Airplanes R Us: Could I Pass a Private Pilot Flight Test Today?

COULD I PASS A PRIVATE PILOT FLIGHT TEST TODAY ? Really? From 2010 onward, I have been retired from air transport operations & training. At first, I thought it would be fun to spice-up my languishing CFI by taking on some Part 61 local students. Within that context, I got a few surprises … and rewards.

For this “enterprise” I became aware of a small trickle of interest here on the Peninsula.

Luckily, Scott Erickson (of Tailspin Tommy’s, PT) made a C-150 available (starting 2013-ish)

for rental at Sequim Valley. Part of the modern era surprise was how expensive the learn-to-fly project had become, with good reasons. At best, $7,500 would be consumed to finish the certificate, zero to about 50 hours (more by now, 2019).

It would be a big savings if Grampa or Dad owned an airplane… but that’s another story.

Over the years, the FAA had maintained PTS (Pilot Training Standards), a small pamphlet which was the core document for objectives and performance when presenting oneself to an examiner for the PP Certificate practical test. By now, the PTS is history… and ACS (Airman Certification Standards) is the replacement. Next surprise: This is no longer a pamphlet, this is a BOOK. The contents ? … another story.

The historical PTS and modern ACS deal mostly with the Practical Test but let us not forget the WRITTEN TEST of academic knowledge. In my heyday (as a young CFI, hence an ATP instructor), someone else instructed student pilots on “GROUND SCHOOL” subjects. My job was to strap in an airplane, go fly, and build upon the team approach to instruction. Almost every community college had Ground School courses. The modern equivalent of that is (surprise) ON-LINE courseware.

Regardless of history, I found myself deep into Ground School subjects while trying to provide full-service to my students of the 21st century. It had been a while since I pondered the dips and swings of a magnetic compass, or the nuances of FAR/AIM books. All of this may be a good story which causes us to reflect upon the simplicity of the ‘good old days’. It is remarkable that there is still interest in getting licensed to fly… regardless of the expense and complexity.

I can see this subject can be milked for several installments… and so it will be !