Congratulations On Your Interest To Be A Pilot

Understanding the flight training process can be quite baffling without adequate introduction.  This introductory summary should give you insight on what to expect in terms of various steps you will incur while pursuing a Private Pilot Certificate all the way from initial interest to issuance of your certificate. 

Take An Introductory Flight

If you are interested in learning to fly and your completely new to flying, an introductory flight is the first logical step. During your first flight, one of our experienced instructors will take you through an abbreviated lesson from preflight to tie down. You will have the opportunity to taxi the airplane and once at altitude, you will have what will likely be your first experience with flying an airplane. This will also be the first entry in your complimentary pilot logbook, as the flight time counts towards a private pilot certificate.

Once you have completed the discovery flight you should evaluate whether you think flying is for you. For those who truly believe they want to fly, but found the discovery flight a bit nerve-racking, we recommend taking a few lessons. Flying in a smaller airplane can be a very different flying experience than flying in a huge airliner. It may take some lessons to get used to the aircraft.

So now you’ve decided to pursue your private pilot certificate. Del Sol Aviation has a couple of options available to the student for payment. One option is “pay as you go”. We accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or check. We also have a “block account” option where we will keep track of your deposit and report your ending balance on each invoice. Del Sol Aviation also offers financing from a second party lender to upfront the cost of your training. Contact Del Sol Aviation for more details and for an application to submit.

To be eligible for a student pilot certificate you must be at least 16 years of age and 17 years of age to take the FAA Practical Exam.  The first thing that needs to be accomplished following your decision to start flight training is to obtain your Pilot Medical Certificate from an approved FAA Medical Examiner. These exams are generally about $100.00, and consist of a basic exam to ensure you are mentally and physically fit to operate an aircraft.   You will need to obtain at least a 3^rd class medical certificate. This medical certificate will be your Student pilot certificate that the instructor will use to sign you off on your solo flights. 

 A structured flight training syllabus will be provided to manage and conduct your training. You will get your own syllabus to track your progress, learn from study assignments, class activities, and practical flight lessons. 

Once determined that the student demonstrated abilities exist to perform safe flying skills, the instructor will then sign-off on the student to perform their first solo flight, usually after 20 hours of dual instruction. Generally, the instructor will direct the students to a less active airport and have the student do three takeoffs and landings.  On return from the student’s solo flight we take their picture and cut the back of the student’s T-Shirt off and add commemorative notes on it to recognize the students solo achievement.  Cutting the back of the student’s shirt off is an old pilot’s tradition and a form of  initiation into the flying community.

After doing several ground and flight lessons with your instructor, it will be time to take the FAA written exam. You must score a  80% or above on this test in order to pass. Del Sol Aviation is a certified FAA Designated Testing Center. The test is computer generated and multiple choice.

Your instructor will determine when you are ready to take the FAA Practical Test, which is comprised of an oral exam and a flight test with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. Before you are sent up with an FAA Designated Examiner, we will send you up on a “mock” check ride with either our Chief Flight Instructor or the Assistant Chief Flight Instructor.

The big day has finally arrived. You have trained hard and by all means are a safe and competent pilot – we know that – you just need to prove it to the FAA. You may be nervous, but we are confident that you will pass because you have demonstrated to your Instructor and the Chief Flight Instructor that you have what it takes.

Congratulations! You are a certificated pilot! You can now travel to different places in less time and introduce your family and friends to what you have accomplished!