Frequently Asked QuestionsHave a Question of Your Own?Q. Is it hard to learn to fly? A. No. People of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities have learned to fly. It’s fun, and from the beginning of your training, you get to do most of the actual flying! On the practical side—While flying isn’t a difficult skill to learn, you’ll have to be willing to stick with it until you meet all the requirements. Also, you should consider the cost of becoming a pilot—you’ll have to pay for your physical exam and your lessons. Q. When can I start? A. Right away. All you have to do is find a flight instructor and sign up for an introductory lesson. You don’t have to have a student pilot’s certificate or a medical certificate to take flying lessons. Of course, you won’t be able to fly solo right away. That takes time and the paperwork described in this guide. Q. How many lessons do I have to take before I solo? A. It depends on you. There is no set number of lessons or hours of flight training. Your instructor must make sure you have learned to perform certain maneuvers before allowing you to solo. These maneuvers include safe takeoffs and landings. You must use good judgment when flying and be able to keep control of the aircraft. Also, you’ll have to get a medical certificate and a student pilot’s certificate to fly solo. Q. Is flying safe? A. Yes. A well-built and well-maintained aircraft flown by a competent and prudent pilot is as safe or safer than many other forms of transportation. Q. If engine failure occurs, what will happen? A. Modern aircraft engines are reliable and failure rarely occurs. However, your lessons will cover what to do in this situation, including selecting a good landing area and safely landing. Student Pilot’s Certificate RequirementsQ. When do I need a student pilot’s certificate? A. Before you can fly solo. You don’t need a student pilot’s certificate to take flying lessons. Q. Am I eligible for a student pilot’s certificate? A. You are eligible if--
A. Upon your request, an FAA-authorized aviation medical examiner will issue you a combined medical certificate and Student Pilot Certificate after you complete your physical examination. Student Pilot Certificates may be issued by an FAA inspector or an FAA-designated pilot examiner. Applicants who fail to meet certain requirements or who have physical disabilities which might limit, but not prevent, their acting as pilots, should contact the nearest FAA office. Q. How long are my student pilot’s certificate and my medical certificate valid? A. They expire 2 years from the date they were issued. Q. Can I renew my student certificate and medical certificate? A. No, but you can get a new one. Q. If my original Student Pilot Certificate has been endorsed for solo flying, do I lose this endorsement on my new certificate? A. No, the endorsements are still valid. However, they are not transferred to the new certificate. Keep the old certificate as a record of these endorsements. Q. Should my flight instructor endorse my student pilot’s certificate before or after my first solo flight? A. Before. The endorsement certifies that you are competent to solo. Q. If I solo in more than one make or model of aircraft, must I have an endorsement for each on my student pilot’s certificate? If so, who should endorse the certificate? A. Yes. Your flight instructor must make this endorsement before you solo in each make or model of aircraft. Q. Does the endorsement to solo allow me to make solo cross-country flights? A. No. You also have to get a cross-country flight endorsement from you flight instructor. Q. Must I carry my student pilot’s certificate with me when I am piloting an aircraft in solo flight? A. Yes. Q. Is there a charge for the student pilot’s certificate? A. Not when it’s issued by an FAA Flight Standards District Office. However, an FAA-designated pilot examiner can charge for issuing student pilot’s certificates. Also, an FAA-authorized aviation medical examiner can charge for your physical examination in connection with issuing the combination medical certificate and student pilot’s certificate. Recreational Pilot’s and Private Pilot’s CertificatesQ. How old do I have to be to get a recreational pilot’s certificate or a private pilot’s certificate? A. You must be at least 17 years old. If you want to be a private glider pilot or be rated for free flight in a balloon, you must be at least 16 years old. Q. What tests do I have to pass to get a recreational pilot’s certificate or private pilot’s certificate? A. You have to pass both a written knowledge test and a practical (flight) test. Limits on the Recreational Pilot’s CertificateQ. As the holder of a recreational pilot’s certificate, how do I ensure that I don’t inadvertently enter airspace where I am required to contact air traffic control? A. You must select readily identifiable landmarks that are well beyond the boundaries of the airspace where contact with air traffic control is required. During your training, your instructor will tell you how to identify this kind of airspace. Q. I already have a recreational pilot’s certificate, and I want to get an additional certificate or rating. For training purposes, can I fly beyond the 50-nautical-mile limit, after dark, or in airspace where I have to contact air traffic control? A. Yes, if your instructor has given you the required instruction in these areas and has endorsed your pilot's logbook for each flight. You will have to carry the logbook with the required endorsements on these flights. Frequently Asked Questions was supplied in part by the Federal Aviation Administration |
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