Becoming a private pilot is an enormous achievement. It opens up a world of opportunities and provides a deep sense of accomplishment.
The first step in becoming a pilot is also the most important. The skills, habits and attitudes you learn while earning your private pilot certificate will follow you throughout your flying life and it's important to learn well initially.
If you want to learn to fly, I'm here to help you achieve that goal. My philosophy is to take a structured, disciplined approach to flying and have fun doing it. You'll learn in a low-stress environment with an emphasis on safety, professionalism and operating in real-world conditions.
Even if you don't intend to fly “hard IFR” an instrument rating carries with it an incredibly useful set of skills and capabilities. You will learn to control your airplane precisely, either visually or “on the gauges” and work within the air traffic control system.
For cross-country trips an instrument rating takes some of the uncertainty away. You'll still watch the weather obsessively, but the difference is that you'll be watching the weather to determine of the trip can be made safely under IFR as opposed to wondering how long you'll be stuck waiting for the weather to permit VFR flight.
One of the most common causes of light-airplane accidents remains non-instrument rating pilots continuing flight into instrument conditions. Earning an instrument rating is one way to mitigate that risk.
The instrument rating is challenging but the rewards are worth the effort. It's also a whole lot of fun. It's a satisfying feeling to fly with confidence in the clouds and work within the ATC system then fly an approach and see a runway appear right where it should be.
When we work on an instrument rating we'll make good use of an outstanding Flight Training Device available through Sim Flite Minnesota. The Elite ATD is an incredibly valuable training tool and when properly integrated into an instrument rating training plan can save a significant amount of money and allow you to obtain your instrument rating in less time than if we trained only in an airplane.
For an outline of the structure of the instrument rating course, take a look at an instrument rating training syllabus.
Also, if you are interested in an accelerated instrument rating training course, please contact me. There are benefits and pitfalls about accelerated training courses that you'll want to weigh before making a decision.
I would be happy to tailor an accelerated instrument rating course to your needs and level of experience.
The airlines and charter operations conduct recurrent training annually and many train more frequently. Their pilots almost always fly as crews and fly hundreds of hours each year.
Most general aviation pilots fly far less frequently, operate as a single pilot and are subject to less rigorous recurrent training. But their level of responsibility remains the same as any airline pilot: To fly safely, proficiently and legally.
A thorough flight review is designed to ensure you remain a safe, proficient and legal pilot. I do not treat flight reviews as a "check the box" exercise but as an opportunity to enhance proficiency, to practice seldom-used skills and to continue the process of learning as a pilot.
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If it has been more than 12 months since your instrument currency expired you need to undergo an Instrument Proficiency Check before you can act as PIC under Instrument Flight Rules. I would be happy to work with you to not only regain your instrument currency but to ensure that you are instrument proficient, safe and confident.
As a Cirrus Standardized Instructor I am available to provide initial transition training in Cirrus aircraft, as well as recurrent or specialized training for current Cirrus pilots.
If your insurance company requires recurrent training from a CSI in your aircraft, please contact me. I'm an active Cirrus pilot, member of the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association and familiar with both glass-cockpit and "steam gauge" Cirrus SR-20 and SR-22 aircraft.
You've heard it before: "A good pilot is always learning." It's true and the more we fly the more we learn.
For many pilots, a flight review conducted every 24-months is as close as they come to proficiency training. If you would like to do more than that a single proficiency flight or a customized proficiency program may be right up your alley.
The F.A.A. Wings program is an excellent tool for maintaining and enhancing pilot proficiency and I offer the ground and flight training required to complete a Wings phase. Completion of a Wings phase has the added benefit of meeting the requirements for a flight review.
Other proficiency ideas include night refresher flights, crosswind workouts, soft-field operations or GPS training. If you know you're "rusty" flying with an instructor is a great way refresh the skills that allow you to operate as a safe and confident pilot.
The commercial certificate is the first step toward being paid to fly. It is also a tremendous amount of fun and refines your piloting skills while operating the airplane much closer to its limits than you'll encounter in normal operations.
There also may be insurance benefits to earning your commercial certificate even if you never intend to fly for compensation or hire. Finally, there is a tremendous amount of personal satisfaction when the examiner shakes your hand and hands you a commercial license.
If you're looking to earn your commercial or Airline Transport Pilot certificate I can provide the necessary ground and flight training.
Let's face it, owning and operating an airplane requires a significant amount of time devoted to simply managing the airplane itself. There are GPS databases to keep current, chart revisions to file and maintain, maintenance to schedule and follow up on, annual inspections, 100-hour inspections, recurring airworthiness directives to comply with, hangar fees to pay and a significant amount of paperwork and record keeping.
Hiring a conscientious professional to manage your aircraft may make economic sense and give you more access to your most valuable asset: Your own time.
From basic management services covering GPS and chart updates and looking after scheduled and unscheduled maintenance to full-blown "Arrive and Fly" packages I'd be happy to prepare a proposal for professional management services.