Just trying to figure out what it takes to get a pilots license is quite the task in and of itself.
Like most people nowdays, I started my search online. The more I searched the web, the more questions I had.
Every site says something different — select an instructor first...complete ground school first...first you need to get your student pilot certificate...
I finally decided to meet with a couple pilot friends to help clear the clouds. I basically learned there are many different ways to go about learning to fly.
I'm going to find an instructor first, then let my instructor guide me through the process in the sequence he or she recommends.
Key lesson learned: 10 minutes with a knowledgeable friend proved more beneficial than hours of "research" online.
So, surf the web, see what's out there, but then I highly encourage you to find a local pilot you can visit with. If you don't know somebody, locate an EAA chapter near you.
These local EAA Chapters are flooded with seasoned pilots that would love to visit with you and help you get started. Type in your location here to find a chapter near you...http://www.eaa.org/chapters (or contact the chapter office at EAA headquarters: 1.800.236.4800 x4876 or email: chapters@eaa.org).
Here are a few helpful websites I found...
http://www.sportpilot.org/http://www.pilotjourney.com/sportpilot/http://www.sportpilottraining.info/ftm.htmhttp://www.coloradoflightcenter.com/faqs
...and here are some blogs I found that also helped me understand the process. I will probably peek in and frequent these often as I start lessons...
http://myflightblog.com/http://web.me.com/sarahnaut/Aviatress/Blog/Blog.htmlhttp://42andflying.blogspot.com/http://pilotbrad.com/http://private-pilot-stuff.blogspot.com/http://www.pilottimes.com/http://perryman.spaces.live.com/http://www.flypatchfly.com/http://flysomewhere.blogspot.com/
If you know of other helpful, informational or experiential sites about learning to fly, please share them in the comments below.
Posted by Jim M @ 09:11 PM, December 02 Try www.geocities.com/cfidarren A boatload of info on learning to fly.
Posted by Michael Hearn @ 06:40 AM, January 11 I watched the video and have a question - did you buy the training materials, manuals, flight bag, etc. as a package or order them individually? And can you recommend a training package or list of materials?
Posted by Brady Lane @ 03:29 PM, January 14 Michael: Thanks for your question. As far as training materials, I relied on what my instructor recommended and therefore, we in a sense, made our own package. My instructor explained that since the Sport Pilot ruling is still relatively new, there aren’t many good “packages” assembled yet so he recommended going this route. He hand selected resources he knew and trusted from ASA. There is a list of the books we ordered on this blog post...http://www.eaa.org/apps/blog/learntofly/46/Default.aspxHopefully the market will soon develop a good package of training resources for Sport Pilot, but until then, hopefully this list will help guide you. Ultimately, I’d recommend using whatever your instructor recommends since each instructor does things a little different. Again, thanks for your comment and hopefully this helps you.
My goal is to document the entire process of learning to fly—all the ups and downs and everything in between.
With cockpit cameras, I will record each flight lesson as well as my thoughts and feelings along the way. Every time I fly, there will be a new video and a new blog entry.I will show you the exciting moments and the frustrating moments, so you can have a complete picture of what it takes to get your sport pilot certificate. I will talk through choosing an instructor, curriculum, planes – basically anything and everything related to learning to fly.I invite you to participate in the process. Write comments on the blog. Ask questions. Give suggestions. Whether you are a student pilot, a flight instructor, or somebody who just likes watching planes, I'd love to hear your questions and comments.Many pilots have told me that learning to fly was one of the most challenging as well as most rewarding experiences in their life. I expect to experience the same.It’s my hope that this video blog will help you better understand what is involved in learning to fly and encourage you to earn your wings.
Posted by Joe @ 08:59 PM, October 28 Brady,Got confused about your name by looking at a previous post. Also wanted to say, landings are the best part of flying - the greatest challenge. After you "get it," landings are a lot of fun.
Posted by Brady Lane @ 09:49 PM, October 28 Joe, thanks for your comment. I'm looking forward to the day when I "get it." :)
Posted by Chris @ 06:16 AM, October 29 Brady, Great idea...I look forward to seeing you become a sport pilot! I did it a year ago in an Evektor Sportstar...You are in for a fantastic time! -Chris
Posted by Brady Lane @ 12:42 PM, October 29 Chris, I've only been in two LSAs — the Remos and an Allegro. How did you like the Evektor Sportstar? Are you still flying it?
Posted by Michael Barrett @ 03:52 PM, October 29 Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Smooth landings to you. MDB
Posted by Chris @ 07:03 PM, October 29 Brady, Yes, I just flew with my dad in the sportstar last Sunday...he was a flight engineer in a B-17, WWII. Rental $90, flying with my dad, "Priceless" -Chris
Posted by Geoff Robison @ 08:28 PM, November 01 Hey Brady,I have really enjoyed your blog.What a great concept! The coolest partis the inspiration you are pumping out to those who have yet to take the challenge. Although your not learning in a "Vintage" aircraft, I have already forgiven you for that! CAVU my friend! - Geoff
Posted by Charles H. Creed,DDS @ 09:53 PM, November 03 Hi BradyYour grandfather Art was a friend of many years. I hold a private pilot license but have been inactive for several years. I am enjoying your videos and look forward to the time you solo. That will be a great video!! Good luck and thanks for sharing all this with us.
Posted by Brady Lane @ 05:55 PM, November 04 Mr. Creed: thanks for your comment. It was Whopa's (Art's) stories of flying in WWII that birthed my desire to want to fly. I hope to be able to meet you one day. And yes, I'm looking forward to soloing as well when the time's right. Right now, it's still a nerve-racking thought. Geoff: Thanks for checking in on me. I hope you'll give me some pointers and words of wisdom as I continue in my training.
Posted by Chris Tubbs @ 12:56 AM, November 16 Brady,Fantastic idea! Just wish you would have started earlier. I just got private pilot certificate in May and could have used this kind of support during my training. I'm station at Yokota AB Japan and earned it here at our aero club in a C-172M. Keep up the good work! There's a lot of anxiety build up to solo time, then the instructor gets out, you look around the airplane and realize "I got this!"
Posted by Steve Gray @ 05:18 PM, November 19 Good job at Fond Du Lac. I almost blew a tire there on the other Remos. I meant to ask you the other day about what you are using to fly X-Plane sim? Is it a pc, apple or?I've heard Linux supports X-Plane. Y/N? BTW the Eagle address is W635A 20th St.
Posted by Steve Gray @ 10:47 AM, November 21 Brady, somewhere in my pea sized brain is a memory of a contributor to to the blog who said he was learning in Arizona. I cannot locate his post so am using this method to contact him to determine where he is learning because I leave for AZ after soon and want to hook-up with a LS CFI out there. Do you have a link to him?Thanks and keep on with the keepin' on.
Posted by Mickey Dee @ 12:23 PM, November 21 Brady, you're doing great, keep it up! One thing that really helped me with radio communications was to use the PC software program Aviation Radio Communications Made Easy, VFR Edition, from Comm1. You're right, it CAN be intimidating. But the Comm1 exercises really helped.
Posted by Carlos @ 11:55 AM, December 05 Hi Brady. This is great. I'm really grateful for you allowing us to share this journey with you.
Posted by Tim Chick @ 01:51 PM, December 07 Brady, Very cool being able to watch your progress through the videos. I'd like to see you make a technical section somewhere in your blog to describe the video gear you're using and how you patch the headset audio in, etc. Keep up the great job.
Posted by Charles Woods @ 04:48 PM, December 16 This is good. Keep it up as it helps us that are thinking about flying.
Posted by Jose @ 05:16 PM, January 03 Brady you shud put this video in a DVD, Is any way that I can download all this video on the computer? That will help me alote on the training
Posted by Ed Stough @ 08:11 AM, January 09 Hi, I really enjoy viewing your flight training. Brady you wouldn't be from Waco, Texas would you. I knew a young man from our church named brady lane. Keep up the good work.........Eddie
Posted by Mike @ 07:20 PM, January 19 Have started thinking in the back of your mind, what plane you would like to buy?I just found your blog the other night and before you know it, I had watch all the videos ..Excellent blog that you have started......Best regards,Mike
Posted by Mike Williams @ 09:12 AM, January 22 Wow, Brady. I have enjoyed following along with you as you earn your Sports Pilot Certificate. I am 47 years old and never really even considered getting a pilot's license. I thought it was too complicated and too expensive and didn't want to mess with the hassle of the medical certificate. Then I found out about the rule change and the Sports Pilot Certificate and began to think maybe I could do this. Then I ran across your journal and the step bu step process that you layed out for everyone to follow along with. You have inspired me to pursue my dream and go for the Sport Pilot Certificate also. I have already found an airport that teaches the Sport Pilot Certificates and I hope to sign up before the end of the year and start my own journey.Thnaks for the inspiration Brady. Maybe I'll see you in the sky!Mike
Posted by Brady Lane @ 09:28 AM, January 22 That's great Mike! It makes my day to know this blog helped you in pursuing your dream. Best of luck and yes, hopefully we'll see you in the sky!
Posted by Chris @ 01:41 PM, January 26 Hi from Germany... and Congratulations, Brady!!!Looks wonderful and smooth. Could feel your enthusiasm as i earned my license shortly back. Keep up the good work !And remember: A perfect landing is one you could use the Plane again ,)Chris
Posted by Greg @ 07:31 AM, March 29 This is one of the best reference I could find. I just started my journey to become a Sport Pilot. I use CTLS, a very similar aircraft to your Remos. You comments and experiences shared with me are a great help of "breaking the ice" of flying. I am going through my 4th hour and every comment, hint, idea is very appreciated. It would be nice to see everything from a different camera position (in addition to already installed) - a view from your seat and eye position showing how YOU see everything from pilot perspective. I have a quite good knowledge of aircrafts and flying but it feels all differently from a pilot's seat. So, once again l thank you for a great reference material and all info you share with the rest of the World :)and please keep them coming !
Posted by Oliver Downey @ 09:49 PM, April 25 Brady what you are doing is very encouraging for those who are apprehensive about taking that first flight. I got my license at age 60 in 2006 and a Piper Dakota 2 months later. I feel like 20 again.You are doing great.Regards Oliver
Posted by Guido Barth @ 01:59 PM, May 10 Hi Brady,great idea a video blog and a very encouraging inspiration!I live in Germany and are going for the PPL-A in a Cessna 172N since last year.Kind of funny you are doing your lessons in a German build plane and me in an American build one. I’m now a little ahead of your training and have done my first 2h navigation solo flight last Thursday. Like in the first solo it is very exciting and I was very busy but then again there are a view more moments then usual when you have time to sit back and really enjoy flying. In those moments all the hard work of learning and all of the investment pays off and make you look forward to all the exciting flights to come.Keep up the good work and the fun!Regards Guido
Posted by Don Hirst @ 01:56 PM, May 31 Hi Brady,Brave move! Thanks for taking the risk and showing all of us how you are doing it. EAA rocks and so do you! One suggestion - get glasses with anti-reflection coating on them - it will help us connect with you better.Keep up the good work!Regards,Don Hirst
Posted by Chris Walker @ 11:50 PM, July 23 Hi Brady. Congrats on your ticket. I'm a flight instructor and I'm interested in rigging my C172SP for video. I'm fooling around with a Oregon helmet cam but I'd like to buy a more robust system. can you help?
Posted by Terry Hutchens @ 07:27 AM, July 30 Congratulations. I just finished my solo about 2 weeks ago and am getting ready to do my cross country work next week. Your video helps me remember it can be done and serves as an inspiration. Not bad for a 61 year old guy learning to fly the Allegro 2007 LSA.
Posted by Liam @ 12:14 PM, August 26 Congratulations Brady. I too got my pilots licence on the 16th August 2009 after 14 months of training for my JAR-PPL.Great feeling isn't it. A ticket to learn I am treating it as and hope to improve and become better with every flight.Thanks for sharing your training, something I wish I could have done online too.Safe flying.Liam :)
Finally, at the age of 26, I’m doing it. I’m learning to fly.I’ve been wanting to become a pilot ever since my first airplane ride at the age of eight in a single engine Piper in the skies above Texas.
I grew up attending air shows and listening to my grandfather share stories of his piloting days. He was a pilot in WWII and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for one of his missions flying a B-29 over Japan. He flew 35 missions before the war ended and I've always admired him for his bravery and service.
Even though I didn't choose to be a pilot as a profession, I've always had the bug — the desire to learn.
I still don’t desire to make a career of it. I just want to fly – for the fun of it.
I became an EAA member several years ago while working as a photojournalist at a daily newspaper. Two years later, I joined the staff at EAA as a multimedia journalist. It's a great job. Basically, I use sights and sounds to tell stories of those who are innovating (and enjoying) recreational flight. (We post several new videos each week here.)
I hang out with pilots all day. I talk with pilots, fly with pilots, each lunch with pilots, tell stories about pilots, but I'm still not a pilot myself.
The first step has been a hard one for me. I've tried several times. I've saved up money on three different occasions for flight lessons. Each time I spent the money on something else — an engagement ring (2004), a house (2005), a HD video camera (2007). I don't regret any of these, but I'm still not a pilot.
Even if I didn't buy these things, I'm not sure I had quite convinced myself to begin flight lessons. I didn't understand the big picture, what all was involved. I didn't want to start something that I wouldn't be able to finish.
I've flown a few times with friends who have let me take the stick to give it a try, but I've never had any official training. I've spent hours flying X-Plane flight simulator dreaming about really doing it one day.
Finally, that day is here!
Posted by Liam Sandie @ 10:26 AM, November 22 great blog Brady. Really interesting to watch your lessons and read about how you are getting on. It is interesting to compare your flying training to mine here in the UK. I am on lesson 18 and have been doing colo circuits the last couple of lessons. Id have like to have done a similar blog for my training.:)Liam
Posted by Kevin Eubanks @ 05:28 PM, July 08 Hi Brady! I just discovered your blog the other day and I'm so happy I did. I've watched all of your sessions at least once. I've been wanting to learn to fly all my life, and, like you, something has always come up to prevent me. I got serious about it again recently, and I've been doing a lot of online research about various aspects of the process. I so agreed with you about the varying quality of information on the internet. The information you provide, along with the living example that you embody, has really kick started my commitment to take that next step. I look forward to seeing your next installment, and I thank you for taking the novel idea of sharing your flight training experience with us all!!Best of luck!Regards,Kevin
EAA STORE
