FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is required to get started?
How long will it take to get my Private Pilot Certificate?
How often are lessons scheduled?
What can I do once I receive my pilot certificate?
How is the rental of the plane charged?
But I can’t afford a plane. Why waste the money learning to fly?
Once I learn to fly in one particular aircraft, what do I need to do to fly something different?
What is involved in the checkout?
What are the medical requirements to fly?
What medical conditions will disqualify a pilot?
Are there minimum or maximum ages for obtaining a medical certificate?
Can I fly if I am taking medication?
What is required to
get started
Call us for an appointment.
If you are a US Citizen, we will register you when you arrive for your first
lesson.
If you are not a US citizen, you must complete the
TSA screening process prior to beginning your training. This
begins when you register with the
T.S.A.
How long does it take to get my Private Pilot Certificate?
It is possible to finish the Private course in as little as 5 weeks, however a more realistic time frame for busy adults is 3 to 6 months.
How often are lessons scheduled?
Flight lessons are self-paced and taught one on one so there is no minimum schedule required. Most people try to fly twice per week. At this pace, the Private Pilot course can be completed in less than 6 months.
What can I do once I receive my pilot certificate?
Once you complete the course requirements and pass the written, oral and practical exams and receive your certificate, you may fly a US registered plane anywhere in the world. You may take passengers flying, but you may not charge for the service (a Commercial certificate is required to fly for hire).
How is the rental of the plane charged?
Planes are rented by the hour, based on a digital clock in the cockpit. It counts the time while the engine is running in 1/10 hour increments (6 minutes). You are charged for the time you use on the clock with one exception. Each plane has a daily minimum rate that varies from one to five hours per day.
Once I learn to fly in one particular aircraft, what do I need to do to fly something different?
Once you obtain your pilot certificate for single engine land aircraft, you are certified to fly all single engine land airplanes however due to the many differences in equipment and handling between different planes, a checkout will be required before you can fly a different make or model plane.
What is involved in the checkout?
A typical checkout involves a review of the flight manual and the limitations and performance characteristics of the specific model. The pilot will complete a questionnaire with a flight instructor who will also take you flying to familiarize you with the different equipment and handling characteristics. This usually takes no more than a couple of hours.
But I can’t afford a plane. Why waste the money learning to fly?
No problem. Like many other companies around the country, Silver Express provides rental aircraft to licensed pilots. Aircraft ownership is not practical or cost effective for most people and with the convenience and pricing of the planes at Silver Expresss, renting is usually the logical choice.
What are the medical requirements to fly?
In general, you must be healthy with no disqualifying conditions, have normal hearing and vision - 20/40 or better. The table on the following page provides the basic standards for medical issuance.
What medical conditions will disqualify a pilot?
The conditions listed below are specifically listed in the FAR's as disqualifying, yet many of these conditions still permit Special Issuance medical certification.
If I have a condition listed by the FAA as disqualifying, is it possible to get a medical certificate?
Yes! If you can provide documentation which demonstrates flight fitness, you can obtain a medical certificate under FAR 67.401.
Are there minimum or maximum ages for obtaining a medical certificate?
The minimum age for a student pilot certificate is typically 16. Those under the age of 16 can usually only obtain a medical certificate not the standard combination medical / student pilot certificate. If a student pilot is 15 and 1/2 a combination medical / student pilot certificate may be obtained via discretionary issuance from the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division.
The oldest active pilot with current medical certificate was Ralph Charles who held a current FAA medical at the age of 103.