Frequently Asked Questions
Premier Flight Center, LLC
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2. What are the Requirements?
There are three basic requirements for learning to fly powered
airplanes in the United States. First, you have to be at least 16 years
old. Second, you have to be in good health. Third, you have to be
able to read, speak, and understand English.
You can apply for a student pilot certificate if you are at least 16 years
old. When you are 17, you can apply for a private pilot certificate.
There is no maximum age limit because it’s health and not age that
determines a person’s ability to fly.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that everyone,
who wants to become a pilot or continue to be a pilot, pass a routine
medical examination every two or three years, depending on your
age. This requirement ensures that pilots do not have medical
problems that could interfere with their ability to fly safely. Allowances
are made for many physical limitations, for example: glasses and
contact lenses are perfectly acceptable. The physical exam can be
obtained anytime from one of our FAA-designated physicians. If you
are planning to learn to fly, it is advisable to complete the physical
exam early in your flight training to ensure that you qualify. However,
it is not required until it is time for you to solo.
3. How difficult is it?
As with any other skills you master, flying is learned step by step. It is
a fascinating experience, and it is not particularly difficult. It can be
learned by practically anyone who is willing to invest some time and
effort.
Pilot training has two aspects: ground training and flight training.
Ground training is a one on one ground lesson with your instructor. It
covers flight rules and regulations, flight planning, navigation, radio
procedures, and weather. In the next phase, flight training, you learn
to fly by actually controlling the airplane yourself. Under the
supervision of a certified flight instructor, you learn how to take off,
land, and fly cross-country (from your home airport to another airport
and then back again).
Millions of people have learned to fly. By the time you are ready for
your private pilot certificate, you will be secure in the knowledge that
you are a safe and competent pilot.
4. How long will it take?
Most people receive their private pilot certificate after sixty to seventy
five hours of time. This includes time spent with an instructor (dual
time) and time spent flying alone (solo time). Training will include
some night flying, some instrument flying (flying solely by reference to
the airplane’s instruments), and some cross-country flying. The
minimum time required by federal regulation is 35 or 40 hours of flight
time, depending on the type of school you attend.
You can fly in the early morning, during the day, or on weekends.
Scheduling your flying is up to you and your instructor.
How long it takes to accumulate flight time is largely up to you and
your instructor. Usually two or three hours of flying time per week is a
good learning rate, with more hours during the week when cross-
country flights are made. Statistics indicate that the average student
pilot completes the requirements for a private pilot certificate in four to
six months. Depending on your schedule and number of hours spent
flying, some people will complete it sooner and others will take longer.
5. Do I need special skills to fly?
No. Perhaps the most important element in successfully learning to fly
is desire. Once you are ready to invest your time and effort in
learning to fly, then it is time to take the first steps.
6. What will my first flight be like?
Your instructor will introduce you to the general aviation airplane you
will learn to fly. You will be briefed on the instruments, controls, and
equipment in the aircraft and on what to watch for when you are flying.
After this pre-flight briefing, the two of you will take off. When aloft,
and under the close supervision of your instructor, you will take
control of the airplane. It will be unlike anything you have experienced
before. Soon you will feel the exhilaration-impatient for the next flight.
7. What kind of tests will I take?
No test is required for a student pilot certificate. However, before a
private license is issued, you must pass three tests. One is a written
FAA examination largely a practical exam on flying rules and
regulations. You will also have to work out the details of a
hypothetical flight for this exam. But do not worry; you will have done
it all before in planning the cross-country flights you made as part of
your training program.
Following this exam is a practical and oral examination of your flying
ability to maneuver the airplane safely and confidently. You will have
practiced the maneuvers many times before, and your flight instructor
will have prepared you thoroughly.
8. How much does it cost?
Flight training costs vary. Fuel prices, maintenance, and insurance
costs are but a few of the variables. Based on the 40 hour minimum
you can expect to pay between $6,000 and $7,000 for the private pilot
flight training program.
Compared to the costs of training in other business skills, becoming a
licensed private pilot is a good value. Prorated over a lifetime, it is
probably one of the best bargains you will ever find. The cost of
becoming a pilot is a solid investment in your future.
9. Is flying safe?
General aviation airplanes are built to rigid federal specifications, and
they are constantly checked and rechecked to make sure they are
mechanically and structurally safe. People who fly are safety
conscious. As the pilot-in-command of an airplane, you are also in
command of most variables that affect flying safety. Safety is the
most important word in the general aviation vocabulary.
Your flight instructor will emphasize training you to operate the
airplane safely. Flying as pilot-in-command of the airplane puts you in
charge. A well-built and well-maintained airplane in the hands of a
competent, prudent, and well-trained pilot makes flying safer than
many other forms of transportation.
10. What happens after I get my pilot’s license?
You will never be quite the same person you were before. You will
have access to a whole new world of personal freedom. You will think
of travel in terms of hours, not miles. You will know what it means to
make your own schedule and to go your own way...far from the crowd,
the congestion, the hassle, and the annoyance of ordinary
transportation.
You will find a new sense of personal fulfillment in your ever-growing
flying skills. You will push the old boundaries of your life forward and
you will have the opportunity to plan, seek, and find new experiences
that will enrich your life in countless ways. You will gain greater self-
reliance and confidence.
Through your own initiative and effort, you will be a master of our 21st
century’s most distinctive and rewarding art of flying.
11. Why learn to fly at Brainard Airport?
Brainard Airport has a control tower, which makes it much safer to fly
here. The confidence you gain during your training, in using the radio
makes it easier and far less traumatic when training, when you visit
larger and busier airports, especially for the first time. Brainard Airport
is not so busy that you have to wait behind other aircraft to take off or
land, which means you do not waste time and money in your training.
This airport has three runways one of which is grass, which gives 6
take-off and landing options. The grass runway allows you to practice
the special techniques needed for grass operations, without having to
fly elsewhere. When you are flying at Brainard Airport, it is easy to
find, as it is located between the Connecticut River and the City of
Hartford. You will train in all types all types of weather, which will give
you valuable experience for your future flying. Finally, Brainard
Airport, has easy access from all major highways and is only minutes
from down-town Hartford. With all these great reasons, Brainard
Airport is the place to get your training off to a flying start!
12. Why learn to fly with Premier Flight Center?
Premier Flight Center is FAA 141 approved and accredited in the
State of Connecticut. We also have VA benefits approval. Our large
fleet of training aircraft, 6 in all, is maintained to similar high FAA
standards as the major airlines. This maintenance is completed at
our own facility here at Brainard Airport and to help keep the aircraft
in tip top condition they can be hangared during bad weather. Our
school consists of custom built individual instructor stations, a large
classroom for the structured ground school, and a lounge. The
instructors here at Premier Flight Center are all highly qualified and
fully FAA certified. The FAA knowledge exams, which are required for
your license, can be taken right here at Brainard Airport. Our pilot
shop is well stocked and can supply all of your aviation needs, and
there is ample free parking directly outside the building. Finally, and
most important of all is you, our student, who we feel should have the
best. The atmosphere is friendly and the staff is knowledgeable and
efficient. This all comes together to make your experience a great
one, one you want to boast about to your friends.
13. What learning to fly can do for me?
Learning to fly a general aviation airplane opens the door to a variety
of career opportunities. Most obvious is becoming a professional pilot
for one of the many commercial flying services-major airline, regional
airline, air charter, corporate, overnight mail, small package, and
cargo. Pilots are needed for the many special missions of general
aviation-emergency medical evacuation, agricultural work, law
enforcement, news gathering, aerial surveying, photography, and a
multitude of industrial purposes. Flying may also complement your
career path in business, sales, or a profession that you have not even
chosen yet.
There are many careers in the aviation industry which the skill and
knowledge you gain as pilot are a special asset, even though daily
flying is not a part of your job. These careers include air traffic
control, computer science, electronics, and aviation safety, air carrier
airport, general aviation operational management; flight navigation,
communications, maintenance; engineering law, medicine, finance,
and insurance. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination
because general aviation touches many facets of our lives. As a pilot,
you speak the language of aviation.
General aviation is a unique industry, combining the romance and
enthusiasm of our heritage with the high-tech equipment and modern
proficiency skills of today. It is a superb tool of business and a
personal time machine. It is a partner in our nation’s productivity.
Learning to fly can lead to your discovery of rewarding career
opportunities
There are three basic requirements for learning to fly powered
airplanes in the United States. First, you have to be at least 16 years
old. Second, you have to be in good health. Third, you have to be
able to read, speak, and understand English.
You can apply for a student pilot certificate if you are at least 16 years
old. When you are 17, you can apply for a private pilot certificate.
There is no maximum age limit because it’s health and not age that
determines a person’s ability to fly.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that everyone,
who wants to become a pilot or continue to be a pilot, pass a routine
medical examination every two or three years, depending on your
age. This requirement ensures that pilots do not have medical
problems that could interfere with their ability to fly safely. Allowances
are made for many physical limitations, for example: glasses and
contact lenses are perfectly acceptable. The physical exam can be
obtained anytime from one of our FAA-designated physicians. If you
are planning to learn to fly, it is advisable to complete the physical
exam early in your flight training to ensure that you qualify. However,
it is not required until it is time for you to solo.
3. How difficult is it?
As with any other skills you master, flying is learned step by step. It is
a fascinating experience, and it is not particularly difficult. It can be
learned by practically anyone who is willing to invest some time and
effort.
Pilot training has two aspects: ground training and flight training.
Ground training is a one on one ground lesson with your instructor. It
covers flight rules and regulations, flight planning, navigation, radio
procedures, and weather. In the next phase, flight training, you learn
to fly by actually controlling the airplane yourself. Under the
supervision of a certified flight instructor, you learn how to take off,
land, and fly cross-country (from your home airport to another airport
and then back again).
Millions of people have learned to fly. By the time you are ready for
your private pilot certificate, you will be secure in the knowledge that
you are a safe and competent pilot.
4. How long will it take?
Most people receive their private pilot certificate after sixty to seventy
five hours of time. This includes time spent with an instructor (dual
time) and time spent flying alone (solo time). Training will include
some night flying, some instrument flying (flying solely by reference to
the airplane’s instruments), and some cross-country flying. The
minimum time required by federal regulation is 35 or 40 hours of flight
time, depending on the type of school you attend.
You can fly in the early morning, during the day, or on weekends.
Scheduling your flying is up to you and your instructor.
How long it takes to accumulate flight time is largely up to you and
your instructor. Usually two or three hours of flying time per week is a
good learning rate, with more hours during the week when cross-
country flights are made. Statistics indicate that the average student
pilot completes the requirements for a private pilot certificate in four to
six months. Depending on your schedule and number of hours spent
flying, some people will complete it sooner and others will take longer.
5. Do I need special skills to fly?
No. Perhaps the most important element in successfully learning to fly
is desire. Once you are ready to invest your time and effort in
learning to fly, then it is time to take the first steps.
6. What will my first flight be like?
Your instructor will introduce you to the general aviation airplane you
will learn to fly. You will be briefed on the instruments, controls, and
equipment in the aircraft and on what to watch for when you are flying.
After this pre-flight briefing, the two of you will take off. When aloft,
and under the close supervision of your instructor, you will take
control of the airplane. It will be unlike anything you have experienced
before. Soon you will feel the exhilaration-impatient for the next flight.
7. What kind of tests will I take?
No test is required for a student pilot certificate. However, before a
private license is issued, you must pass three tests. One is a written
FAA examination largely a practical exam on flying rules and
regulations. You will also have to work out the details of a
hypothetical flight for this exam. But do not worry; you will have done
it all before in planning the cross-country flights you made as part of
your training program.
Following this exam is a practical and oral examination of your flying
ability to maneuver the airplane safely and confidently. You will have
practiced the maneuvers many times before, and your flight instructor
will have prepared you thoroughly.
8. How much does it cost?
Flight training costs vary. Fuel prices, maintenance, and insurance
costs are but a few of the variables. Based on the 40 hour minimum
you can expect to pay between $6,000 and $7,000 for the private pilot
flight training program.
Compared to the costs of training in other business skills, becoming a
licensed private pilot is a good value. Prorated over a lifetime, it is
probably one of the best bargains you will ever find. The cost of
becoming a pilot is a solid investment in your future.
9. Is flying safe?
General aviation airplanes are built to rigid federal specifications, and
they are constantly checked and rechecked to make sure they are
mechanically and structurally safe. People who fly are safety
conscious. As the pilot-in-command of an airplane, you are also in
command of most variables that affect flying safety. Safety is the
most important word in the general aviation vocabulary.
Your flight instructor will emphasize training you to operate the
airplane safely. Flying as pilot-in-command of the airplane puts you in
charge. A well-built and well-maintained airplane in the hands of a
competent, prudent, and well-trained pilot makes flying safer than
many other forms of transportation.
10. What happens after I get my pilot’s license?
You will never be quite the same person you were before. You will
have access to a whole new world of personal freedom. You will think
of travel in terms of hours, not miles. You will know what it means to
make your own schedule and to go your own way...far from the crowd,
the congestion, the hassle, and the annoyance of ordinary
transportation.
You will find a new sense of personal fulfillment in your ever-growing
flying skills. You will push the old boundaries of your life forward and
you will have the opportunity to plan, seek, and find new experiences
that will enrich your life in countless ways. You will gain greater self-
reliance and confidence.
Through your own initiative and effort, you will be a master of our 21st
century’s most distinctive and rewarding art of flying.
11. Why learn to fly at Brainard Airport?
Brainard Airport has a control tower, which makes it much safer to fly
here. The confidence you gain during your training, in using the radio
makes it easier and far less traumatic when training, when you visit
larger and busier airports, especially for the first time. Brainard Airport
is not so busy that you have to wait behind other aircraft to take off or
land, which means you do not waste time and money in your training.
This airport has three runways one of which is grass, which gives 6
take-off and landing options. The grass runway allows you to practice
the special techniques needed for grass operations, without having to
fly elsewhere. When you are flying at Brainard Airport, it is easy to
find, as it is located between the Connecticut River and the City of
Hartford. You will train in all types all types of weather, which will give
you valuable experience for your future flying. Finally, Brainard
Airport, has easy access from all major highways and is only minutes
from down-town Hartford. With all these great reasons, Brainard
Airport is the place to get your training off to a flying start!
12. Why learn to fly with Premier Flight Center?
Premier Flight Center is FAA 141 approved and accredited in the
State of Connecticut. We also have VA benefits approval. Our large
fleet of training aircraft, 6 in all, is maintained to similar high FAA
standards as the major airlines. This maintenance is completed at
our own facility here at Brainard Airport and to help keep the aircraft
in tip top condition they can be hangared during bad weather. Our
school consists of custom built individual instructor stations, a large
classroom for the structured ground school, and a lounge. The
instructors here at Premier Flight Center are all highly qualified and
fully FAA certified. The FAA knowledge exams, which are required for
your license, can be taken right here at Brainard Airport. Our pilot
shop is well stocked and can supply all of your aviation needs, and
there is ample free parking directly outside the building. Finally, and
most important of all is you, our student, who we feel should have the
best. The atmosphere is friendly and the staff is knowledgeable and
efficient. This all comes together to make your experience a great
one, one you want to boast about to your friends.
13. What learning to fly can do for me?
Learning to fly a general aviation airplane opens the door to a variety
of career opportunities. Most obvious is becoming a professional pilot
for one of the many commercial flying services-major airline, regional
airline, air charter, corporate, overnight mail, small package, and
cargo. Pilots are needed for the many special missions of general
aviation-emergency medical evacuation, agricultural work, law
enforcement, news gathering, aerial surveying, photography, and a
multitude of industrial purposes. Flying may also complement your
career path in business, sales, or a profession that you have not even
chosen yet.
There are many careers in the aviation industry which the skill and
knowledge you gain as pilot are a special asset, even though daily
flying is not a part of your job. These careers include air traffic
control, computer science, electronics, and aviation safety, air carrier
airport, general aviation operational management; flight navigation,
communications, maintenance; engineering law, medicine, finance,
and insurance. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination
because general aviation touches many facets of our lives. As a pilot,
you speak the language of aviation.
General aviation is a unique industry, combining the romance and
enthusiasm of our heritage with the high-tech equipment and modern
proficiency skills of today. It is a superb tool of business and a
personal time machine. It is a partner in our nation’s productivity.
Learning to fly can lead to your discovery of rewarding career
opportunities
| Premier Flight Center, LLC 58 Lindbergh Drive Hartford, CT 06114 860.724.2245 www.premierflightcenterllc.com info@premierflightct.com |
1. How do I know that
I can learn to fly?
Somewhere there is
someone just like you who
recently became a pilot.
Although the average
student pilot is 32 years
old, anyone 16 years old
or older can learn to fly an
airplane (14 if you fly
gliders). People from
every occupation and
every geographic location
in the nation are pilots.
I can learn to fly?
Somewhere there is
someone just like you who
recently became a pilot.
Although the average
student pilot is 32 years
old, anyone 16 years old
or older can learn to fly an
airplane (14 if you fly
gliders). People from
every occupation and
every geographic location
in the nation are pilots.
Click here for more on learning
about the joy of flight! (or click
the picture)
about the joy of flight! (or click
the picture)
