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Blue River Aviation, flight school, fly around Alaska

TRAINING

FROM PRIVATE TO MULTI-COMMERCIAL

PRIVATE PILOT

The FAA Private Pilot Certificate is a certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, which allows a person to legally operate an aircraft with passengers and baggage. Whether your dream is to earn your Private Pilot’s license, or you are planning to eventually earn advanced ratings, your Private Pilot License is the most important rating you will earn. It is the basis upon which all your flight experience and advanced flight training will be built.

Requirements: 

If you are a United States citizen, the Transportation Security Administration requires us to simply make a copy of your birth certificate and photo ID issued by a government agency or a United States Passport to verify your citizenship. If you are not an American citizen, you will be required by TSA to complete a TSA screening process. No worries, we can guide you through that process. Once TSA screening is complete, you are ready to enroll in our private pilot course.

  1. Candidate must be at least 17 years old to acquire your private pilot license. Candidate must be 16 years old to solo. There is no minimum age to begin flight training.

  2. You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

  3. You must possess at least a third-class FAA medical to solo.

  4. You must receive flight training from a FAA certified flight instructor.

  5. 40 hours minimum which consists of at least:

    1. Dual: 20 hours minimum of flight training with an instructor on the Private Pilot areas of operation including:

      1. 3 hours of cross country flight training in a single engine airplane;

      2. 3 hours of night flight training in a single engine airplane, that includes at least:
        a) 1 cross country flight of over 100 nm total distance; and
        b) 10 T/O’s and 10 landings to a full stop with each involving a flight in the traffic pattern at an airport.

      3. 3 hours of flight training by reference to instruments in a single engine airplane; and

      4. 3 hours of flight training in a single engine airplane within the 60 days prior to the practical test.

    2. Solo: 10 hours minimum of solo flying in a single engine airplane on the Private Pilot areas of operation including:

      1. 5 hours of solo cross country flying;

      2. 1 solo cross country flight of at least 150nm total distance with full stop landings at 3 points and one segment of at least 50nm between T/O and landings; and

      3. 3 T/O’s and landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.

  6. You must pass the written aeronautical knowledge test.

  7. You must pass your Private Pilot Flight test

Ready to get started?

Schedule your discovery flight! The discovery flight is your first opportunity to fly an aircraft. You will be introduced to flight instructor, spend about 15 minutes being introduced to your aircraft, preflight and you are airborne. We usually try to take students out over the Knik Glacier, so it is very scenic!

Time & Hours

Each student decides what schedule of flight training will work best for their lifestyle. While some choose an accelerated schedule, others may choose to fly just once or twice weekly. At Blue River Aviation, you will pay as you go so no large amount of funds is required up front.

The Federal Aviation Administration, has set a minimum time for an applicant to obtain the Private Pilot’s License at 40 hours of flight time but the FAA does not set a timeframe to accomplish those hours. Training can be as rapid or as relaxed as you would like it to be.

INSTRUMENT RATING

The FAA Instrument Rating is a rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, which allows a pilot to legally operate an aircraft in instrument meteorological conditions or IFR flight. More importantly, it allows a pilot to operate within the IFR system that professional pilots prefer. In today’s complex airspace most feel an instrument rating is essential. The instrument rating is essential for pilots seeking a career in aviation

Getting Started: 

In order to earn an instrument rating, a pilot must possess a private pilot certificate, and complete both a knowledge test and a practical flight test. Prior to starting our instrument rating, you must have at least a private pilot certificate, a current biennial flight review and a current medical certificate. If your biennial flight review is not current, we can complete that prior to enrollment. If you are not an American citizen, you will also need to complete a TSA screening process. No worries, we can guide you through that process. Once TSA screening is complete, you are ready to enroll in our FAA Approved Part 61 instrument pilot course.

 

Now the learning begins.

Before you decide that it seems too difficult, let us assure you that we are there not only to teach but also to guide you. From your first instrument flight, your first instrument cross country, throughout this experience, our instructors will be there to answer questions and help make this not only a learning experience but a fun experience that will change your life.

 

Requirements to earn your instrument rating include;

  1. Hold at least a current private pilot certificate or be concurrently applying for a private pilot certificate with an airplane, helicopter, or powered-lift rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought.

  2. Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.

  3. You must have logged the following:

    1. At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command. At least 10 of these hours must be in airplanes for an instrument-airplane rating.

    2. A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of operation listed in 61.65(c).

    3. At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for the instrument rating sought.

Private Pilot
Instrument
COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENSE

By attaining your commercial pilot certificate, you are ready to be paid to do what you love.

 

Getting Started

The Commercial License is a license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, which allows a pilot to fly for hire or compensation. Your training will include flying more complex aircraft. In order to earn a commercial license, you must possess a private pilot certificate, and complete both a knowledge test and a practical flight test.,

Prior to enrolling in our commercial pilot program, you must have at least a private pilot certificate, a current biennial flight review, and a current medical certificate. If your biennial flight review is not current, we can complete that prior to enrollment. If you are not an American citizen, you will also need to complete a TSA screening process. We can guide you through that process! Once TSA screening is complete and your medical/student pilot certificate is issued, begin your commercial pilot training.

 

Commercial Pilot Requirement
  1. You must be at least 18 years old to acquire the rating.

  2. You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

  3. You must possess at least a third-class FAA medical examination. You will require at least a second-class medical certificate to exercise your privileges as a commercial pilot.

  4. You must pass the written aeronautical knowledge test.

  5. You must pass a practical flight test.

  6. You must receive flight training from a certified flight instructor.

Commercial
MULTI-ENGINE

A Multi-Engine Land (MEL) rating allows a pilot to operate as pilot-in-command of an aircraft with more than one engine.

Multi-Engine rated pilots will experience the remarkable improvement in aircraft performance capability along with an increase in speed, power, and rate of climb. Managing the complexity and workload of a multi-engine aircraft is both exhilarating and rewarding.

The multi-engine land rating can be an “add-on” to an existing single-engine land private, commercial, or ATP certificate. For this rating, both VFR and IFR operations will be emphasized. There are no minimum time requirements for the multi-engine land rating; however you will need an instructor endorsement for flight and ground training prior to taking the checkride. There is no written exam, only an oral exam and practical checkride are required.

 

While a multi-engine rating can be added to a private pilot certificate, in most cases it makes more sense to wait until a pilot has a commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating as this will save the pilot a substantial amount of money in the long run.

 

What are the prerequisites?

  • Pilot must have a current FAA medical

  • Pilot must provide proof of citizenship (Passport or Birth Certificate) or TSA approval

  • Pilot must already be a single engine private pilot

  • Pilot should be current (Not required, however additional hours may be required if the pilot is not current)

Multi
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