Learn to Fly!

Thank you for your interest in flight training.  Augusta Aviation, Inc. provides all the instruction and written material required to become a pilot. 

The Private Pilot's Rating - The FAA requires a minimum of 40 flight hours before a student can take the check ride with an FAA examiner.  To build up to this 40 hours, the student will establish a relationship with the flight instructor by going over basic things on the ground such as learning traffic, checking weather, filing flight plans and weight and balance.  The student will be incorporating flight time along with some of the things being discussed on the ground.  Usually within 10-15 hours of flight time, the student is ready to solo (fly the airplane without the instructor).  This time can vary based on the student's comfort level.  The student and instructor will KNOW when it's time to solo.

Other things required in the training program are 3 hours of night flying, 3 hours of cross-country and 3 hours of simulated IFR-Instrument Flight Reference (looking at the instruments in the cockpit and navigating from these instruments).  The above mentioned things will be done with the instructor.  Instructor and student flight time together is a minimum of 20 hours.

There is a written exam as well as the practical exam that students must pass in order to get a private pilot's certificate.  Augusta Aviation, Inc. has all the written material needed in order to successfully pass the written portion of the course.  The written exam is a test of 60 questions pulled from a test bank of about 800 questions.  The test bank is available to the student for study purposes.  The student must pass the written test before taking the practical exam.  The practical exam, otherwise known as the check ride, is nothing more than the student flying with an FAA examiner to prove the student’s competence as a pilot.  The FAA examiner and the Flight Instructor ARE NOT the same person. As mentioned earlier, the FAA requires a minimum of 40 flight hours before taking the check ride.  Some students feel they need more time in the plane before taking the check ride.  This is perfectly normal.

We do offer an Introductory Flight Lesson for $79.  This is a one-hour lesson where the flight instructor will spend about 30 minutes on the ground discussing the mechanics of the airplane and about 30 minutes in flight.  We highly recommend this before committing to any classes.  It is a great way to determine if flight training is really for you or the person interested in learning to fly.

As of October 2004 the Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) require that all students learning to fly must show proof of American citizenship.  Because of this ruling, we must see a government issued photo I.D. AND one of the following: A certified copy of Certificate of Birth or a current U.S. Passport.  As a student, please bring these credentials with you at the time of your first lesson.  We will photocopy this information and keep on file for five (5) years.

Our current rates for aircraft rental and flight instruction are as follows:

Aircraft Rental

The average cost for a student to receive the Private Pilot’s Certificate is about $6,000.  This may seem a bit high, but remember, you pay as you go.

Once you’ve decided that flying is for you, we recommend you go ahead and have a flight physical.  You must have a flight physical before you solo.  The following physicians are authorized in this area to give the exam:

Dr. Ronald Jowers at 706.863.7155

or

Dr. Jonathan Reimer at 706.860.2986

Learning to fly is safe, easy, and fun.  You may want to check out www.pilotjourney.com for further information.

Also, you might be interested in seeing our new Elite RC1 Simulator.

Again, thanks for your interest in flight training through Augusta Aviation, Inc.  Please, feel free to contact us if you have any questions at 706.733.8970 or send us an e-mail at LearnToFly@augustaaviation.com.