Private Pilot Certificate

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be 17 years old (must be 16 years old to solo, no minimum to start)
• Read, speak, write, and understand English
• Obtain at least a 3^rd class FAA medical certificate and student pilot certificate
• Pass an FAA written exam with a grade of 70% or better
• Pass an FAA oral and flight exam

Aeronautical Knowledge:

• Log ground instruction from an authorized instructor or
• Present evidence showing satisfactory completion of an approved course of instruction

Aeronautical Experience:

• Accumulate a minimum or 40 hours total flight time (under federal aviation regulations part 61), including but not limited to:

1. 20 hours with an instructor, including
   1. 3 hours cross-country, i.e. to airports at least 50 NM (nautical miles) away
   2. 3 hours at night, including
      1. One night cross-country flight of over 100 NM total distance
      2. 10 night takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop at an airport
   3. 3 hours of maneuvering an airplane solely by reference to instruments
   4. 3 hours of preparation for the practical test within 60 preceding days
2. 10 hours of solo flight time in an airplane, including at least
   1. 5 hours of solo cross-country time
   2. 1 solo cross-country flight of at least 150 NM total distance, with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points and with one segment of the flight consisting of three points and with one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 NM between the takeoff and landing locations
   3. 3 solo takeoffs and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower

Medical Certificate: You are not required to have a medical and student pilot license until your instructor is ready to solo you; however, if you have known health issues you may want to obtain your medical before you begin flying. The following is a list of Aeronautical Medical Examiners in the Granbury, Weatherford, and Fort Worth area:

Time Factors: Dual flight lessons will consist of 1½ to 2 hours with your instructor. You will spend 15 minutes before the flight briefing the day's lesson, fly about 1 to 1½ hours, and then debrief following your flight for another 15 minutes. Allow 15 to 20 minutes extra to pre-flight the airplane before your flight time. Cross-country flights will require ½ hour for your instructor to review your flight planning, and about 2 to 2½ hours of flying. Your long cross-country will take about 3 ½ hours of flying depending on where you choose to go.

Cost Estimate: The following are two estimates of what is required for you to become a private pilot. The national average to earn a Private Pilot Certificate is 55 hours.

Minimum Cost - Minimum Requirements: (based on FAA regulation minimums of 40 hours)

Average Cost - Requirements: (based on national average of 55 hours)

Ways to cut costs:

Ground School Options:

• Thunderbolt Air offers periodic ground schools in an interactive classroom environment.  This not only allows students to ask questions, the group learning environment promotes a broader understanding of the material.

• Self study with text books can be the least expensive option, but it requires lots of self-discipline, motivation, and good study habits to sit, read, and answer written questions.

• King videos or interactive DVD or CD-ROM - $179 (VHS) to $279 (DVD/CD-ROM) - requires self-discipline and motivation to sit down at your TV or computer, view the lessons and answer computerized questions (or written questions if using VHS version).

Getting the most out of your flight time: Be prepared for each lesson by memorizing any procedures your flight instructor gives you. Believe it or not, much of learning to fly can be accomplished on the ground. Memorizing the procedures and maneuvers your instructor gives you will minimize your flight time, ease frustration, and give you a real sense of
satisfaction and accomplishment.

Once you obtain your Private Pilot license it is yours forever!
Call us to get started - we look forward to helping you discover flight!

THUNDERBOLT AIR LLC
400 Howard Clemmons Rd
Granbury Texas 76048
(817) 579-8573
(817) 894-6045

Copyright (c) 2005 Thunderbolt Air LLC. All rights reserved.

info@thunderboltair.com