• Am I eligible to become a pilot?

  • Eligibility requirements are as follows: 17 years old, proficient in English language, U.S. citizen or approved visa​, able to pass an aviation medical exam (see more details about medical exams on the FAA website).

• How long does it take?

  • For some it takes years, for others it takes a couple months. It is all dependent on the amount of time and effort that you can put in. If committing full time, a candidate can obtain their PPL within 2-3 months. Some choose to stop there if pursuing aviation as a hobby. Those looking to become professionals continue on to obtain their Instrument (2-3 months), Commercial (2 months), and Multi-Engine (2 weeks) on a full-time and dedicated schedule.

• How much does it cost?

  • Private: $12-15k​

  • Instrument: $10-15k

  • Commercial: $10-12k

  • Multi-Engine: $5-8k

• Do I have to study after flights?

  • Yes! Many candidates expect that just showing up for their flights will fulfill their requirements. This is not the case, as a majority of our necessary knowledge is learned on the ground. I estimate needing to spend roughly 3 hours of ground study for every 1 hour of flight. Focused studying is the only way to become a safe pilot and pass your exams.​

• Can I work for the airlines?

  • After earning Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Multi certificates, you have all the certificates required to apply for a position with the airlines. However, you will likely have only ~300 hours of flight time at this point, and the airlines require 1500 hours of flight time. The most common ​ways to then grow your experience from 300 to 1500 hours is as an instructor, pipeline patrol, aerial survey, skydiving, or other creative low-time pilot opportunities.

• Where do we fly?

  • Long Beach Airport (KLGB) and Santa Ana Airport​ (KSNA) are the two most common/convenient airports for training near my location. We also have the ability to train at other nearby airports: Bracket, Corona, El Monte, Camarillo, Santa Monica, French Valley, Oceanside, Palomar, and more. The majority of our flights will be done in the 'practice areas' near our home airport, with many of our flights also taking us to other airports typically within a 100mi radius.

• When do we fly?

  • We fly when you want to fly. My schedule is flexible and we base our training around your needs. Whether you're working a full-time or part-time job, have family to take care of, or are ready to commit all your time to aviation, we can train when you want to train.

• Can I bring a friend?

  • Yes. It is a fun experience for a friend or family member to sit in the plane for a lesson. If you have a friend or family member that is also interested in learning to fly, we can work in group lessons to reduce costs.​

• Can I own my own plane?

  • Yes. You can purchase a plane and complete all of your training in your own personal plane rather than renting from a school or club. I can commute to the airport at which you keep your plane.​

• How do I rent a plane?

  • Every airport has schools or clubs that allow members to rent their planes. I am a member at two different schools at Long Beach, which allows us access to Cessna 152s, 172s, 172SPs, and 172RGs, as well as Piper Warriors, Archers, Arrows, and Seminoles at the prices listed on my 'Costs' page.

• What is Part 61 versus Part 141?

  • Part 61 refers to a type of training that makes a Student Pilot eligible for their Private Pilot License by meeting specific experience requirements during their training with their instructor. Part 141 refers to a type of training that is very rigid, formulated, and structured within a participating and accredited school. Our training would fall under Part 61, which allows a bit more flexibility in how we meet the same shared standards you must pass in order to become a Private Pilot.

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