How do you become a Pilot?

[Jaged]

Several people here are pilots. It sounds like something I would enjoy doing. What exacly do I have to to. How much can I expect to have to pay including lessons, plane, fuel, ect. What else should I know before I decide to persue a pilots lisence?

[ObnoxiousFrog]

3 cert points, 4 if you want Reaver.

[Jaged]

How many certs for a 747?

[Triggar]

a) Find a doctor in your area who can give you a FAA medical.

b) Get a FAA medical, and ensuing medical/student pilot certificate.

c) Find a FBO in your area, and interview some flight instructor's.

d) Expect to pay a lot of money if you want to persue it seriously, i.e. with the intent to get a rating or license. Depending on which FBO you go to, you could get charged a "wet" rate or a "dry" rate, the difference being if fuel is included in the hourly rate or not. You might luck out and find a fixed-price deal!

e) Get yourself some supplies. I recommend Sporty's (http://www.sportys.com). You'll need:

- a headset (I highly recommend David Clark's, specifically the H20-10's)
- a flight bag
- a kneeboard
- checklists for the specific plane you intend to fly
- a Airport/Facility Directory
- a FAR/AIM
- a fuel sump if your FBO doesn't supply you with one
- a good pair of sunglasses (I highly recommend Serengeti's)

I think that's about it, but feel free to send me any questions :)

[Jaged]

How much money is alot? And what are all those things on your list of supplies? English please. :p

[Triggar]

Ah, sorry. Well, I train at Embry Riddle, a pretty high-end FBO by anyone's standards. I've got about 75 hours and I've spent about $10,000 on flight lessons alone. You do the math :)

Standby for a few minutes while I accumulate pictures of everything I mentioned in my last post!

[Jaged]

Oh yeah and whats an FBO. Thanks for being so helpfull trig.

[Triggar]

1) Headset (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?DID=19&Product_ID=1423&CATID=94)

2) Flight Bag (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&Product_ID=227)

3) Kneeboard (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=979)

4) Checklists (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=5898)

5) Airport/Facility Directory (http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/charts/afd.cfm)

6) Sectionals (http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/charts/seccharts.cfm)

7) A plotter (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=1261)

8) FAR/AIM (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=6527)

9) An E6B (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=225)

10) A fuel tester (http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=1278)

11) Driver's Gradient Serengeti sunglasses (http://www.serengeti-eyewear.com/drivers_gradient/drivers_gradient_1.htm)

...once you get into your instrument rating, add on a new placard for your kneeboard to cover IFR stuff, a pair of foggles, and expensive as hell approach plates.

:groovy:

EDIT: FBO = Fixed Based Operator = Flight School. There are part 61 schools and part 141 schools. If you want to go for cheap and easy (and sacrifice quality), go for 61. Otherwise, go for 141, imo :p

[Jaged]

You rock Triggar.

Edit: hmm the pics wont load.

[Triggar]

This (http://www.acespilotshop.com/pilot-supplies/flightbags/flightbag1.htm) is the flight bag that I have, that I highly recommend. It isn't cumbersome, and it fits everything I need :)

http://www.acespilotshop.com/images/products/js621212.jpg

[Wraithlord]

I flew a plane once, a flying lesson as a birthday present, the fucking instructor made me land the plane in a 50mph crosswind in fucking fog...having never flown a plane before in my life, now I hate flying, thanks whoever that was, I think I blocked out the memory until now. >_<

[Jaged]

Sounds like your instructor was fealing suicidal that day. Why the fuck would you trust someone in a situation like that with your life?

[Zodiac]

I flew a plane once, a flying lesson as a birthday present, the fucking instructor made me land the plane in a 50mph crosswind in fucking fog...having never flown a plane before in my life, now I hate flying, thanks whoever that was, I think I blocked out the memory until now. >_<pics:

[Sputty]

pray hard and then get hit by a hurricane