IS IT FOR YOU?
Some of our readers that visit TravelUpdate are loyal customers for business or leisure on Air Transport, stay in luxury hotels and love the lifestyle of being truly a world traveler.
There’s not a huge gap between flying as a passenger and taking over the controls of a light aeroplane. After 40 hours of basic training you could be signed off for a checkride with a Certified Instructor and receive a Private Pilot License. You’ll be able to fly on your own leisure light aircraft with your friends or family.
A Private Pilot License ( PPL ) can give you the perk of flying away for a weekend or just fly because it’s fun!
REQUIREMENTS
A PPL is issued by the National Agency designated to administrate the Civil Aviation of each country. In the case of USA, the body in charge is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA has the following requirements to be able to obtain a PPL :
LIMITATIONS AND PRIVILEGES
1. As a private pilot, you may not act as a pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers or property for compensation/hire, nor may you be paid to act as a pilot in
command, except:
a) You may act as a pilot in command for compensation/hire of an aircraft in connection with any business if the flight is only incidental to that business and the aircraft does not carry passengers or property for compensation/hire.
2. You may equally share the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided the expenses only involve fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or airplane rental fees.
3. If you are an aircraft salesperson and have at least 200 hrs. of logged flight time, you may show a prospective buyer an airplane in flight.
4. You may act as a pilot in command of a charitable, nonprofit, or community event flight described in 91.146 if the sponsor and pilot comply with the requirements.
5. You may be reimbursed for aircraft operating expenses that are directly related to search and location operations (provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees) and the operation is sanctioned and under the direction and control of a local, state, or federal agency,or if it’s with an organization that conducts search and location operations.
BOTTOM LINE
If you are a frequent flyer and curious about how aviation works behind the scenes, or if you wonder how does an aeroplane fly and which forces are involved in the process of lifting a small Cessna 172 or a bigger Boeing 747, then the adventure of gaining a Private Pilot License might be a great idea! Flying as a PPL is fun. I remember back in 2001 when I started my professional flying career how much fun it was to plan a flight, listen to the weather and learning how to talk on the radio with Ground Control and Tower of different airports around Florida. Feeling the freedom of flying is unique. Being able to appreciate the infinity of the sky is something I really love and I invite you to explore the opportunities at your local AeroClub or Flight School and ask for an Introductory Flight to see if this is for you!
BeaPilot.com is an organization that has been running for many years, and it gives detailed information and locations of nearby institutions dedicated to pilot training throughout the United States. Be sure to give them a visit and join me in the passion of flying!
Step out from your seat in First, Business or Coach Class, and go to the Pilot’s Seat and enjoy being one of us!
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