PILOT LICENSE & FLIGHT SCHOOL FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO BECOMING A PILOT?
- We will first discuss with you your overall aviation goals so we can tailor your lessons to fit your goals.
- A Private Pilot license requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, which includes 20 hours of instruction.
- A typical one-on-one lesson with a Redtail instructor includes 30 minutes of “ground school,” then an hour or so of flying the airplane, followed by a 30-minute debriefing to discuss what you learned.
- For best results, you’ll want to plan on flying at least 2-3 times a week. You can get your private license in as little as one month, but the average is 3 – 6 months. When you are ready for your written exam the instructor will sign you off.
- Once you are proficient in the maneuvers and procedures outlined in the Airmen Certification Standards, and meet the hours required, the CFI will sign you off to go to the check ride.
- Once you pass the check ride you will get a temporary certificate, good for 120 days while you wait for your hard copy Private Pilot license in the mail. Once you have your license, you will have it for life.
AT WHAT AGE CAN YOU GET A PILOT LICENSE?
You must be 16 years of age to be issued a Student Pilot Certificate and 17 years of age to be issued a Private Pilot’s License. There is no upper age limit to become a Pilot.
DO I HAVE TO TAKE A MEDICAL EXAM?
If you are a first time pilot you are required to have a medical examination by a certified aviation physician and you can click here to find a location near you that can medical exam for pilots license. https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator
WHAT IF I WANT TO FLY FOR THE AIRLINES?
Getting your private pilot’s license is a necessary first step for all pilots unless you go through military flight training. As you build hours, you can add a Commercial Pilot license, an Instrument rating and often a Flight Instructor license. Typically the airlines require 1,500 hours of flight time to be considered as a first officer or pilot.
CAN I TAKE MY FRIENDS AS A STUDENT PILOT?
As a student pilot you are not licensed to carry passengers. Once you have your Private Pilot license you can carry passengers with you.
DOES A PILOT LICENSE EXPIRE? DO I HAVE TO RENEW IT PERIODICALLY?
Your license is good for life. Every two years, you will take a flight review with an instructor of your choice. It is not a pass/fail exam but rather a refresher which you will find valuable in maintaining your piloting skills
CAN I ADD TO MY SKILLS WITH ADDITIONAL LICENSES AND RATINGS?
Flying is a skill that can be continuously perfected over a lifetime. You can add a rating to fly using instruments, Commercial pilot rating, a rating to fly using instruments, a license to fly multi-engine airplanes, a license to fly seaplanes, and on and on.
WHAT TYPE OF AIRCRAFT WILL I OPERATE DURING FLIGHT SCHOOL?
Redtail’s Flight School students fly in a Cessna 172, a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing aircraft equipped with a Dynon Skyview glass panel. The 172 is one of the most popular aircraft ever produced and is not only a good training platform but is a great airplane to fly after receiving your license.
DO I NEED INSURANCE?
HOW DO I SCHEDULE MY WRITTEN EXAM?
When you are ready for your written exam the instructor will sign you off and you will be able to register to take your written exam. The written exam is not offered in Moab, the nearest location to take the exam is in Grand Junction, CO, approximately 100 miles from Moab.
https://faa.psiexams.com/faa/login. The cost to take the exam is $175.
LET’S GET YOU IN THE AIR!
Flying is our passion & we want to share that passion through flight instruction!
