How Aviation Found Me

It wasn't until I was a junior in high school that I even heard of a pilot as a possible career choice.  And honestly, I stumbled upon it by accident.  When I was in high school I decided to start taking college classes to try to graduate high school early with some college already under my belt.  I needed one more class to fill up my schedule that semester, and the only one that really fit was an Intro to Aviation Science class.  I wasn't entirely sure what it was, but it sounded interesting, so I registered for it.

On the first day of class the teacher went over the entire syllabus and told us what we could expect to learn that semester.  He also told about his flying background.  I was intrigued.  You mean to tell me that people make a career out of becoming a pilot?  It's not just something from the movies?  That sounds awesome.  As the class continued throughout the semester, I got more and more hooked.  It was the first time in my life that I wanted to know more.  Can women do this?  Can I do it even if I don't have perfect vision?  Where can I go to school for this?  Can I afford it?  I've never even been on a plane, though, will I even like it?

I had tons of questions, so instead of just sitting back, I decided to find some answers.  I began by researching out flight schools and found out the college I was attending in high school offered an aviation program and it was rated among the best- and better yet, it was much cheaper than the others at its level.  I asked my aviation teacher if I could do it without having perfect vision, and he told me yes!  As long as it was corrected by glasses, contacts, or lasik.  Things felt like they were falling into place for me.  Then came the bigger question- are there women out there that do this?  His answer again was yes!  Though women weren't as common in this industry, they could in fact do it.

Now that all those questions were answered it was time to actually step foot on a plane to see if I would even like it.  For my 18th birthday my parents bought me a round trip ticket on Frontier Airlines from SLC to DFW to visit my grandpa.  Navigating an airport for the first time seemed a bit confusing, but I found my way through security and to the gate hours before my flight was to leave.  I was so excited that the time seemed to draw on and on.  After a century or so, the flight finally began boarding.  I found my seat next to the cutest old lady and got settled in.

The flight attendants began their safety briefing and I was all ears.. how come nobody else seemed to be paying attention?  I guess I'll be the only one that knows what to do in an emergency.  And yes, I did read the entire safety briefing guide and knew exactly which emergency exit I would use if I needed to.

I thought I had died and gone to heaven when that plane began rolling down the runway... and when those wings finally developed enough lift to get that plane off the ground, it was the best feeling I'd ever experienced up to that point.  It was incredible!  This is what I was born to do; If I could feel this every day for the rest of my life, I would be happy.  I remember the flight being a bit bumpy out of SLC (when is it ever smooth flying out of that airport?), and the lady next to me white-knuckling the arm rest.  What was she so nervous for?  It was just a few bumps and we were flying through clouds, this was awesome, not scary.  I was on an aviation high and I never wanted to come down.

When we made it to DFW (which felt like a 2 minute flight for me), my grandpa was there to pick me up.  I had only met him one time before this, but I liked him instantly.  He is an older version of my dad with the same silly sense of humor.  He calls Walmart 'Wally-World', and when we went there he let me pick out whatever I wanted to eat- what a treat!

My grandpa had gotten his pilot's license later on in his life, and he offered to take me up- not once, but twice!  I was the luckiest girl in the world.  The first time in the plane I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.  He showed me how to do a preflight inspection, how to use the checklists, and then he even let me taxi for a bit. I was all over the place on the taxiway, but it was awesome.  I knew I would get better at it.

The feeling I got when we first took flight in that little Cessna was one I will never forget.  To see the ground get further and further away was incredible.  We were flying through invisible air- life doesn't get more amazing than that.  I thought my grandpa was trying to kill us when he showed me a stall, but his recovery was flawless, so I lived to tell.  And the steep turns- I loved the steep turns; I felt like we were defying gravity.

I don't remember exactly what we did on each flight, but I remember that I had found my purpose in life- I was going to be a pilot!  My time with my grandpa went by way too quickly; after a short few days I was on my way back home.  But I had a purpose now, I had a passion, and I was going to do everything it took to get my pilot's license.

That was 12 years ago, and I am happy to say that since then I have earned my Private, Instrument Commercial with Single and Multi-Engine privileges, my CFI, CFII, MEI, Gold Seal, Ground Instructor- Advanced and Instrument, and most recently, my ATP.  Being a pilot has been such a great career so far and I am excited to see what the future holds for me.

If you are thinking about becoming a pilot, research it out, find answers to your questions, and make sure it is what you want to do.  If the answer is YES, then start doing something about it.  Nobody can do it for you- you have to do it for yourself.  But I am telling you that it will be worth it!  Please let me know if you have any questions by emailing me at trendyprivatepilots@gmail.com.  You can also find me on Facebook, facebook.com/trendypilots, or instragram @trendyprivatepilots and @trendypilots.  Or you can just go to trendypilots.com and find links to all of that in one place.  Happy flying!

What is Required for a Private Pilot's License?

I remember once when I was a new pilot, I asked a pilot exactly what I needed to do to get my license, and he said "it's all in the Regs... haven't you read it?"  The Regs... you  mean the most confusing aviation book of all time?  The one that says one thing but maybe means something completely different?  That huge book that I can't find anything in?   That book of Regs?  No- I couldn't find that section...

Now I'm sure you are all brilliant and have never felt this way, but just incase there is one person out there that feels the way I used to, I've decided to "dumb" it down a bit and tell you what you need to get a private pilot's license.  This post will be especially good for those of you who are just getting started or would like to start soon, and want to know what it requires.  If you want the detailed information, you'll have to refer to the regulations (which you will learn how to navigate through soon enough).

I found out pretty quickly that in order to find anything in that huge book of regulations, a.k.a. the Aviation Bible, I was going to have to put some tabs in mine.  I used big tabs for the main sections (1, 61, 91, and NTSB 830), and smaller tabs for the items I needed to be able to find in each of those sections.  There is a study guide at the front of the book that directs you to the regs you should know if you want to get your license- I used that as a reference when tabbing mine for the first time.

In this post, I am only going to talk about the hours required if you decide to do your training Part 61 (part 141 is more strict- I will write about that training n a later post).  If you can find FAR 61.102, which is section E of part 61 (page 91 if you have the same book as me), you will find all of the requirements for a private pilot.

Let's start out with the first section- 61.103 (I am going to abbreviate it a bit.. you can read it word for word if you'd like by opening the regs).  You must:

1. Be at least 17 years old
2. Speak English
3. Have a logbook endorsement from an instructor stating that you are prepared for the knowledge test (also known as the written test)
4. Pass the knowledge test
5. Receive another endorsement from your instructor stating that you are prepared for the checkride
6. Know all the required ground and flight information (we'll cover that below)
7. Pass the Checkride

Doesn't seem too bad right?  But then the regs break it down even further.  Following is all the information you must know to pass the ground portion of the checkride.

61.105 Lists the aeronautical knowledge, or the ground information, you need to know.  All of this must be logged in your logbook by the instructor that taught you the information.  The amount of hours you'll spend with your instructor on the ground information really depends on how much you study.  If you study on your own before meeting with your instructor, you may only have to pay your flight instructor 15-20 hours, but if your instructor has to teach you a lot of the information, it will probably take closer to 40 hours of ground training.

1. FARs that relate to a private pilot
2. NTSB 830
3. AIM and ACs (Advisory Circulars)
4. Use of Aeronautical Charts (such as sectional charts; non-pilots would call it a map)
5. Radio communication procedures
6. Windshear avoidance and use of weather charts
7. Collision avoidance  and wake turbulence avoidance
8. Effects of density altitude
9. Weight and balance
10. Aerodynamics, powerplants, and aircraft systems (this is a BIG section)
11. Stall awareness, spin awareness, and how to recover from a spin
12. Aeronautical decision making and judgement
13. Preflight action to include knowing where to find runways lengths at airports, performance data for takeoff and landing distances, weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, and what to do if you cannot complete the flight as planned

61.107 Lists the flight maneuvers you need to be able to perform to pass the flight portion of your checkride.  All of these items must also be logged in your logbook by the instructor that flew with you each time.  (I'm only going to list the areas for airplane single engine land)

1. Preflight preparation
2. Preflight procedures
3. Airport operations
4. Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
5. Performance maneuvers (steep turns)
6. Ground reference maneuvers (rectangular course, s-turns, turns around a point)
7. Navigation
8. Slow flight and stalls
9. Basic instrument maneuvers
10. Emergency operations
11. Night operations
12. Postflight procedures

61.109 Breaks down the amount of hours you must have before taking your checkride- this is probably the section you were hoping I would include.  You will need a minimum of 40 hours of flight training (most of my students needed closer to 60 hours), with

20 of those hours from a flight instructor, which need to include:
*3 hours of cross country
*3 hours of night flying, including a 100NM cross country minimum, and 10 full-stop takeoffs and landings
*3 hours of instrument training
*3 hours within 2 calendar months prior to the checkride (the FAA doesn't want you to take a checkride without being properly prepared)

10 hours of solo, which need to include:
*5 hours of solo cross country with one cross country a "long" cross country (refer to the regs for that breakdown)
*3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop

And that's it.  That' everything that is required to get your license.  It may seem like a lot, but flying is such an enjoyable thing to do that the time will fly by (haha... no pun intended).  And I'll break all of the ground areas into small, easy, doable ground lessons so it won't seem so overwhelming.  You will be on your way to earning your license in no time at all!

If you have any questions about becoming a pilot (other than money questions, because I am not a loan expert by any means), please email me at trendyprivatepilots@gmail.com.  I look forward to hearing from you.

How To Spend Less

Before you get started, you must know that aviation is expensive.  I realized this very early on when I went to purchase my books for school. My private pilot ground kit cost more than all my other books (for non aviation classes) combined.  Then I went to buy a headset...expensive.  And then some books to help me study for my checkride...small books, but also expensive.  The list goes on and on, right?!  We all know that if something is for pilots, it is going to be expensive!  I've always been a bit thrifty, so instead of going more in debt for these things, I devised a plan to help me save a little money here and there so I could finish school and flight training with the smallest amount of debt possible.

Here are my top 10 ideas on how to spend less and still get the most out of your training:

I have based my numbers on $120/hour for the airplane, and $30 for the instructor.  Obviously your rates may be more or less- this just gives you a ballpark range.

1. Memorize or become very familiar with the checklists so you can run through them quicker.  I thought this was silly and unnecessary until I began paying attention to how long it took me to get through all my checklists.  I changed my .5 (hobbs time) taxi from the parking area to runway down to .2 hobbs time.   If you are paying $150 for the airplane + instructor fees, that is a $45 savings each flight!

2. Always study and then review your notes before meeting with your flight instructor.  If you have a good flight instructor, they should always let you know what you will be working on next time.  Don't just say you'll study and then find a million other things to do instead.  Set aside some time to study ALL the material so you can show up prepared.  I recommend studying shortly after meeting with your flight instructor while you still have the motivation and the "high" from flying.  Then an hour or so before you meet with your flight instructor, review your notes and make sure you still remember what you studied.  I could always tell when my students studied before they came.  Instead of spending 30 minutes on our pre brief (talking about how to perform the maneuvers, airspeeds, clearing turns, etc.) we would spend only 10-15 minutes.  If you are paying your instructor only $30/hour, studying on your own will save about $8.  May not seem like a lot, but how many times do you meet with your instructor?  That $8 will add up!

 3. "Chair fly."  I mocked people who did this, until I finally let my walls down and gave it a try.  It really does work!  Sit in a chair and mentally fly all the maneuvers you will practice/fly that day.  Think of everything you will have to do when you are in the airplane.  Airspeed, amount of bank, back/forward pressure, rudder pressure, aileron pressure, when to start coming out of a turn, when to call ATC and what to say... everything you need to do!  And if you are alone, I recommend saying everything out loud.  Saying things out loud will help you think more and remember more.   Chair flying will save your countless hours in flight because instead of needing to practice the maneuver 3-4 times before getting it right, you will most likely get it right on the 1st or 2nd try.

4. Clearing turns- 2-90 degree turns or 1-180 degree turn is completely safe.  You do not need to do a bazillion 360 degree turns.  I did stage checks for years- the students who did 3 or more clearing turns before each maneuver usually had at least .5 more time spent in the plane than those who didn't- that means they spent at least $60 more than they needed to.  Of course you need to do clearing turns (please never forget to clear the area), but just clear the area and then begin the maneuver.

5. While practicing maneuvers with your flight instructor or when solo, talk out loud.  Again, this will seem silly in the beginning, but like I said before, talking out loud has a way of helping us think more and do more.  You won't have to practice the maneuver as many times to get it right if you talk yourself through the maneuvers- just like you would if you were "chair-flying."  Plus, when you decide to get your CFI, talking out loud will be no big deal for you.

6. Use FAAs free online books at www.faa.gov.  Nobody ever told me about these, I just stumbled upon them one day.  Click here to open a new window to the FAAs Handbook and Manual page.   Especially with the use of tablets, books are becoming more obsolete.  Why pay money for these books when you can download and use them for free?  I used the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautic Knowledge the most; but they have a vast amount of other useful books including copies of all the PTSs.  Instead of buying the book from your local FBO, just print it off of their website or download it for free.

7. If you do need a book that the FAA doesn't give for free, buy used books.  Would you rather have a shiny new book or be less in debt?  Hopefully you picked less in debt.  I used amazon.com the most, but I am sure there are a bunch of other websites out there that sell used books.  Just make sure you are buying the most recent edition.

8. If you are doing instrument training, invest in Microsoft Simulator.  You can't log it, but it will help you get your scan down, be able to fly while switching radio and navigation frequencies, and help you to think about what you need to do next.  It will help make you a better instrument pilot.  You will realize when you begin your instrument training that there is a lot going on!  Practice makes perfect, right?  So practice on the Microsoft Simulator before practicing it in the airplane.  This will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

 9. Get a hard case for your foggles.  I broke way too many pairs of foggles by just putting them in my flight bag.  Also, write your name in permeant marker so nobody will be tempted to keep them in case you accidentally leave them in the airplane after your flight lesson.

10. Fly at least 3-4 days per week; 2 days is not enough.  If you don't fly enough, each time you get in the plane you will have to spend time reviewing the items you learned on the previous lesson.  If you have gone too many days in-between, that review time may be 30-45 minutes; if you flew the day before yesterday, you many only have to spend 5 minutes.  I had enough students during my flight instructor days to see a huge difference in students who came to their lesson 3 days a week instead of just 2.  They spent way less money and were able to get their license in as little as 2 months, compared to some students that took almost a year!

Things you do not want to do to save money are underpay your flight instructor or make them feel guilty if they say you need another lesson before your checkride.  They are there to help you and have your best interests in mind (if they don't, go find a new flight instructor).  It will save you money to fly once more with your instructor and pass your checkride the first attempt than to take the checkride, fail, have to fly with your flight instructor again anyways, and then have to take the checkride again.  See my point?

Be smart, and save where you can!

If you have questions about becoming a private pilot, you can email me at trendyprivatepilots@gmail.com or comment in the section below.

Is your Instructor Helpful?

I have incredibly fond memories of my flight training days.  I had some pretty amazing and intelligent flight instructors who taught me well but also allowed me to enjoy my training.  They were tough on me at times, but it was for my own good. 

I was 18 when I started my training, so consequently I felt like I knew everything.  My first instructor was the meanest, toughest person I had met, I was sure of it.  He drove me crazy at times, but even though I was a know-it-all, I still remember trying to see him as a nice person.  When he taught me how to land he would always say the same thing on the base leg "Look at the runway and ask yourself, where am I going to land?  If I keep this power setting and configuration, where will I land on that runway?"  He would say it every single time and sometimes multiple times on the same base leg.  It drove me crazy! 

I took this pic in Alaska- there were so many float planes in the traffic pattern.

After a bit of time, I was ready for my first solo.  I wasn't nervous beforehand because I was young and invincible.  I knew I could do this because I was the bomb... I obviously still had my teenager mentality.  I hopped in that little 2-seater Katana and was on my way.  However, once I got in the air I realized that I didn't have anybody to help me anymore.  If I screwed something up, I was going to have to fix it.  If I bounced or flew a terrible approach, my instructor wasn't there to coach me through it.  By the time I made it to the downwind leg I was nervous!  Could I really do this?  What if I hit the prop or something equally terrible, would that be the end of my aviation career?

And then on downwind my instructor's words, the exact words that drove me absolutely crazy, began filling my mind.  "What should you be doing?  What checklist should you be running?  What airspeed and power setting should you have?"  It was amazing!  He wasn't trying to be mean or especially hard on me, he was trying to set me up for success.  He wasn't saying the same things all the time to annoy me.  He wasn't trying to be rude or treat my unfairly just because he could.  He was teaching me that way so that when I flew without him, I could live to tell.  He was hard on me to make me a better pilot. 

On base I found myself asking "If I keep this configuration, where am I going to land?"  It was the coolest feeling ever- to know that he had taught me well enough that he didn't have to be there with me.  I successfully flew 3 full traffic patterns with 3 beautiful landings that day.  I was on top of the world, it was the greatest feeling I had ever felt. 

My instructor and I got along quite well after that.  Sometimes he was a bit hard on me, but I knew it was for my benefit.  I knew he wanted me to succeed, and for him I will always be grateful.  I haven't seen that flight instructor in years, but maybe someday I will finally be able tell him thank you.  To this day I still hear his words in my head when I am on base or on a really long final- "If I keep this configuration, where am I going to land?"  If your instructor is being hard on you, instead of being angry about it, realize the he is probably doing it for your own good.  Of course there are some instructors who really are terrible, in which case you should find a new one, but in my experience, those ones are few and far between.