Frequently Asked Questions
What is a discovery flight?
A Discovery Flight, sometimes called an introductory flight, is a short flight alongside a certified flight instructor that gives you a chance to experience what it's like to be inside the cockpit and take control of a smaller aircraft. The flight consists of a safety briefing, a leisurely out-and-back sightseeing tour over the local area, and an opportunity to ask questions. The flight lasts about one hour.
Contact us today to schedule your intro flight and discover why flying an airplane is a rewarding experience like no other. Discovery flights are conducted on Cessna 172s that are a part of Plus One Flyers, the biggest flying club in San Diego. No commitment necessary.
Whats the difference between part 61 and 141?
Whether you train at a flight school under Part 141 or Part 61, you'll learn the same material, take the same FAA tests, and ultimately hold the same pilot certificates. The only real difference is the order in which you learn things. Part 141 schools (such as ATP, Coast Flight Training etc) must use a structured curriculum that teaches skills in a specific order. This ensures an efficient use of your training time but also increases costs. Part 61 schools like Plus One Flyers and SD2fly are not bound to a structured curriculum; they can rearrange the order in which you learn things to suit your schedule, learning style, budget etc.
What is ground school?
Flight training is divided into two parts: ground school and flight training. Ground school teaches you the principles, procedures, and regulations you will put into practice in an aircraft such as the physics of how an airplane flies. Before you can earn each pilot certificate (private, instrument or commercial), you must pass the corresponding FAA knowledge test for that certificate. You have several ground school options, including 1-on-1 instruction from a CFI (expensive), a scheduled classroom course from a flight school (expensive) or a FAA-approved home-study course (only about $200-300). At SD2fly, we recommend an FAA-approved home-study course of which there are several options such as:
King Schools Online Ground School
Sporty’s Private Pilot Learn to Fly Ground School
Gold Seal Online Ground school .
These courses are structured as video lessons broken down into modules with corresponding practice exams, quizzes, and test question banks. They typically cost approximately $150-300.
How do I get started?
Your flight instruction with us will take place through Plus One Flyers if you don’t own an airplane. Plus One Flyers is a flying club with over a hundred airplanes that operates out of multiple airports in San Diego. We primarily offer instruction out of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport which is centrally located in San Diego. We also offer instruction out of McClellan-Palomar Airport and Gillespie Field Airport.
Upon joining Plus One Flyers you will avail of a number of benefits including competitive aircraft rental rates and member insurance coverage. You can then reach out to us for scheduling. A link to the Plus One Flyers website is provided on the Useful Resources page. You also have the benefit of setting your own training schedule and timeline since, as a club member receiving instruction, you will take the initiative to schedule your events online.
If you’re a US citizen, bring a passport or a birth certificate with photo ID to your first flight lesson along with your logbook and headset. If you’re a foreign national, you’ll need to get a security clearance from the TSA before you can begin flying.
By the way, you’ll want to make sure you are eligible to hold a FAA Medical Certificate before you begin flight training. Make sure you can hold at least a Third Class Medical, or a First Class Medical if you want to become a professional pilot.
What materials do I need before I start flight training?
Aviation Headset – We recommend a high-quality aviation headset like the Bose A20 or Lightspeed Zulu 3. If you’re on a budget, David Clark makes good entry-level headsets.
iPad with ForeFlight – An iPad provides for neat digital organization. ForeFlight is the most popular app that pilots use for situational awareness and flight planning. This is strongly recommended but not a requirement.
Logbook – A standard pilot’s logbook will allow you to record and track your flight time. We recommend both a paper logbook and a good digital logbook for redundancy.
Kneeboard – A good quality kneeboard will allow you to secure materials like your iPad and/or a pen and paper.
Foggles – A good pair of view-limiting glasses will allow you to conduct instrument training.
Ground School Kit – We strongly recommend purchasing an all-in-one ground school kit for your own self-study that you can reference at any time. Links to some excellent programs are provided on the Useful Resources page.
What can I expect during flight training?
See Our Training Programs page for overview of what each certificate and rating entails.
How long does it take to become a pilot?
Realistically, you should devote about 5-6 months for each certificate or rating you intend to earn if you fly 3-4 times a week. Weather and maintenance play an important role in the rate of progress you will make. Delays are inherent to aviation and it is crucial you enter flight training with a patient, optimistic attitude.
How often should I fly?
If you are serious about earning a certificate or rating, we recommend flying at least 3 times a week. This will allow you to make progress at a frequency sufficient to avoid regression from lack of flying or burnout from too much flying.
What kind of airplane will I fly?
We instruct out of the Cessna 172 single-engine airplanes. These are popular, safe, and very reliable light training aircraft.
What does becoming a pilot actually cost?
Becoming a pilot is no small financial feat, so it’s important to have a realistic overview of the costs involved in training. We always recommend having more funds available than you think you need since the time it takes to reach proficiency varies from person to person. Many flight schools will advertise packages and rates based on the legal minimum hours required for training. Most people, however, will require more than the legal minimum hours to reach flight proficiency.
While some flight schools require lump sum payment up front, our flight training is billed after each individual flight lesson on a pay-as-you-go basis. This allows for more financial flexibility as there is no large up front financial commitment. Students are billed on an hourly basis to the closest tenth of an hour after each flight. We recommend budgeting at least $15,000 to earn your Private Pilot certificate and at least $20,000 each for your Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot certificate. Ideally, you will not need to use all of these funds but you will have the security of having the extra margin available as needed to complete training.
Your three main expenses from greatest to least will be: aircraft rental, instructor time, and training materials (headsets, ground school courses, checkride fees).
I accept Zelle, Venmo and other online payment apps for instruction time. Aircraft rental is billed separately through Plus One Flyers.
Feel free to reach out to us by email, or by phone/text to inquire about our competitive instruction rates, which are lower than what you will pay at any local flight school in San Diego.