Live the DREAM, Learn
to FLY!
Interested, but not sure you'll enjoy the
training? We are confident that you will;
few things in life offer such a combination
of reaching for new personal frontiers and
mastering new skills — all while
experiencing the thrill of flight. But don't
take our word for it. Go up for an
introductory flight with a certificated
flight instructor (CFI) from Golden Wings
The time-honored tradition of the
Intro flight has been responsible for
countless enrollments in flight training
programs.
Even the most experienced instructors love
an opportunity to give a prospective new
student that first exhilarating ride. They
love to see the elated grin and the
determined nod of the head from the
once-doubtful prospect. But don't come
prepared to be a mere spectator.
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After a
briefing by the instructor and a walk-around
inspection of the airplane, during which he
or she will explain the actions pilots take
to prepare for flight, you will strap into
the left front seat — the pilot's seat — and
do most of the flying.
The CFI will introduce you to the four
fundamentals of maneuvering an airplane:
climbs, straight-and-level flight, turns and
descents. Then you will try a few. After you
land, chances are you will be impatient to
schedule your second lesson.
Contact one of our Member CFI's to
schedule YOUR Intro Flight.
*Golden Wings
Member CFIs are independent contractors and
are not employed by Golden Wings.
Become a
student:
Private pilots
comprise the largest group of pilots and are
among the most active flyers. In 2003, there
were 241,045 private pilots.
To become a private pilot, one must be at
least 17 years old, be able to read, speak,
write and understand the English language
and have a minimum of 40 hours of flight
time. The actual national average for
obtaining your Private Pilot Certificate is
about 70 hours.
A private pilot - with appropriate training,
ratings, and endorsements (e.g., floatplane,
taildragger, multiengine, helicopter, jet,
retractable gear, pressurized,
high-performance, complex, etc.) — may carry
passengers in any aircraft, day or night,
good or bad weather (see Instrument Rating).
Private pilots
may not fly for compensation or hire (no
passenger or revenue services) but may share
equally with their passengers the direct
operating expenses of a flight.
Approximate Costs:
Realistically,
the national average is approximately
70-hours to obtain your Private Pilot
Certificate. In San Diego, due to our good
weather and being able to fly consistently,
the average is approximately 65-hours to
obtain your Private Pilot Certificate.
Using the national average and local costs,
the price range to obtain your Private Pilot
Certificate can vary from $7,500 to $11,000
depending on whether you use a Part 141
Flight School, which is the most expensive
or a Part 61 Flight School or Instructor,
which is the least expensive.
Both types of
schools train their students to the same FAA
standards. In addition, both schools even
use the same FAA examiners to perform
checkrides. The average training period
ranges from 9 months to 1 year,
based on the frequency of flight lessons.
The general
rule is “the more you fly, the quicker
you’ll pass”.
Requirements:
Private Pilot
Training Requirements:
61.03-a) Be at least 17 years of age.
61.03-b) Be able to read, speak, write and
understand the English language.
61.109-a) For a single-engine rating. A
person who applies for a private pilot
certificate with an airplane category and
single-engine class rating must log at least
40 hours of flight time that includes at
least 20 hours of flight training from an
authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo
flight training in the areas of operation
listed in FAR 61.107(b)(1).
The training must include at least:
(1) 3 hours of cross-country flight
training in a single-engine airplane;
(2) Except as provided in FAR 61.110
of this part, 3 hours of night flight
training in a single engine-airplane that
includes:
(i) One cross-country flight over 100
nautical miles total distance; and
(ii) 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full
stop (with each landing involving a flight
in the traffic pattern) at an airport.
(3) 3 hours of flight training in a
single-engine airplane on the control and
maneuvering of a plane solely by reference
to instruments, including straight and level
flight, constant airspeed climbs and
descents, turns to a heading, recovery from
unusual attitudes, radio communications, and
the use of navigation systems/facilities and
radar services appropriate to instrument
flight;
(4) 3 hours of flight training in
preparation for the practical test in a
single engine airplane, which must have been
performed within 60 days preceding the date
of the test; and
(5) 10 hours of solo flight time in a
single-engine airplane consisting of at
least --
(i) 5 hours solo cross country time;
(ii) One solo cross country flight of at
least 150 nautical miles total distance with
full stop landings at a minimum of three
points, and one segment of the flight
consisting of a straight line distance of at
least 50 nautical miles between takeoff and
landing locations; and
(iii) Three takeoffs and three landings to a
full stop (with each landing involving a
flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport
with an operating tower.
Instructors:
Click here to view
our instructors.
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