Starting Your Journey To Becoming A Private Pilot (PPL)

It is vitally important that before starting your journey, you understand what will be required of you in order to accomplish your dream. This is not meant to overwhelm or dissuade you from starting. To the contrary, it is meant to inform you so you understand the commitment of time and resources that will be necessary to achieve your goal. This will help you prepare and execute your plan for success.

Throughout your flight training journey, from Private Pilot and beyond, you will be evaluated based on FAA Flight Standards published in certificate specific publications called “Airman Certification Standards” (ACS), or older publications called “Practical Test Standards” (PTS). The following video provides an excellent overview of the ACS, and the importance of being familiar with its contents and how that relates to your ultimate goal… PASSING YOUR CHECKRIDE!

As fun as it is to fly, the required commitment to the knowledge component necessary to be both a proficient and safe pilot cannot be stressed enough. Demonstrating your flight skills to your Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) will be the last thing you get to do on your Checkride. You will have to pass your FAA Written Exam and an oral examination with your DPE to demonstrate satisfactory knowledge before you ever head out to the airplane.

Below are some important resources necessary to build your knowledge base, AND help prepare you for each flight lesson so you can make the most out of your time with your Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). After all, you will hear it said, “the airplane is a terrible classroom” (~author unknown). The best flight training begins on the ground. In the air, you learn how to apply those concepts and begin your journey toward becoming proficient at applying them under a variety of conditions.

Recommended  FAA  Materials
    • Federal Aviation Regulations / Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM):
      These are separate resources, but a consolidated resource is published annually by the FAA and is referred to as the “FAR/AIM”. – The FAR/AIM does NOT contain all regulations or the full AIM manual, but is sufficient for most purposes for a student pilot.
      – Updated by the FAA annually.
    • Private Pilot – Airman Certification Standards (ACS):
      – Updated by the FAA regularly but not necessarily annually.
    • Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK):
      A broad spectrum of basic aeronautical knowledge essential to all pilots.
      – Updated by the FAA regularly but not necessarily annually.
    • Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH):
      Basic skills and knowledge essential for piloting airplanes proficiently. Provides further info on transition to other airplanes and the operation of various airplane systems.
      – Updated by the FAA regularly but not necessarily annually.
    • Aviation Weather Handbook:
      Valuable technical reference for all who operate in the National Airspace System (NAS). Valuable pilot resource for how to understand and use common weather products and information for flight planning and decision making.
      – Updated by the FAA regularly but not necessarily annually.
    • Risk Management Handbook:
      Basic tools for how to understand the aviation environment, recognize hazards, mitigate risk where appropriate, and make informed decisions as to the level of acceptable risk.
      – Updated by the FAA regularly but not necessarily annually.

These resources, and many more, are available free at the following FAA website:

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation

and https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs

NOTE: These resources are available in pdf format from the FAA website. They can also be downloaded to most Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) platforms. For those who prefer physical copies, you can purchase them from multiple sources.

REMEMBER: Always ensure you have / are purchasing the most up-to-date versions of any handbooks, manuals, other documents, maps, etc.; particularly going into your checkride.

Other Necessary Reference  Materials
    • Aircraft Specific AFM / POH:
      These are specific to the aircraft you will be flying.
      – Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) – document developed by the airplane manufacturer and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is specific to a particular make and model airplane by serial number and it contains operating procedures and limitations which meet the requirements of FAR 21.5
      AND / OR
      – Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) – document developed by the airplane manufacturer and contains the FAA approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) information in a standardized form.
    • ASA Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide
      – Updated as necessary.
Suggested Reading
  • The Killing Zone: How and Why Pilots Die, by Paul A. Craig
    An in-depth analysis of some of the most dangerous pitfalls for pilots; particularly during “the killing zone”, between 50 and 350 flight hours, and after obtaining their private pilot certificate and starting to fly as Pilot-In-Command (PIC).

 

Let's Start Flying