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Airplanes are really cool and getting a license to fly them is even cooler. If you have ever thought about getting your private pilot’s license it is not that difficult to do, but it take a great deal of time and money to accomplish.

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Money and time
• Stop by a pilot training school

1. Visit any pilot training school and check to see if they have licensed and qualified pilot ground instructors and flight instructors that will teach you to fly and assist you get your license.

2. To get a private pilot’s license, you are required to do a total of 40 flight hours in a single prop plane and 112 hours of ground training. Of the 40 total flight hours required, 30 of those hours are hours spent flying with a flight instructor, and 10 of those hours are solo flight hours.

3. On average, expect to spend about $5,500 or so for the 40 hours of flight instruction and plane rental. On average, the 112 hours of ground training, processing fees and documentations could cost around $2,500 as well.

4. So that is what you need to do if you want to get your basic private pilot’s license. There are additional licenses that you can also obtain on top of your private license to expand your flight career. These would be an “Instrument License“, a “Commercial License“, and then a “Multi-Engine License”.

5. The cost and time required to get an Instrument License is about the same as it is for your private license. Check with some schools with qualified and licensed instructors to see if they offer an Instrument License course in addition to your Private Pilot License course.

6. The next license to get, if you chose to go this far, and potentially consider making a career out of flying, would be the “Commercial Pilot License“. You need to obtain both your private pilots license before you can go on to your commercial license. A commercial license requires 200 hours of flight time and some additional course like the instrument training course and exam work. You generally can also work on your multi-engine license at the same time.

Ground school is one of the most important facets of any private pilot’s training. It is required by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for all prospective private pilots to undergo hours of ground training. Also, it reinforces the skills you learned in the cockpit, and allows you to acquire knowledge that will make you a safe, competent pilot.

HISTORY
Book study was one of the first methods of ground training.

Since the dawn of aviation, the importance of ground school was well known. Airmen in World War II were required to undergo extensive ground training in addition to their rigorous flight training program. Ground training has been improved and strengthened over the years through studies in aviation safety and accident investigation, and it is now a defined program with a required curriculum that must be completed before earning a private pilot’s license.

METHODS/LOCATIONS
Small airports are a popular place to take private pilot ground school.

The private pilot ground training program can be done under the more lenient Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) Part 2 guidelines or rules. It is given in a face-to-face setting by a Certified Ground Instructor (GI). Under CAR Part 2 ground training is more structured and is given at set times at the flight school where you are undergoing pilot training.

CURRICULUM
Aircraft systems are a major component of ground training curriculum for private pilots.

The curriculum for ground school is standardized and varies little from school to school. Your ground training will cover aircraft systems (engine parts, fuel systems, control surfaces), weather (wind, turbulence, frontal systems, cloud types), navigation, visual flight rules (VFR), and regulations (including passenger carrying, accident reporting and airworthiness). The curriculum is designed to prepare you for the CAAP’s Private Pilot Written Exam, as well as the spoken portion of your private pilot flight test.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED
There are many books that will aid you in your ground training.

To be successful at ground school, you’ll need a variety of books and materials. The books you will need are the “Airport/Facility Directory” (“A/FD”), “Aviation Weather Services,” and the “Airplane Flying Handbook.” In addition to the written materials, you will need a flight computer. One such model is the E6-B, which is a slide rule that performs numerous flight calculations. You also need a plotter, which is a protractor that measures distance and angle. Finally, you need a VFR sectional chart, which is a type of aeronautical chart used by private pilots.

COST
The cost of pilot training can be steep.

Ground training is a very important part of your education as a pilot, and, like most things in aviation, it carries a financial cost. At a CAR Part 2 training school, the cost of ground instruction is usually included in the total cost of the flight program. The cost of ground instruction varies, depending on the method of instruction used.

To earn this certificate, student pilots must meet Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) criteria to ensure all aviators receive adequate training. Only after meeting these requirements can a student officially become a private pilot and enjoy the privileges of being in sole command of an aircraft.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

According to Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) Part 2, applicant shall be not less than 17 years of age to earn a license in any other type of aircraft, including single-engine airplanes. Prospective pilots must be able to read, speak and write in English to earn their private pilot certificate without restriction.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Aviators must pass an CAAP Second-Class  medical evaluation. Although the list of requirements to pass this physical is lengthy, passing simply requires that pilots be in good health and free of any conditions or ailments that could interfere with flying an airplane. One notable requirement is the CAAP’s Class 2 vision standard, which requires that pilots have distant and near vision that is correctable to at least 20/40.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

While student pilots get plenty of practice in the air, the CAAP requires that applicants for a private pilot certificate complete coursework on the ground as well. Students must complete an CAAP-approved ground school course and must pass a question standardized exam with a score of at least 70 percent. Topics of study range from basic aerodynamics and the principles of flight to weather and navigation.

FLIGHT REQUIREMENTS

The primary aspect of earning a private pilot certificate involves flying an aircraft. Students must demonstrate proficiency in certain skills while flying with a certified flight instructor (CFI), including takeoffs and landings, proper navigation techniques and emergency procedures. Applicants also fly in some circumstances without an instructor. To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, applicants must log at least 40 hours of flight time, at least 10 of which must come without the accompaniment of a CFI. Students also must log hours of flying time and complete at least one trip of 150 nautical miles with landings at three separate points and perform 10 takeoffs and landings.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) mandates that student pilots meet certain requirements to be elligible to receive a private pilot license.

To operate an aircraft without a qualified instructor on board, CAAP mandates that pilots hold a private pilot certificate. To obtain this, student pilots undergo training and meet CAAP requirements. These requirements range from medical criteria such as a minimum corrected eyesight standard to the amount of time a pilot must fly before being eligible to receive a license.

GENERAL
To receive a private pilot license, you must meet basic criteria. All potential pilots must be at least 17 years old to fly anything else. The CAAP also requires the ability to write, understand and speak English. You must have a student pilot license, which can be obtained at 16 years of age for any other aircraft. This certificate is granted following the completion of a CAAP third-class medical exam.

MEDICAL
Private pilots must pass a CAAP second-class medical prior to operating an aircraft. While the list of requirements is fairly lengthy, passing the medical requires you be in good health and not have any diseases or conditions that interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft. You must have both distant and near vision correctable to at least 20/40 to pass the exam.

GROUNDS
Training for a private pilot license is divided into ground school and flight school. You must complete an official course in a training school with a certified instructor as CAAP-mandated subjects including the principles of flight, navigation and Civil Aviation Regulations. You then are required to pass a CAAP standardized question knowledge test with a score of 70 percent or higher.

FLIGHT
The primary focus of private pilot training is the practical stage, which includes flying the aircraft and executing maneuvers. You cover certain subjects with your flight instructor in the air, including takeoffs and landings, navigation and flight planning. To be eligible for a private pilot license, you must log at least 40 hours, 10 of which must be solo.

Career pilots must have a commercial pilot’s license, which differs from a private pilot’s license. A commercial license allows a pilot to be paid for flying. Most career pilots work for commercial airlines, but they may also be employed as flight instructors after they obtain additional certifications. Some pilots fly cargo planes or traffic watch flights, or are skydiving pilots.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Meet entry requirements. Most flight instructors or flight schools have minimum requirements for students. At the least, you need a high school diploma, and you may also need a medical clearance.

2. Decide on the type of program you want. Career pilot training is available through a CAAP certified flight school programs. If you want to earn a degree, a program through a university may be your best option.

3. Locate a school through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). They can provide a list of certified schools. They can also provide information on different certificates and licenses available for career pilots.

4. Consider a Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR part 3) Approved Training Organization (ATO) certified school. It offers a national certification after you meet all requirements. CAR Part 3 Approved Training Organization (ATO) certified schools are inspected by the CAAP. They set some of the standards for the flight schools, such as curriculum.

5. Get flying time. You need to have a certain number of hours flying to qualify for a commercial pilot’s license. If you go through a private flight instructor, you need a minimum of 250 hours flying.

6. Attend ground school, which consists of classes from the basic and advance course on aerodynamics of flight, radio communications, navigation and engine operations.

All pilots are required to be licensed. There are different levels of licensing based on what you want to do with your training. If you want to become a commercial pilot, that is, a pilot for hire, you must complete more requirements than a student.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

INSTRUCTIONS

Thing you need:

• Private pilot license
• Ground training
• Second-class medical certificate
• Flight experience
• Passing exam scores

OBTAINING YOUR COMMERCIAL PILOT’S LICENSE

1. Meet the age and language requirements. You must be 18 years or older and fluently speak, read and write English.

2. Receive and log ground training from a Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) accredited school.

3. Log approximately 200 hours of flight time. This varies depending on what type of aircraft you want to pilot commercially. Light planes require less in-flight hours than larger aircraft. Your school will help you determine what the correct number of hours is for your selected aircraft.

4. Obtain a current CAAP medical certificate. You will receive a student certificate during your initial training. You will need to upgrade to a first-class certificate in order to obtain a commercial pilot’s license.

5. Pass both the Pilot Knowledge and Practical Application tests with a score of 70 percent or better.

6. Hold an instrument rating. You must receive an instrument rating certifying that you can fly by instruments alone.

7. Apply for a license through the CAAP. Once you’ve met the above requirements, you are eligible to apply for your commercial license.