vision, field of vision, color vision, and ocular alignment) 21. Blood pressure and pulse 22. Anything else the physician, in his or her medical judgment, considers necessary All medical conditions that may affect the safety of flight must be explained on said form. When they occurred, the severity, how it was treated, and if you are currently taking any medication or having treatment for the condition or have to see a physician. Medical History A. Frequent or severe headaches B. Dizziness or fainting spell C. Unconsciousness for any reason D. Eye or vision trouble (except for glasses) E. Hay fever or allergy F. Asthma or lung disease G. Heart or vascular trouble H. High or low blood pressure I. Stomach, liver, or intestinal trouble J. Kidney stone or blood in urine K. Diabetes L. Neurological disorders (epilepsy, seizures, stroke, paralysis, etc.) FAA-Approved Online Medical Education Course Once you have completed your medical examination with your physician you will need to register for the free online education course. There are two different courses available to you. Once you have completed all the modules you will need to take a short quiz, print the completion certificate, and place it with the completed physical examination checklist in your logbook. Mayo Clinic BasicMed Online Training Course AOPA‘s BasicMed Medical Self-Assessment: A Pilot’s Guide to Flying Healthy BasicMed has provided a welcome alternative for pilots seeking to maintain their medical certification without the traditional FAA medical examination. By adhering to the requirements outlined by BasicMed, pilots can continue to pursue their passion for flying while ensuring the safety of themselves and others. However, pilots need to stay informed about any updates or changes to BasicMed regulations to remain compliant and uphold the highest standards of aviation safety.

ATOMATOFLAMES – Required Aircraft Equipment – 91.205

3 Comments / Flight Training, Private Pilot / By Jon Kotwicki

Of all the acronyms in aviation, this must be the silliest… ATOMATOFLAMES? Surely you can’t be serious!? I am serious and don’t call me Shirley. It is difficult to remember all the regulations, rules, and procedures. But, it is not that difficult to remember a few acronyms that jog your memory ATOMATOFLAMES is one of the longest and most misunderstood acronyms commonly taught to student pilots. It is a list of instruments and equipment for flight according to FAR 91.205. What is 91.205? 91.205 is the regulation for powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates. Specifying the required equipment for aircraft operation. FAR 91.205 (b) is for visual-flight rules (day) and 91.205(c) is for visual-flight rules (night). 91.205(d) is for Instrument flight rules, which requires everything in 91.205(b)and(c). Isn’t FAA legal writing excellent? Like most FAA regulations it is important to know and understand these rules. However, it is more important to be familiar with and be able to apply the regulations to your operations. Just knowing an acronym is great trivia, but as you will see, it has many gaps and will not guarantee you are operating safely. What is ATOMATOFLAMES? ATOMATOFLAMES is the acronym for VFR required equipment during day flight according to 91.205(b). It is often also referred to as ‘Tomato Flames.’ ATOMATOFLAMES Acronym: A – airspeed indicator T – tachometer (for each engine) O – oil pressure gauge (for each engine using a pressure system) M – manifold pressure gauge (for each altitude engine) A – altimeter T – temperature gauge (for each liquid-cooled engine) O – oil temperature gauge (for each engine) F – fuel gauge L – landing gear position indicator A – anti-collision lights M – magnetic compass E – ELT S – safety belts This list is quite thorough, but also leaves many questions? Most students will notice that it doesn’t include many aircraft parts. Do we need seats? What about wings? This list covers most of the practical instruments inside the cockpit. It is not intended to be the master list of every feature required in airplane manufacturing and design. Do I need to know this for my checkride? Absolutely you do. Now, if you don’t have it memorized verbatim, that is okay, but you certainly need to know where to look (in the FARAIM 14CFR91.205) and be able to understand that text. If you’re not sure how to interpret the text in the FARAIM and apply it during your oral exam with the FAA, check out this video here. What happens when any of the required equipment is missing or broken? Well, that’s a great question, and one you are likely to hear on your private pilot, instrument pilot, and commercial pilot checkrides. Just about every checkride you take you will be expected to explain in detail how to deal with inoperative equipment, especially if it required equipment. For a thorough explanation of what you need to know for your checkride, use our checkride prep courses for Private, IFR, Commercial Pilot, and CFIs. You can access all of our checkride prep courses here. Why Do I need to know ATOMATOFLAMES? This regulation mostly only applies to general aviation smaller aircraft. Turbine-powered aircraft and large turboprops will have more required equipment and features. This list will work nicely in a Cessna 182, but if you hop in an Airbus A350, you will find lots more equipment and perhaps even some equipment missing. As a general aviation pilot, you should remember that 91.205 is a great place to look if you are going to fly a new airplane. Each section of required equipment may also have exceptions based on aircraft age and operation. It is important for pilots to know how to find, interpret, and use the regulations to ensure their operations are safe and legal. Just memorizing an acronym likely won’t be helpful but knowing why 91.205 exists and how to use it is important. Can you think of any other acronyms you could make from ATOMATOFLAMES? Let us know below! Related Posts: Visual Flight Rules – What is VFR? Instrument Rating Requirements IFR Flight – What is IMC? Loss of Comms Under IFR

Visual Flight Rules – What is VFR?

2 Comments / Flight Training, Private Pilot, Uncategorized / By Jon Kotwicki

VFR, or visual flight rules, is a method and set of rules for flying aircraft by reference to the ground. The other method to fly airplanes is by IFR, or instrument flight rules. VFR flight uses ground references like roads, lakes, terrain, and other noticeable landmarks from the air to navigate. To fly VFR, pilots must maintain VMC, or visual meteorological conditions. Visual flight rules flying is only allowed when the weather is good enough for pilots to clearly see where they are going. All of these rules and regulations are taught to every new private pilot. When Do Pilots use Visual Flight Rules? Flying in VFR requires certain visibility requirements and clearance away from the clouds. This is to keep airplanes from colliding. If a pilot wants to fly in the clouds or low visibility, they will need an IFR clearance and be licensed and trained and in an airplane equipped for IFR flight. IFR flying requires extra training and is restricted by air traffic control. There are no restrictions to VFR flying as long as the weather is suitable. VFR flights can save time by allowing for direct routing. Private pilots first learn to fly using VFR. The next step for private pilots is to start training for their instrument rating. Some commercial planes conduct their flying VFR. On short flights this can save them time and money by getting direct routing and flying any altitude they would like. VFR Flight VFR flying allows for some of the most impressive views any human can see. It is similar to how birds fly around. There is complete freedom and truly showcases the sights of earth. FLY8MA instructor Jon shows the beauty of VFR flying by flying around Alaska. In the video, you see how he references the mountains and glaciers to fly from airport to airport. He uses the rivers to check his course against a map in the plane. VFR flying requires more than just spotting landmarks on the ground though. Pilots are required to pass a written test, an oral exam, and a flight test to prove they can safely operate an airplane in VFR conditions. If you are interested in becoming a pilot, you will first learn how to fly with visual flight rules. You will learn to navigate and fly long distances using the ground and a VFR sectional chart. FLY8MA offers a free private pilot ground school and a premium version that is the first step in your journey to becoming a VFR pilot.

Top 10 Most Difficult Private Pilot Test Questions

Leave a Comment / Flight Training, Private Pilot / By Jon Kotwicki

The most failed Private Pilot Written Test Questions Ever wonder what the toughest questions are that you will see on your FAA Private Pilot written exam? In this article we will go over each of the questions we have seen to be the most difficult for students. If you want to see where you stand and try your luck on the quiz before we get started, click on “Start Quiz” below! Use the Discount Code DONTMISS10 and get 10% OFF either your first subscription payment or course HERE!

How Much Does a Pilot License Cost

15 Comments / Flight Training, Private Pilot / By Jon Kotwicki

How Much Does it Cost to Become a Pilot? Student Pilot License Free Sport Pilot License $4,000 – $6,000 Private Pilot License $8,300 – $12,300 Commercial Pilot License $28,000 to $90,000 Flight Instructor License $32,000 -$95,000 Airline Transport Pilot License $35,000+ The cost to get your pilot license ultimately depends on what type of pilot license you want to obtain. The level of license you need is determined by what type of flying you’re looking to do. For example, a Sport Pilot license may be the best fit if you are looking to fly for fun, whereas a Commercial Pilot license would be the first big step in an aviation career. Different licenses require different levels of ground and flight instruction and have different testing requirements. It can be complicated to understand, so we’ll make it simple with our friend “Jim” who wants to become a pilot. Let’s follow “Jim” along as he works his way towards becoming an airline pilot. At the end of this article you’ll understand not only how much it costs for each type of pilot’s license, but also why it cost that much, and how to save serious $$$ on your flight training. By the way, there is actually no such thing as a pilot license, the correct term in aviation is a Pilot Certificate, but hey, almost everyone calls it a license so we’ll just go with that for our purposes explaining this today. If you’re interested in the cheapest aviation certifications you can obtain, you can click here to view our article on the cheapest aviation certifications you can obtain. Step #1 to Becoming a Pilot A private pilot license costs $8,000-$12,000….great…why is that? What kind of pilot license should you get? Actually, it doesn’t matter, if you want to just fly for fun, or be a commercial pilot, everyone starts at the bottom with a Private Pilot License (we’ll save talking about the sport pilot licenses until the end of the article). It’s January 1st and Jim made a New Year’s resolution to become a pilot. He begins his flight training right away. His journey will consist of several different certificates or “pilot license levels”. The progression of becoming an airline pilot looks like this: Private Pilot License (VFR) Instrument Rating (IFR) Commercial Pilot License Flight Instructor License (CFI) Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) Now we know Jim has to get his Private Pilot License first before his instrument rating or commercial pilot license. So, what does that cost Jim? Private Pilot License Cost Cost to Become a Private Pilot Private Pilot Requirements Costs Pilot Ground School $350 FAA Private Pilot Written Test $175 FAA Medical Certificate $125 40 Flight Training Hours $7,000-$11,000 FAA Checkride $650 Total Cost $8,300-$12,300 Jim will need to do a couple of things to get his Private Pilot License. He’ll need: Pilot Ground School (an online course works great for this) ~ $350 Pass the FAA Private Pilot Written Test ~ $175 Get an FAA Medical Certificate ~ $125 Flight Training in the Plane ~ $7,000-$11,000 (why is it a range and not a set price?) FAA Checkride (your flight test, kind of like a driving test for your Driver’s license) ~ $650 Total: $8,300-$12,300 Learn about how our Private Pilot Ground School can help you save money getting your private pilot certificate. So Jim begins his online ground school on January 1st, and that helps him prepare for both his flight training and the FAA Private Pilot Written Exam (60 questions, multiple-choice test). He signed up for ground school at FLY8MA.com and completed it in 2 weeks, spending about 50 hours of total study time on the courses. Since Jim completed his ground school at FLY8MA.com, he had a great foundation of knowledge and easily passed his FAA written exam. Jim has spent about $500 so far. He then went to his local flight school (he chose his flight school using our guide here) and took his first flight lesson. The flight lessons vary in cost depending on how long each lesson lasts, but he planned accurately that each lesson would be $300-$450. After his first lesson, Jim asked his Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) for a recommendation on which doctor to use to get his Medical Certificate. Jim goes to the recommended AME (Aviation Medical Examiner) and gets his FAA Medical for $125. Jim studies hard, flies at least 5 days per week, and earns his Private Pilot License on February 15th after completing his Private Pilot Checkride with the FAA for $650. All together, Jim spent about 6 weeks learning to fly and earned his pilot’s license for $8,527. Jim has also logged a total of 44.2 flight hours which is just over the FAA minimum requirement of 40 flight hours to become a private pilot, but well under the national average in 2020 of 73.1 hours. What did the 40 flight training hours consist of? While we do explain this in a lot more detail in another article here. We’ll explain here briefly what you are getting in your 40 hours of flight training. Assume you are paying $100/hr to rent a plane and paying a flight instructor $60/hr for the time they spend training you both in the air and on the ground in your briefing sessions. Pilot Time Certificate Cost (From zero experience) 40 hours total to include: This is the minimum 20 hours flight training Jim spent 32.3 hours with his CFI 3 hours night training Jim had 3.1 hours of night training 3 hours cross country training Jim had 3.2 hours of “cross-country” training 10 hours solo Jim had 11.9 hours of solo flight 10 hours used towards either training or solo Jim spent that extra time with his CFI This is how Jim racked up a bill of $7,425 from the flight school, plus his other fees came to his total of $8,527 for his Private Pilot License. Instrument Rating Cost You’ve probably heard things about pilots

Learn to Fly

9 Comments / Private Pilot / By Jon Kotwicki

How to Become a Pilot People pursue a pilot’s license for a wide range of motivating factors, from a desire to achieve personal growth to pursuing an airline career path. Some aspiring pilots are fortunate to have close friends or relatives with aviation experience, who can provide guidance, advice, and mentorship. However, for many people, learning about aviation is an unfamiliar new territory. Don’t be a Flight School Dropout Did you know 8 out of 10 people who start flight training don’t actually get their pilot’s license? While a small percentage of people stop flight training for medical reasons – most are smart, sharp, motivated, and have the potential to be excellent pilots. So why do they quit? Read on to discover why people quit flying before they get their certificate – and how you can make sure you don’t. The top three reasons student pilots stop flying are: 1) Becoming frustrated with flight training: Having an unprepared or unorganized instructor can make your lessons feel unproductive and wasteful. Having a mediocre ground school can mean you start flying without understanding basic aviation concepts. This can also make students feel like they don’t have the skills or abilities to successfully reach their goals. 2) Running out of funds: If you do not have the funds to pay for all of your flight training, consider applying for scholarships, getting financing, or other options so you don’t have to stop before you can really get started. 3) Feeling like flying isn’t enjoyable anymore: The “fun” of flying can be lost when you put too much pressure on yourself or compare your journey to others who learn faster. Learning to fly is about the journey, not just the destination. Becoming a pilot is a desirable goal and rewarding achievement, and you have many options to reach your goals. Although it may seem like a far-off dream, with dedication and consistent effort, most people who meet basic medical requirements are able to earn a private pilot certificate, and more. What You Can Do With a Pilot’s License When you begin your flight training, you start with your private pilot’s license. The private pilot license is the first step for all pilots. This is often referred to as a “license to learn.” For people pursuing a career as a pilot, each rating is an important step: Private pilot certificate: Once you have your private pilot certificate, you can fly with passengers and share flight expenses with them, as well as fly volunteer flights for non-profits. You can get paid for a limited number of jobs like towing gliders (with an endorsement) , or demoing aircraft for sale while working as an aircraft salesman. Instrument rating: Once you have your instrument rating, you can “fly by instruments” and operate an aircraft in limited visibility such as fog, clouds, and rain. You will also learn a lot about weather reports, forecasts, and considerations for planning cross-country flights. Commercial pilot certificate: You can get paid to fly and do jobs like aerial surveys, pipeline patrol, news traffic reporting, banner towing, and agricultural flying. This is also a necessary rating to being a flight instructor or airplane transport rating. Click here to learn which type of pilot license is right for you and what you can do with your license. How To Get A Private Pilot License A big part of getting your private pilot license involves spending time in a small airplane. Some of those hours will be solo, but the majority will be with a certified flight instructor (CFI). You can accomplish your flight time in several ways: Enrolling a Flight School A flight school is the most common route to learn to fly. If you go to a flight school at a local airport, the school may own or lease aircraft, and have instructors on staff available for you to take lessons with. You will have the option of selecting an instructor you relate well to. The school may be a “Part 141 flight school” or a “Part 61 flight school.” A Part 141 school has specific approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to teach a structured and organized program. A 141 program sticks to a rigid schedule and can be completed in the shortest amount of time. If your school is not a 141 flight school, they are a Part 61 flight school. This means they are governed by Part 61 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Part 61 vs Part 141 This is a complex topic of which school is right for you to choose. We go into a lot more detail about Part 141 and Part 61 Flight Training Schools here, but for now, let’s just take a quick overview. You will hear the salesman at the 141 school say, “We can make you a pilot faster for less money”. You will hear the salesman at the 61 school say, “We can make you a pilot on a flexible schedule, and for less money”. They are both right and wrong. The article linked above gives much greater detail, but to summarize: Part 61 Part 141 National Avg. Flight Hours to Complete Training 73.1 71.2 National Avg. Rental Aircraft Cost per hour $126 $156 National Avg. Instructor Cost per hour $60 $68 Flexible scheduling, lesson progression, and aircraft switching Yes Generally No National Avg. Cost for Private Pilot License $13,596 $15,948 Read this if you still have questions about Part 141 vs Part 61 Flight Training. Working with an Independent Certified Flight Instructor Many certified flight instructors own their own trainer airplanes. If you find an instructor you like, you may be able to train with them in their airplane. This can be extremely convenient if they have good schedule availability. The downside of learning to fly in one aircraft is that if the airplane is down for maintenance or repair, you will not be able to fly. Joining a Flying Club Flying clubs are member-run groups that allow members

FTN Number – Student Pilot Certificate

Leave a Comment / Private Pilot / By Jon Kotwicki

How to Get a FTN Number So you recently heard you need something called an “FTN Number” before you can register for your FAA written exam or get your Student Pilot License. The good news is getting this number is totally free and will only take you about 10 minutes or so to complete online following the steps outlined in the video above. If you’re not a video person, no problem, we’ll also explain in the text below how you can register on IACRA to get your FTN number (FAA Tracking Number). Registering to take your FAA Pilot Test So what lots of folks call the “pilot test” is really more correctly referred to as the Private Pilot Written Exam. This exam is 60 questions, lasts 2.5 hours, and you must both register online as well as receive an endorsement from an approved instructor or course prior to being able to take the exam. To register online, you will first go to https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx Then click “register” on the upper right part of the screen, directly below where you would enter your login credentials if you had already signed up. You will want to check the box for “applicant” (not any other boxes), and then follow the promts to complete the process. It is just like signing up for a new email account. Once you complete the process, you will be given a “FTN number” to go along with your username and very complicated password (yes the FAA makes you choose an obnoxiously long password). Write down all three, username, password, and FTN somewhere safe because I guarantee you will forget one or all of those. Reserving a time for the test Now that you have your FTN number, you can register to take your written exam at https://faa.psiexams.com/faa/login You’ll click on “Create an Account” and follow the prompts to create a new account with PSI (the testing company that administers the test for the FAA). There is an 800 number on that page that will link you with tech support if you need help, but don’t set your expectations too high for the level of service you will receive from them (PSI is now a monopoly on all FAA testing). Once you create an account you will select the test type you want to take (most likely Private Pilot Airplane designation – PAR ). You will also pay your fee online and select the testing center nearest you based on your zip code. THIS IS IMPORTANT. Before you book a time, call the testing center you are planning on using as the times and availability listed on the site are generally not correct for when the test proctor person will actually be available at your local testing center. You do not want to book a time, pay for it online, only to show up in person prepared and ready to go on that day and time to find you’ll have to come back tomorrow when the proctor is available. Getting a Student Pilot Certificate If you wish to also get a student pilot certificate, more good news, you’re already about halfway there (assuming you already have your account set up on IACRA). To apply for a student pilot certificate you will want to “Start a new application” when logged into your IACRA account. You will be applying as a “student pilot”, and the link here can also help guide you through the specifics of what to put on the form. You should keep in mind that once you submit your student pilot application you will have to schedule a time with a flight instructor to sit down in person, both log into your respective IACRA accounts from the same computer, provide verification of your US citizenship and identify to the instructor, and then they will help you complete the process via the IACRA website. There is not a way to fully complete and submit your application to the FAA without being face to face with an instructor or FAA representative. Questions? If you still have questions you can always reach out to us here: Ask A Question