Discovery Flights

The day consists of a safety briefing, a leisurely flight over San Diego where you will be allowed to take over the controls (with supervision), and an opportunity to ask questions. The flight portion 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.

Private Pilot (PPL)

Eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 16 years of age to obtain a Student Pilot certificate and fly solo under certain limitations (14 CFR 61.83)

• Be at least 17 years of age to obtain a Private Pilot certificate

• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English

• Pass the required knowledge test

• Meet the experience requirements (see below)

• Pass the required practical test (checkride)

Experience requirements for Private Pilots (14 CFR 61.109a):

• 40 hours total flight time

• 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor

• 10 hours of solo flight time including 5 hours of solo cross-country time and one flight of at least 150nm total distance with full stop landings at 3 airports and one straight-line segment of at least 50nm

• 3 hours of cross-country flight training

• 3 hours of night flight training including: one cross-country flight of over 100nm total distance and 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop within the traffic pattern of an airport

• 3 hours of flight training solely by reference to instruments (simulated instrument training)

• 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop in the traffic pattern at an airport with an operating control tower

• 3 hours of flight training logged within the 2 calendar months preceding the practical test

• Proficiency in those areas of operation specified in the Private Pilot Airplane ACS (Airman Certification Standards)

Instrument Rating

Overview:

Eligibility requirements (14 CFR 61.65a):

• Hold at least a current Private Pilot certificate

• Be able to speak, read, write, and understand English

• Pass the required knowledge test

• Pass the required practical test (checkride)

• Meet the experience requirements (see below)

Experience requirements (14 CFR 61.65d):

• 50 hours of XC flight time as PIC, of which 10 hours must have been in airplanes

• 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, of which 15 hours must have been received from an authorized and rated instructor

• One IFR XC flight of 250nm total distance under ATC clearance with an instrument approach at each airport and three different kinds of approaches using navigation systems

• 3 hours of instrument flight training logged within the 2 calendar months preceding the practical test

• Proficiency in those areas of operation specified in the Instrument Rating Airplane ACS

Commercial Pilot

This is the gateway certificate to becoming a professional pilot. Upon meeting defined experienced requirements and mastering an advanced repertoire of maneuvers, pilots earn their Commercial Pilot certificate, which allows them to be legally hired and paid to fly. Aspiring professional pilots will go on to earn their multiengine airplane rating and additional type ratings to fly larger aircraft like jets. This is a prerequisite for the Airline Transport Pilot certificate.

Overview:

Eligibility requirements (14 CFR 61.123)

• Hold at least a Private Pilot certificate or meet equivalent military requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age to obtain a Commercial Pilot certificate

• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English

• Pass the required knowledge test

• Meet the experience requirements and pass the required practical test (checkride)

Experience requirements (14 CFR 61.129a):

• 250 hours total flight time

• 100 hours in powered aircraft, including 50 hours in airplanes

• 100 hours of PIC time, including 50 hours in airplanes and 50 hours of XC time of which 10 hours of that XC time was in airplanes

• 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor

• 10 hours of simulated instrument flight training, of which 5 hours must have been in single engine airplanes

• 10 hours of flight training in a complex, turbine, or TAA (technically advanced aircraft) airplane

• One 2-hour day XC flight with a straight line distance of more than 100nm from the original point of departure

• One 2-hour night XC flight with a straight line distance of more than 100nm from the original point of departure

• 10 hours of solo flight time in a single engine airplane including: 5 hours of night VFR time with 10 takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern at an airport with an operating control tower; and one XC flight of at least 300nm total distance with landings at 3 airports and a segment with a straight line distance of at least 250nm from the original point of departure

• Proficiency in those areas of operation specified in the Commercial Pilot Airplane ACS

Multiengine Rating

An added Multiengine Rating allows pilots to fly airplanes that have two or more engines. In addition to the Commercial Pilot certificate, the multiengine rating is a gateway to the world of professional flight. We can provide flight and ground instruction counting toward your multiengine rating at a competitive rate. Multiengine instruction will take place in the Beechcraft Duchess.

We can also provide training for existing CFIs who would like to add the multiengine rating to their Flight Instructor certificate.

Flight Review and IPC

In order to act as Pilot In Command (PIC), all pilots must complete a Flight Review every 24 calendar months as required by 14 CFR 61.56. Instrument-rated pilots must also complete an Instrument Proficiency Check every 6 months as required by 14 CFR 61.57 if they do not meet the instrument recency requirements to act as PIC under IFR. Our flight review and IPC sessions consist of a one-hour ground session along with a one-hour flight covering applicable areas of operation. Earning enough points through FAA WINGS and/or passing a checkride are alternative activities that satisfy the requirement of the flight review.