FAQ
How Much does it cost to attain my Pilot's Certificate?
The exact cost varies with each student. Everyone learns at a different pace and therefore, some students progress quicker than others. Even though the FAA requires a minimum of 40 flight hours to qualify for the Private Pilot Certificate, the national average is between 60 to 70 hours. There are many ways I can help you keep these as low as possible, and we can go over which method(s) work for you.
How do we track our progress through the training program?
I am a huge believer in a syllabus for each training program. I use the Gleim Private and Commercial Pilot Syllabuses and using the Completion Standards stated for each lesson, we can both be on the same page after each lesson.
Do you believe in the use of home flight SImulators to aid training?
YES! I am a huge fan of home flight simulators, e.g. X-Plane, Microsoft Flight Simulator, etc. They are relatively inexpensive to set up in any home and are a huge aid to training. On average, students who use a flight simulator regularly, spend much less time in the plane, and therefore much less money on attaining their certificates.
What is your opinion on ground training?
I am aware that there are many instructors who do not believe in spending time on ground training, but I am not one of them. Ground training is the foundation of all flight training and they go hand in hand. Since I use the Gleim training syllabus, I follow the lesson outlines for all training, ground and flight. You can reduce time spent in the classroom by doing a lot of the studying on your own, but I will still review it all with you. We can come up with a customized plan that works for you.
Are there a lot of pilot supplies to buy before I can start training?
There are a few supplies that you need to have to train effectively, but you do not need to purchase it all at the same time. I will give you a list of items that I recommend that you have and the timeline for when you need them. I can also point you in the right direction on where you can get the best deal on the items. For the first few flights, I can loan you some essentials to get you going.
How Much do you charge for your services?
For most training, I charge $65/hour and bill in tenths of an hour for both Flight and Ground Training. There are some instances where the rate will be different, but I always am clear on the rate before any training commences.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept Cash, Electronic Transfer (e.g. Venmo, Square Cash, PayPal, etc), Checks and Credit Cards. All forms of payment other than Credit Cards will get a service fee discount. All payment is due after each lesson.
What Aircraft Do you conduct training in?
A: I currently conduct Private Pilot training in Cessna 152s, 172s, Piper Warriors, and Archers and Commercial Pilot training in Cessna 172RG.
Do you have an aircraft I can rent for my training?
At this moment, I do not own a personal aircraft that is available for rent for training. Since I conduct most of my training out of Long Beach Flying Club, my students are required to join as a member of the club and then rent the club aircraft for their training. Joining the club is very inexpensive and the costs are as follows: Initiation (one-time): $25, Monthly Dues and Insurance Deductible: $20. The club also maintains a fleet of Cessna 152s, 172s, 172RG, Piper Warriors, Archer, Arrow, Cherokee 6 and Seminole which are very reasonably priced. The current rental price sheet can be found here.
How are the Club aircraft maintained?
Long Beach Flying Club prides itself in having on of the best maintained fleets in the area. The club employs 2 aircraft mechanics who are available 5, sometimes 6 days a week. Even though the aircraft may be old, they are maintained like they were new!
Are you willing to conduct training in my aircraft?
Yes, within reason. Also I must be written into your aircraft's insurance policy before I will conduct any training in it.
Can i record video and/or Audio of my flights?
Definitely! Rewatching your flights is one way of improving your skills by learning from your mistakes. Just like professional athletes do it. I can guide you into making the right choice in equipment that you may need.
What are the chances that you will be hired by an Airline, or another Aviation company in the next 6 months?
I do not just see Flight Instruction as a stepping stone to a bigger, and better career in aviation. I truly enjoy every aspect of aviation and love sharing it with others. Since learning to fly has been a challenge for me, I vowed to make it as simple as possible to everyone who come to me to learn. I love seeing the look on people's faces when they take control of the plane for the first time and truly look forward to the challenge of teaching them the intricacies that make them a better pilot.