flyoft.com

How old do I have to be before I can start taking flying lessons?

You don’t have to be a particular age before you can begin taking flying lessons. That said, however, you do have to be at least 16 years old before you can solo an airplane, and 17 before you can be issued a private pilot certificate. To obtain a commercial pilots license, you must be 18 years of age. Therefore, it may not be particularly efficient from the standpoint of cost and flight hours to begin lessons too early.

How old is too old to begin flying lessons?

Say “student pilot,” and most people think of a youngster chasing a dream. In reality, today’s “student pilots” are likely a middle-aged adult who’s not only chasing, but actually fulfilling a lifelong ambition to become a pilot. The average age of students at Airline Career Academy rage from 18 to 45 years old.

How much does it cost to learn to fly and get a pilot certificate?

There are a lot of variables that affect the cost of learning to fly, including the frequency of flight lessons, weather conditions, the kind of aircraft in which you are training and its availability for scheduling, and your individual aptitude. A rough estimate is to budget an additional 15%, depending on the certificate being sought.

How long does it take to learn to fly and get a pilot certificate?

The same variables that affect the cost of learning to fly will affect the time it takes to earn your certificate. The FAA and JAA have established the minimum number of flight hours needed to obtain a certificate. Not everyone achieves their flying within these minimum hours. On average, many students obtain a Private Pilots license between 50 and 70 hours, but not guaranteed.

How and where can I get an FAA student pilot medical certificate?

An aviation medical examiner (AME) will issue you a Student Pilot Certificate to fill out as part of the FAA medical exam. You can find a list of AME’s through the FAA website,  www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/. A  student pilot medical certificate is valid for 24 calendar months and a third class medical could be valid for up to 36 months, depending on your age at the time of your AME visit. This exam can be completed when you first arrive to Airline Career Academy.

How and where can I get a JAA medical certificate?

Students enrolling on a JAA pilot course must obtain a JAA medical prior to arriving at Airline Career Academy. You can locate an AME through the CAA website,  www.caa.co.uk/. In some cases, the AME can also issue the  FAA student pilot medical certificate, which will be required to fly solo in US airspace.

What types of aircraft will I be flying at Airline Career Academy?

Our fixed wing aircraft fleet includes: Cessna 162, Cessna 172SP, Brand New Cessna 172 G1000, Piper Cadet, Piper Warrior, Piper Arrow, Piper Seminole (Multi), Beechcraft Duchess (Multi). Our rotorcraft fleet includes the R-22 and R-44.

When can I start my flying lessons with Airline Career Academy?

We begin classes several times per month. A list of our available training dates can be found on our website, www.flyoft.com/enrollment_form.php. Your first day is set aside to complete additional paperwork and finalize your arrival and registration, move into student housing and complete TSA fingerprints (for non-US citizens). You can expect to begin your flight training and meet your flight instructor on your second day.

What is a typical training day like at Airline Career Academy?

You will be scheduled to fly five days per week, with one to two flights per day. All flights are blocked in a two hour slot. This allows time for pre and post flight briefings with your flight instructor and time in the air. You can expect to fly an average of 1.5 to 3.5 hours per day. Ground school runs two hours each day Monday through Friday. You will have two days off per week (same as your flight instructor days off) for rest and additional self study.

What types of accommodations do you offer?

We offer hotel accommodations for short term stays and student apartments for longer stays. The hotel accommodations are located within walking distance to our training facilities. If requested, you will receive a standard room with two double beds and a private bath. The hotel offers FREE wireless internet access and FREE continental breakfast each morning. Our student apartments consist of three and four bedroom fully-furnished apartments. You will share this with other enrolled students. Quotes for housing are available upon request.

I already have a pilot’s license and just want to rent an aircraft from you. What are the requirements for this?

Prior to hiring an aircraft, you are required to receive an aircraft rental checkout. If you are an FAA licensed pilot and are current, the normal checkout time is about two hours. If you are the holder of a foreign license, you will be required to obtain an FAA license through the FAA Foreign License Verification process. This process can take 60-90 days to complete. For instructions visit, www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/foreign_license_verification/ Actual durations for the rental checkout may take longer, depending on your situation.

Do I have to pay all my money before I arrive?

The only payment due before you arrive is the deposit, which accompanies your application. The deposit is used to secure your training dates and to process your application. The deposit is not applied as a payment to your course, however it is returned to you upon successful completion of your training program. Payment plans have been created for each of our courses and available upon request.

If I am a Non-U.S. Citizen, do I need a student visa to fly in the U.S.?

All non-U.S. Citizens are required to have an M-1 student training visa to enter the U.S. and fly. OFT processes all of the necessary paperwork for you to take to the U.S. Embassy to get obtain this visa. The entire visa process can take 30 days or more to complete, ultimately depending on wait times at the U.S. Embassy.

I heard that some Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements must be fulfilled before I can receive flight training. How will these requirements affect me?

You’re referring to the TSA’s alien flight training and citizenship validation rule. The effects of this depend on whether you are a U.S. Citizen or an alien. All alien students must register with TSA prior to arrival, www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/

Are your aircraft insured?

Yes, all of our aircraft are insured for authorized flights. We also offer an optional collision damage waiver (CDW) policy, which waives the insurance deductible should any damages occur while you act as Pilot-In- Command. This CDW policy is $50 per month and available for purchase only your first day of arrival. We strongly recommend obtaining travel insurance which covers you for flying before traveling to the U.S.

If I do not have any transportation, will I need to hire a car?

This is a personal choice and can be easily arranged. The training facilities are located 1 ½ miles from the hotel and student accommodations. Walking will take between 30-45 minutes. The majority of our students who do not have a car, purchase a bicycle when they arrive and pedal back and forth, cutting the travel time in half. If you are interested in hiring a car during you time with us, Enterprise Rental Car offers some discounts for our students.

Is there a dress code at the flight school?

If you enroll on a Private Pilot Course, we do not ask you to wear a uniform. We do ask that you dress business casual and do not wear open-toed shoes. Students who enroll on our Commercial Pilot and Professional Pilot programs are required to wear a pilot uniform each day. The uniform should consist of a white pilot shirt, black tie, black trousers and black shoes. We sell pilot shirts, ties and epaulets in our pilot shop.