Bradley Flying Association
6614-C Middle Road, Peoria, Illinois 61607
Phone: 309 - 697 - 0311
Email:  info@bradleyflying.org

The Federal Aviation Administration sets the requirements for each class of flying license in the U.S. In general, one must:

1. provide proof of U.S.A. citizenship
2. pass a medical exam
3. pass a written exam
4. have flown a minimum number of hours, both with an instructor and solo
5. pass a flight exam

The basic license in the U.S. is the Private Pilot. With this license, one can fly small, single engine airplanes day or night in good weather.

Proof of U.S.A. citizenship is done with your instructor and is usually done by bringing a certified raised seal birth certificate and a valid current driver's license. Another acceptable method used is a valid U.S.A. issued passport. The flight instructor is required by Title 49 part 1552 of the Code of Federal Regulations to do this, issued by the Homeland Security Administration, and copies secured by the instructor prior to any manipulation of controls for flight instruction. This is not an FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations requirement, so do not be confused as to which government agency mandates this be accomplished. More details about this new law can be found at their website: http://www.tsa.gov.

To pass the medical exam for this, you must be checked by a physician approved by the FAA. Several medical examiners are available in the Peoria area. The examiner will check you and your medical history looking for conditions which could cause you to be incapacitated while piloting an airplane. Obviously, most people can pass the exam for Private Pilot. Even if you've failed an exam in the past, you might want to check with an examiner because the FAA accepts what today are treatable conditions that in the past were not.

In principle, you can pass the written exam by studying one of several texts and then taking the test. In practice, most students take a class lead either by a BFA member or by the local community college. If you are a good study, you might want to trying reading a text and asking questions of your flight instructor.

The minimum number of hours of flight before taking the Private Pilot flight exam is 40, with 20 of those made with your instructor. However, few people are ready in that time. Typical is 60 to 80 hours of flight time.

Flight instruction begins with learning to control the plane's direction with straight and level the first step. Then you learn to turn, to control climbs and descents, and to take off and land. Actually, on your first flight, you'll be at the controls for all of these (but your instructor will handle the touch down).

After just 10 to 15 hours of instruction, you'll be handling all portions of the flight yourself, and you may even "solo" the plane for your first time. After that it is practice and more practice on turns, take offs and landings.

You'll also learn how to navigate both by maps and by radio signals. You'll learn to fly at night, and how to handle the plane in emergencies. You'll be introduced to flying when the weather obscures your vision outside the plane; however, seperate training is required (for the "instrument rating") to be licensed to fly in such conditions.

When your instructor feels you're ready, you take the flight exam which consists of oral and in-flight portions. This exam is given by an instructor specially certified by the FAA, and several flight examiners are available in the Peoria area.

A very realistic estimate of the cost to learn to fly at BFA assumes you can pace yourself in studying for the written exam and that you are a normal learner in learning the controls:

ITEM DESCRIPTION cost ($) medical exam 85 written exam 85 texts for exam 150 aviation headset 150 maps, etc. 50 BFA new member fee 450 12 months of BFA membership 540 30 hr C-172 with instructor 3,300 30 hr C-172 solo 2,700 flight exam 200 TOTAL (approximately) 7,710

This is an Average based on 60 hours of training time. The National average is 65 to 75 hours of total flight time attained at license issuance. The FAA absolute minimum requirement for BFA training is 40 hours and while may be allowable, the added experience is time in your favor at licensing. Flying is a physical sports like activity in that it requires both training, study and practice. The more good practice is done, the better one gets. No instructor wants a marginally passing student, hence usually more practice is the solution.

Once you obtain your license, most find maintaining their skills comfortably requires some practice about once per month.

Last page update: 14 Aug 2008