It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, really, it’s a plane. And boy, do you ever want to fly like an eagle, soar like a hawk, feel free in the wild blue yonder. Wanting to become an amateur pilot takes dedication, serious studying in avionics, flight systems and aerodynamics, and leaning how to file flight plans and deal with air traffic controllers. Depending upon the flight training facility that is chosen, there may be simulators used, or the student may be in a plane within a couple of weeks. The one standard is having the money to pay for the expensive training, aircraft rental, fuel, and all other associated costs with filing a flight plan, and flying a plane.
The real trick to becoming an amateur pilot, other than having enough money for it, is, first, to be an amateur And second, taking a pilots’ training course from a certified training facility for amateur pilots. Some of these training facilities, normally found at private or small regional airports, will train only to the point of obtaining a single-engine Cessna-type aircraft. Other training facilities allow the amateur pilot to advance through all of the licenses, until finally certified to fly commercial jumbo jets.
Many of the amateur pilot training facilities have age restrictions from 16 to 21 years of age, with health certificates required proving that you are of good body and sound mind. Perfect eyesight, rigid health testing and training in flight simulators is required at the better training facilities. Students start with fixed-base, or computer game-type simulators, and finalize with full-flight simulation, with hydraulics and full 3-dimensional motion. System failure and structure compromise simulations are introduced to the student pilot, and they must show that they can react calmly and efficiently to fix the error, or plan an emergency landing.
Once the amateur pilot passes the simulation aspect of the course, they will be taken up in a small, single or dual-propeller aircraft. The teacher will explain all aspects of pre-test flight checks, breaker and circuit tests. Once airborne, the student will be allowed to take the controls and get the feel of the aircraft, slowly banking and levelling, ascending and descending. The teacher will take over for approach and landing, until the student has proven their mettle with perfect simulation scores.
A lot of aeronautical studies, flight path calculations, heads-up-display usage and programming, and how to maintain, repair and properly test the aircraft and all of the systems are studied, as they are all part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) testing process. Once the prospective amateur pilot has passed the FAA’s written tests, they will have the excitement and lifetime dream come true of flying alone, usually in a single engine Cessna-type plane.
After becoming comfortable in the air the prospective amateur pilot will be tested in the air, watched by both the instructor and an FAA certified examiner. A few system errors may be introduced, to see how quickly and correctly the student reacts to the system failures.
After acquiring their amateur pilot’s license, the amateur aviator can then proceed into the world of professional aviators, and eventually a job in the aviation industry as a pilot.
Now, you can fly like an eagle, till you’re free.
