Flight Training

In order to learn to fly you need:

• To be 16 years of age
• Read, Speak and Understand English
• Pass a basic Medical Exam

In fact you don't need to be 16 to fly, you can fly at any age, you just need to be 16 to solo, and you don't need to pass the medical exam until you're ready to solo, although taking care of getting a medical early in the process will ensure you don't have any medical conditions that will prevent you from flying.

Here is a detailed description of the requirements for a Private Pilot's certificate. Don't worry if this seems confusing. Your flight instructor will help you to understand the various requirements. Note that the minimum number of flight hours is 40, most people take a few extra hours, up to around 50 or 55.

I'm a flight instructor with Southern Jet at the Raleigh-Durham airport, so this information will apply to learning to fly with us.

We offer training in Cessna 152's as well as Cessna 172s. The total price for training will range from $4500 through $7500 depending on how many hours over the minimum it takes as well as which plane you learn to fly in. You don't need to pay for your training up front, the typical cost of a lesson will run from $90 to $180 a lesson, depending on how long the flight is.

Aircraft rental rates, which are wet (meaning they include fuel) range from $59 an hour to $100 an hour. You only pay for the aircraft when the engine is running, so in a 2 hour lesson block where you might only fly for an hour you only pay for the plane for 1 hour. You'll pay for the instruction based on the additional pre and post flight briefing.

In addition to you flight training you'll also need training in the areas of knowledge you need to be a safe pilot a well as pass a written test and check-ride. You can start you flight training before you complete the ground school. Ground school can take various forms, such as:

• A formal Ground School class. We offer such classes periodically at Southern Jet, check our Training page and click on "Ground School" for details on our latest offerings.
• A self-study using DVD's, CD's or video tapes. There are a variety of these packages, at Southern Jet we offer the Cessna "Cleared to Takeoff" kit that is fully integrated with the flight training syllabus we use.
• Buy the books, get guidance from your flight instructor and learn the material on your own.

Financing is available for your Private Pilot certificate, go to Southern Jet's Training page and click on "Training Financing" for more details.

Ready to start learning to fly? Drop me an e-mail at mat@mwaugh.com or call me at 703-634-9181 or call us at Southern Jet at 919-840-4444!

Look forward to seeing you on the flight line!