How hard is it to get my pilots license?

Getting your pilots license is easier than you think, especially with today's advancements in instruction techniques, ground school educational aids and aircraft design and development. Phoenix Air is leading the flight training community in its training techniques and its state of the art aircraft. At Phoenix, we laughingly talk about the fact that if you can ride a bike or drive a car you can fly a plane. But the simple fact is, it's true.

How do I know that I will be trained right? What makes Phoenix Air different from any other flight school?

The Phoenix Air Flight School has a proven success rate. Over 90% of our students pass their FAA Flight Tests on the first attempt. Our instructors are full time and have the extensive knowledge and experience to train you in a timely manner.

What if I have difficulty in understanding the course material and subjects?

All our instruction is strictly one to one. We don't have huge classrooms where you feel intimidated to ask questions. Everyone is different so you are treated differently, you may have different academic weaknesses than the next person in which case it is addressed on a more detailed and personal level. If you have questions or queries about a topic in your training we will solve it, together. The course only requires basic high school understanding so it is not as difficult as it would appear.

What do I have to take in the way of exams or tests during the course?

To be a pilot you will have to pass a written test, consisting of 60 multiple choice questions covering various subject matter from weight and balance to weather related topics. The 60 questions are taken from a possible 738 questions that the FAA submit. There is a certain amount of self study required but if problems are encountered your flight instructor will review the problem areas with you. In any case we have access to study guides with all the questions and answers in them. Also you will have to pass a fairly basic medical exam which is by no means out of reach from those who are handicapped or medically impaired in some way. Finally, you will take a practical test with an FAA designated examiner which will consist of an oral test and an actual flight test to show the examiner you are proficient at flying.

Is it best to learn to fly at a controlled or uncontrolled airport?

If you decide to learn at a controlled airport you may want to take the following into consideration. While learning to fly in a controlled field will get you speaking to a control tower early on, you will find a lot of time wasted on the ground talking to a controller and waiting for clearances and may find that the actual lesson will not start until you are airborne, even then, you will have to find areas of uncontrolled airspace to practice your maneuvers this may take 20-30 minutes wasting your time and money. At Cartersville airport we are uncontrolled, which means our instructors can give their total attention to you right from aircraft start up, and as soon as you get airborne you will start your lesson. You will learn more and in a quicker time frame, and the controlled field practice that you will be required to do as part of your course will be accomplished at an airport just 10 minutes away when you are ready for that phase of your training. This makes training less daunting during your initial phase.

How do I get started?

Phoenix Air flight school offers an introductory lesson that enables you to go flying  with an FAA certificated flight Instructor. You will fly for 30 minutes during which time you will get to take the controls of the aircraft and get a good idea of what to expect from your training. The instructor will show you the aircraft's basic controls and how they work as well as showing you some basic flight maneuvers. The introductory lesson is just $59 and gives you insight into the world of aviation. If you feel that flying is something you would like to do then we can schedule you right then for another lesson, whatever you decide though you will not be pressured by us. If you feel we are not right for you, then we encourage you to follow your goals and dreams whether it is with us or not.

Ok, I have taken a trial lesson and I like what I have seen. What now? How long will it take me to get my license? How often should I fly?

If you decide that you do want to learn to fly, you will have to decide how long you will want your training to take. At Phoenix Air we specialize in getting pilots through fairly quickly. We can get you through in 4 weeks if necessary, although because of family and work most people take several months. If this is the case, you still need to fly as often as possible so that a lesson is not spent reviewing what you did last time, this will happen if, for example, you only schedule a lesson once a month. You should normally try and fly at least once or twice a week.

What will I need to do to get my pilots license in the way of flight time and ground time?

 To become a pilot you must complete 20 hours of training in the aircraft with an FAA approved flight Instructor (minimum). This is known as 'dual' instruction. You must also fly 10 hours on your own performing various tasks (minimum). This is known as 'solo' flight. Typically, depending on the time frame you want to become qualified, you can expect at least 30 hours of dual flight and 10 hours of solo flight. Also you will complete about 15-20 hours of ground school during your course.

What times can I schedule my instruction?

Phoenix Air flight school is open seven days a week from 7-5 and later if you need to schedule your night flying experience. ( which is part of your course). There is always an instructor on duty here.