What do you need to complete to become a pilot? Profession: civil aviation pilot

The pilot's profession is one of the most romantic. Therefore, more and more young people are interested in how to become a pilot.

To get your dream profession and learn from scratch, you need to be physically ready, have excellent mental abilities and have a stable psyche.

How to become a civil aviation pilot in Russia

Becoming a civil aviation pilot cannot be achieved in one step. This procedure requires consistent training, theoretical and practical knowledge. To learn to fly, you need to undergo serious training.

First you will need training at a university or academy. There the student is provided with theoretical knowledge.

Future pilots will learn about the structure of the aircraft, the rules of its operation, and aviation medicine.

Upon completion of training, the student receives a commercial pilot certificate. This category allows you to fly commercially.

Thus, to become a civil aviation pilot, you need:

Study at an academy or university.
Successfully pass the theoretical and practical exams.
Pass a medical examination. You need to have perfect health.
Fly a certain number of hours.

At first it will be possible to work only as a co-pilot. But with more experience, the opportunities will increase.

How to become a military pilot

Obtaining the profession of a military pilot is approximately the same. First you need to take lessons in a special educational institution, then gain practical skills.

After completing practical training, the student is given a referral to a military unit, where he can sign a contract and begin work.

Many people want to fly a fighter jet. But this will require serious training. This kind of work is not suitable for lazy people.

Characteristics of the profession - what it does, functions and responsibilities

The profession involves controlling various types of aircraft.

Helicopters are also included in this concept. To become a helicopter pilot, you will also need a certificate.

The specialty combines several positions:

commander;
second pilot;
flight engineer;
navigator.

Pilot Responsibilities:

piloting;
landing;
control of devices.

Also, do not forget that the pilot of passenger aircraft is responsible for the lives of people.

Health requirements for civil aviation pilots

The health of pilots, even future ones, must be ideal. If you have a military ID, it must be with category “A”.

Note: a future pilot may be expelled even during training if his health deteriorates.

Also one of the important questions is how old the pilot should be. According to the law, you can fly from 18 to 65 years old.

Personal qualities and skills of future pilots

The most important skills that pilots must have relate to aircraft.

Specialists must know the structural features and technical characteristics of the aircraft entrusted to them, as well as be able to control them.

Knowledge of English is not required, but will be a plus. It opens up additional possibilities. With English, the pilot will be able to work on international flights.

The personal qualities of the pilot are no less important:

responsibility;
stress resistance;
instant response;
punctuality;
patience;
ability to analyze;
the makings of a leader;
perseverance;
determination;
attentiveness.

You also need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to fill out a lot of documents.

Where are civil aviation pilots trained in Russia?

In total, there are 3 universities in Russia where future pilots study:

University of Civil Aviation in St. Petersburg;
Ulyanovsk Higher Aviation School of Civil Aviation;
Aviation Institute in Moscow.

The remaining institutions that train pilots are branches.

How long does it take to train to become an airplane pilot?

The length of study depends on the educational institution. In universities it is 5 years.

In some schools you can study in 3 years. Training in courses and special schools for pilots takes about 3 months.

However, do not forget that the process does not end there. Of course, you can work as an amateur, but if you want to improve your category, you will still need to study and practice a lot.

How to become a pilot - subjects and exams

Russian language and mathematics are compulsory subjects to take after school. To become a pilot, you need to take physics as an additional subject.

Can a girl become a pilot?

Girls are also interested in flying. However, some educational institutions accept only males.

That's why The opportunity to study at a school or university depends on the specific educational institution.

If it is not possible to enroll, you can start taking courses. Although in most cases the possibility of a girl’s admission depends on her knowledge and personal qualities.

Where can an airplane pilot work?

Employment depends on the category the pilot has.

To get a job in large companies, you need to obtain the “line pilot” category. The main rule is that the more experience, the greater the opportunity to get into a prestigious company, for example, Aeroflot.

What is the salary of a pilot in Russia

The average salary of a pilot in Russia is about 100,000 rubles per month. This figure can reach up to 200,000 rubles.

For military pilots, the salary depends on the complexity of the flights, while for civilians it depends on the prestige of the airline.

Career growth and development prospects

There are good opportunities for career growth in the profession. However, do not forget about competition. The better the place, the higher it is.

There can be up to 10 applicants for one position in a prestigious company. But if the pilot has a real desire and desire to develop, he will receive a well-deserved position.

You need to be active already during training, because some airlines cooperate with academies.

Outstanding students may have the opportunity to undergo training at special training centers at the expense of the airline.

Is it worth studying to be an airplane pilot - the pros and cons of the profession

Pros of the profession:

demand;
high salary;
the opportunity to travel and get paid for it;
early retirement.

Disadvantages of the profession:

frequent absence from home;
constant medical examinations and no guarantee that the next one will be passed;
strong emotional stress.

It is worth studying to become a pilot for those who are really ready for difficult training and constant improvement of their skills. This is not a profession in which you can work half-heartedly. The profession of a pilot requires constant testing and inspection.

If you have firmly decided to connect your destiny with civil aviation, but do not know where to go to study to become a pilot, how much it costs and what prospects are open for young pilots, then in this article we will try to answer the questions posed.

Where to go to study to become a civil aviation pilot

Future civil aviation pilots are trained in specialized flight schools and specialized courses.

There are only a few universities in Russia that teach this specialty, the largest of which is the University of Civil Aviation, located in St. Petersburg. On the basis of St. Petersburg University there are 8 faculties that train both pilots directly and ground specialists in this field.

The second major aviation university is located in Ulyanovsk - the Higher Aviation School of Civil Aviation, and the Moscow Aviation Institute, which mainly specializes in training technicians in aviation.

Where to study to become a pilot in Belarus

There is an aviation faculty at the Military Academy, located in the Brest region of the Republic of Belarus, which teaches not only to become an aircraft pilot-engineer, but also to become a helicopter pilot, as well as a military pilot and a specialist in the control of aviation radio-electronic systems. The duration of training in all specialties is 5 years.

In addition to the military academy, in Minsk there is the Belarusian State Aviation Academy (MGVAK), where there is a faculty of civil aviation, within which there is a specialty “Aeronautics”, upon entering there you may be sent to study on the territory of Russia at the Ulyanovsk Higher Flight School.

In the Republic of Belarus, you can learn to fly in private helicopter clubs, where you will be individually taught all the intricacies of helicopter piloting under the supervision of instructors. To study in the club you do not need experience, training takes place “from scratch”, the main thing is that you have a secondary specialized or higher education in any specialty and your health allows you to pilot a helicopter (a special certificate is needed).

The course lasts 40 hours, which includes training in the theoretical part of piloting and managing air transport and the practical part (direct flights).

Upon completion of the courses, a diploma is issued.

How much does it cost to study to become a pilot?

If you are currently serving in the army, then admission to the military faculty is free for you; after studying at the Military Academy or at the Moscow State Military Academy of Civil Aviation, you will be awarded the officer rank.

Admission to civil aviation may require a fee, so at MGVAK (with study in Ulyanovsk) the fee will be 119,060 Russian rubles per year. Education at the military school is free.

Prices for pilot training companies vary, as it all depends on how many hours you want to fly; an hour of flight costs from 10,000,000 BYN. RUB, theoretical part from 5,200,000 BYR, notes from 2,500,000 BYR.

How long does it take to study to become a pilot?

In flight schools, training lasts 5 years, in private schools 40-45 days.

Conditions for admission to flight schools

In all educational institutions, the requirements for the future pilot are very high. You must have good health, you must not have any chronic diseases, and your psyche must be stable. Honey. the certificate is issued by a special medical flight commission (VLEK), accompanied by a certificate of passing a psychological examination (PO).

Without a health certificate, you won’t even be accepted into a private school.

The military academy has gender and age restrictions: girls and people over 23 years old are not accepted.

Is it worth studying to be a pilot?

Due to the rarity of the profession and strict selection, already at the stage of studying at the school, an employer (most likely an airline) will find you. If you entered a military school and graduated from it, your entire subsequent life will most likely be associated with serving the state.

The priority area of activity of the Aist flying club is the training of amateur pilots (private pilots) wishing to obtain a PPL (Private Pilot License). The flight school provides training on Yak-18T training aircraft, which have given more than one thousand Russian and foreign pilots a ticket to the skies.

Theory and practice of flying

Flight training courses (FTC) take place in two main stages: theoretical and practical training.

The study of flight theory is carried out in Moscow, at the training base of our partners - the Wingspan Aviation Training Center. Previously, we taught theory ourselves, but we were faced with the fact that it was more convenient for our cadets to attend evening theoretical classes in Moscow during the week. The theoretical pilot training course includes the following subjects:

air legislation;
practical aerodynamics;
aircraft design;
aircraft navigation and navigation in the sky;
aircraft power plant design;
design of aviation and radio equipment;
technical and flight operation of aircraft;
rescue equipment, their use;
meteorology in aviation;
conduct and phraseology of radio communications;
aviation security and many others. etc.

The initial flight training program at the pilot school is conducted at the Beloomut airfield with an experienced pilot instructor. Cadets will acquire the following skills:

ground pre-flight training for amateur pilots;
primary piloting skills, first solo flight;
flight at critically low and high air speeds;
elimination of the spin effect in flight;
takeoffs and landings in normal conditions and in strong crosswinds;
recognition of stall (initial and developed) and recovery from it;
takeoffs/landings in limited areas;
training to fly using instruments only;
flying along a developed route using visual references, using dead reckoning methods and radio navigation aids;
flight with emergency simulation: engine failure, on-board equipment, etc.;
night flights and many others. etc.

Procedure and duration of training:

The duration of the theoretical course is 172 hours (approximately four months). At the end of the training, students are tested and take exams in all theoretical disciplines.
The estimated duration of flight training is 42 hours. For effective training, development and maintenance of piloting skills, regular flight time of at least two hours per week is required. Otherwise, there will be no progress, and learning to fly an airplane and obtaining a private pilot certificate will be delayed indefinitely. After completing the course, examinations are carried out on aircraft navigation and piloting techniques.
You can start performing training flights in Moscow at the same time as attending theoretical classes.
Upon successful passing of the theoretical and flight training exams, the registration documents are transferred to the Working Group of the Higher Qualification Commission of the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation) of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation (RG VKK).
After passing the certification, the graduate will be awarded a private pilot license PPL (Private Pilot License). With this document you have the right to fly on private aircraft.

Cost of education

Payment for the full course of study can be made in whole or in parts, in cash or by bank transfer.
The cost of a theoretical pilot school course is 36,000 rubles. If you missed a lesson, you can easily attend a similar lecture on another day in another group.
The average cost of a flight course is about 450,000 rubles. or 180 rub./min. The final price depends on several factors, among which a special role is played by the individual psychophysiological characteristics of the account - the type of nervous system, temperament properties. However, practice shows that the main ones are still motivational features - interest in flying, desire to learn, as well as persistence in mastering educational material, regularity of flights. In short, pilots are not born, but made. We will help you with this!

The generally accepted belief is that “romantics make pilots.” However, few professions require such a serious approach as is customary in aviation.

First of all, to become a pilot, you need excellent health. Already upon admission to any aviation higher education institution, it is mandatory to undergo a medical examination (therapist, neurologist, surgeon, otolaryngologist and ophthalmologist). Despite the fact that a diagnosis of “unfit” by at least one doctor actually prohibits work in a particular specialty, people with many minor illnesses are allowed into aviation. You will have to undergo regular medical examinations even after receiving a flight certificate (license).

How to become a pilot in Russia

So, if your health allows, you can start training. Universities of this profile are civil aviation universities, flight schools, aviation colleges, aviation schools and military aviation schools, aerospace universities/institutes, and private centers where special flight courses are also conducted.

The training involves theoretical disciplines (which will introduce aerodynamics, aircraft design, knowledge of equipment and other necessary knowledge) and practical flights, during which treasured hours are accumulated.

The more serious the certificate (and in Russia there are several of them - an ultralight pilot certificate, a glider pilot certificate, a free balloon pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a commercial pilot certificate, a multi-crew pilot certificate and a line pilot certificate), the greater the number of hours need to fly.

Another subtle point is that time spent as a navigator, flight engineer, observer pilot, and other positions cannot be considered “pilot”, and if you want to change your qualifications, you will have to gain hours again.

To fly “for yourself”, it is enough to obtain a private pilot’s license (allows you to drive your own or rented aircraft), and to obtain it you only need 40 hours of flight time.

How to become a military pilot

To become a military pilot, you must enroll in military service under a contract. The first step to service in the Russian Air Force will be training at a military educational institution (citizens of the Russian Federation who have a secondary (complete) general or secondary vocational education are accepted). Cadets of such a university are considered to be on active military service and are provided with all types of allowances - and in addition, they learn all the delights of barracks life.

The time spent studying at a university is counted towards the total period of service in the Armed Forces. Upon successful completion of training, graduates are awarded military ranks. The graduate officer then voluntarily enters service as a contract soldier.

In some universities (such as the Irkutsk VAAI), a contract with a cadet is concluded during training, and for several years after graduation.

First, an application and documents are submitted to the military commissariat or military unit.

Persons who have served a sentence of imprisonment and who do not meet the requirements for those entering military service under a contract in terms of level of education, professional and physical training for their position cannot work in military aviation.

A candidate who is declared fit receives a referral from the military commissariat to a military unit to conclude a contract. The candidacy of a citizen who has arrived to conclude a contract at a military unit is considered by the commander of the military unit.

How to become a civilian pilot

To work in civil aviation - airlines - you need 150 hours or more (depending on the requirements of the employer) - which means that if after 5 years of training there are still not enough hours on the budget, you will have to get more at your own expense.

Also, you need to take into account that the flight time received during service in the armed forces of the Russian Federation is not taken into account for civil aviation pilots. Any certificates of military aviation are not recognized in civil aviation. Thus, if you want to change your specialty to a related one, you will need to complete retraining courses at a government institution or a private center.

Why I decided to study to be a pilot

At the age of 30, I realized that I was an aerophobe. Choking, a racing heart, sweaty palms, squeezing the arms of the seats - this condition haunted me during every flight.

I began to feed my illness through the media and the Internet. My favorite series was not Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad, but Air Crash Investigation.

A side effect of this hobby was a good knowledge of aviation. I understood the structure of the aircraft, aerodynamics and the influence of weather conditions. At the beginning of each episode of “Investigation,” my wife and I even began to place bets on the possible causes of the disaster.

5000 R

it costs half an hour to fly on a flight simulator

The turning point was a gift from my wife - a flight on a flight simulator. The flight cost 5000 RUR for half an hour. The simulator completely simulates the flight of a real airplane, with takeoff and landing at any airport in the world, in any weather conditions.

Instructor Mikhail said that he has a CPL - US commercial pilot license. He learned to fly for six months in Florida, and it was the best time of his life.

A few days later I decided to overcome my aerophobia and become a pilot.

Preparation

There are two types of pilot license: private PPL, private pilot license, and commercial CPL, commercial private license. I didn’t intend to build a career in aviation after training, so I immediately decided that I wanted to get a private pilot’s license. It's faster and several times cheaper.

According to my preliminary estimate, in 2015, a PPL license cost about $10,000, and a CPL cost $40,000.

There are three training options: in training centers in Russia, in schools in Europe or in the USA.

I did not consider studying in Europe: firstly, becoming a pilot there costs on average 20-30% more than even in the USA. For example, a PPL course at the Aerotours school in Germany would cost 10,000 €. Secondly, I did not have a suitable European visa, but my American one was still valid.

How I chose where to study to become a pilot

	In Russia	IN THE USA
Price	About 500,000 R	About 350,000 R
Studying time	6-8 months	2-3 months
Moving	Not needed	Needed
Accommodation	You live at home	Need to book
Car	You drive yours	Need to book
Weather	Bad, you can only fly on rare sunny days	Excellent, you can fly every day
Job	Normally	Remotely
Logistics	You need to go to the Moscow region	Airport within the city
Infrastructure	Poor, rare airfields with unpaved runways	The best in the world, thousands of paved airfields
English	A basic level of	At least Upper Intermediate

I made this table in February 2015. I bought dollars even earlier, in 2014. Then 1 dollar cost 35 rubles

Price

About 500,000 R

About 350,000 R

Studying time

6-8 months

2-3 months

Moving

Accommodation

You live at home

Need to book

Car

You drive yours

Need to book

Weather

Bad, you can only fly on rare sunny days

Excellent, you can fly every day

Job

Normally

Remotely

Logistics

You need to go to the Moscow region

Airport within the city

Infrastructure

Poor, rare airfields with unpaved runways

The best in the world, thousands of paved airfields

English

A basic level of

At least Upper Intermediate

I managed to buy dollars just before the exchange rate increased - in 2014, at 35 rubles per dollar. This means that studying in the USA will cost me 30% less than in Russia. Yes, you will need to spend money every month on housing, a car and food, but you can divide these costs between two. And if we rent out a Moscow apartment, then we will be quite capable of living in this mode for several months.

It was February 2015. We discussed all the details with my wife and decided that it would be best to leave in the fall. This means I have about six months to prepare and resolve all issues.

I made a sign with a to-do list. It turned out to be about 25 points. Here are the main ones:

Agree with your manager about remote work.
Find an aviation school.
Book your accommodation.
Find an apartment tenant who will agree to care for our cat.
Expand your knowledge in areas related to aviation.

My work is related to Internet projects, and I can easily work remotely. The difference with the US east coast is +7 hours. We decided to structure my work process like this: early in the morning I do all the urgent tasks and leave for school, and after returning I resolve the remaining issues.

School Search

I studied all Russian aviation forums and blogs of people who underwent training in the USA. I checked with instructor Mikhail and his friends where they studied. I accidentally saw an article about former media manager Andrei Borisevich, who bought the Skyeagle aviation school in the USA.

In the US, the best states for training to become a pilot are Florida, California and Texas. The weather there is excellent, you can fly 365 days a year. There are also a lot of airfields and high competition among schools - that’s why tuition prices are low.

I chose Florida because I wanted to live near the warm Atlantic Ocean.

I compiled a list of schools and began sending letters with prepared questions:

What visa can I use to study?
How much does the PPL course cost and how long will it take?
How much does it cost to rent an aircraft and instructor per hour?
Can they help you rent housing and a car?
What month is best to start training?

In total, I wrote to five schools, and received responses from only three of them. Prices did not differ much: a full course of training with 40 hours of flight time cost from 8 to 10 thousand dollars. An additional hour of flight cost $150 for the plane rental and $50 for the instructor.

Renting apartments in Florida cost from $1,200 per month. From November to April is the most comfortable time to live and train as a pilot. The average temperature is 20-25 °C and there is little precipitation. You can fly every day.

Visa

While I was corresponding with schools, I discovered an interesting nuance. US immigration regulations state that an M1 student visa is required if the study process takes more than 18 hours per week. In this case, the student cannot change the chosen school during the learning process.

A B1/B2 tourist visa allows you to study under a shortened program - less than 18 hours per week. Some schools claimed that their programs were structured this way, and you could safely come to study on a tourist visa.

Preparation of documents

After several weeks of correspondence, I chose the Sky Eagle school. Its director Andrey showed the greatest patience and attention to my questions. The school is located in the resort town of Fort Lauderdale, 37 km from Miami. The cost of training to become a private pilot is $8,685.

A future pilot in the United States must undergo TSA screening, the Transportation Security Agency. The TSA is dedicated to protecting airports and preventing aircraft hijackings. In order to prevent potential terrorists from taking the helm of a training aircraft, the agency checks all flight school students: collects fingerprints and asks them to fill out a large form with personal information.

Andrey explained the further procedure:

Create a login and fill out a form on the TSA website - the transport security agency.
Ask the school to confirm this request.
Pay $130 to TSA for application processing fee.
Obtain pre-authorization from TSA.
Come to the USA.
Immediately upon arrival, submit your fingerprints at one of the TSA offices.
Wait until your fingerprints are entered into the TSA database and receive permission to fly.
Pass a medical examination at one of the US clinics and receive a certificate of fitness to fly.
You can fly!

Finding housing in the USA and renting an apartment in Moscow

The school was unable to offer us suitable housing options, so we started searching on our own. The largest real estate database in the USA is the site Craigslist.org, but everything there is rented only to residents and for a long time.

To begin with, we booked an apartment for a week through Airbnb.com - we paid about 30,000 RUR for them. The plan was this: we’ll come to the place, look around and find housing for the entire period.

Renting an apartment in Moscow turned out to be more difficult. We were looking for someone who would not only agree to rent for just three months, but also be able to care for our cat. I decided to make a good discount and set a low price.

I posted an ad in real estate groups on social networks. By the evening of the same day I received a dozen messages from cat lovers. We held a casting, chose the right one, drew up a lease agreement, which spelled out all the conditions for caring for our cat, and shook hands.

Preliminary training

The school did not impose any additional requirements regarding prior preparation. But I decided that it wouldn’t hurt to prepare for the classes on my own, because I would only have two months to study locally.

I installed the Microsoft Flight Simulator on my computer. It has a virtual piloting course, almost similar to the real one. I bought a special joystick for 3000 R and practiced every evening. A month later I passed the virtual exam.

Then I decided that it was time to move from theory to practice and fly on a real plane. I went to the Moscow region to the flying club at the Vatulino airfield. A flight on the lightest plane from their fleet costs 5,000 RUR for half an hour.

There were two seats on the plane; I took the seat to the right of the pilot. After a short briefing and checking the on-board systems, we received permission to take off and took off. It was May, and spring is a time of unstable atmosphere, when the earth heats up and air masses mix, creating turbulent currents. Due to turbulence, the plane was thrown in all directions. The pilot was completely calm, but I felt uneasy.

Having gained altitude, the pilot handed over control to me. I performed a few maneuvers - this reduced the tension a little. After half an hour of flying over fields, forests and a river, we landed.

Aviation English

I know English well, but it’s one thing to talk to a teacher in class, and quite another to talk on the radio with strangers in a stressful state, when any misunderstanding can lead to unpleasant consequences.

English is the international language of communication in aviation. Pilots and controllers communicate with each other over the radio in a language other than normal spoken language. Instead, they use a special phraseology called aviation English.

For each situation - taxiing around the airfield, takeoff, landing, weather forecast - there is a standard set of phrases. Each aircraft is assigned a unique number. It is communicated to the other party on every radio contact using the “aviation alphabet.”

I studied aviation English from the illustrations of the military navigator, Colonel P.V. Iskratov. On YouTube you can find many videos with recordings of radio conversations in different situations, from normal to catastrophic. In aviation, like nowhere else, the principle applies: it is better to learn from the mistakes of others than from your own.

There is also a service for broadcasting airport radio broadcasts in real time - “Radioscanner”. You can open the Flight Tracker app or the Flightradar24.com website, find the aircraft that is negotiating, and follow its actions on the map. In my experience, this has been very helpful for learning.

Moving to Florida

To estimate the costs of living in Florida without taking into account school, we have compiled a rough budget. That came out to $2,100 per person per month. This amount could have been reduced. For example, go to the USA alone, rent a room rather than an apartment, travel by public transport, give up all entertainment and eat the cheapest foods. But we decided to enjoy life and not save much.

Tickets to Miami with a transfer in Paris cost 54,000 RUR.

We flew to Florida at the end of October 2015. I spent the first few days on bureaucratic formalities: getting fingerprinted at the TSA, getting permission to fly, going through a medical examination - it lasts 10 minutes and costs $100.

Approximate living expenses per month - $4200

Spending

Price

Life in eternal summer

Fort Lauderdale isn't as busy as Miami, but has the same long promenades and waterways throughout the city, earning it the nickname the Venice of America.

Public transport is very poorly developed, so a car is vital. Fortunately, there are no problems with rent.

Housing is getting more complicated. Florida is a rich state with a wonderful climate; both Americans and tourists from all over the world come here to relax. Good accommodation options are booked months in advance. Therefore, our initial plan that we would quickly find an apartment failed.

1600 $

We paid rent a month

We spent the first week driving around town looking at options we found on Air BBC and Craigslist. The apartment stock was very old; I didn’t want to live in such conditions. Finally, luck smiled on us: an American couple rented out their small guest house for $1,600 a month.

Our hosts turned out to be very friendly people, we talked a lot on various topics, including political ones. We were even invited to a Christmas party.

We tried to eat at home. Several times a week we shopped at the local supermarket and cooked on the stove or grill. On average, we spent about $1,500 per month on food, as planned.

Fort Lauderdale is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, so in the evenings after school and work we came to the half-empty beaches, walked and admired the sunsets.

Demonstration flight

I arrived at the school and on the first day took a demonstration flight with chief instructor Scott Leach in a Cessna 172. During a demo flight, the student does not take part in piloting, but only observes the actions of the pilot.

The teacher decided to show me everything this old plane was capable of. He made deep turns, rollercoasters - and then threw the car into a dive so that I felt weightless for several seconds. After landing, I was barely alive - but it was too late to retreat.

Preparation for classes

According to the training plan, I had to take a theoretical course, fly the required 40 hours according to the regulator's rules, and pass theoretical and practical exams.

The school has a large office with several classrooms for classes, computers for checking the weather and taking exams, and a flight simulator. The classes were taught by teachers with extensive experience and the necessary ratings for pilot instructors. Greg Feiss became my instructor pilot.

Greg and I immediately went to the aircraft store and purchased the necessary training materials:

Guide for private pilots.
Collection of Federal Aviation Regulations FAR/AIM.
USA Airport Directory.
Florida aviation map.
Recommendations for passing exams.
Mechanical computer E6-B.
Ruler.
Flight book, where information about all completed flights is entered.

I paid $300 for all these materials.

Greg recommended that I install the ForeFlight mobile navigation app. It helps the pilot plan a flight, shows the weather anywhere in the USA, contains detailed maps and guides the plane along the desired course - like Yandex Navigator, but instead of traffic jams there is bad weather. A 3-month license costs $50.

Our group of students was small - only 3 people. In the mornings there were joint theoretical classes for several hours, and in the afternoons there were flights: each student with his own instructor.

Theory training is divided into five large sections:

Fundamental principles of flight - on-board systems and aircraft design, principles of aerodynamics.
Air operations - airports, maps, airspace, radio traffic, ground services.
Weather - meteorology, data interpretation.
Navigation and operation of the aircraft.
Application of skills in practice - psychology, decision making, flight planning.

The structure of education is very different from the Russian “academic school”. Teachers usually provide only the most basic knowledge, leaving a wide scope for self-study. The main emphasis is on practice.

Payment is made according to any scheme convenient for the student. You can pay for the entire course at once and get a good discount from the school. I decided that I was more comfortable paying for services rendered. On the first day I deposited $2,000 into the school account. When they came to an end, I paid for each flight separately with a bank card.

Airfield training

You can't just take off and take off. Any takeoffs and landings, even on small and private planes, are permitted only at airfields. They can be “controlled” - with a control tower, and “uncontrolled” - only with runways and without a tower. On uncontrolled ones, pilots broadcast their intentions on a designated common frequency.

Fort Lauderdale Commercial Airfield is an ideal training location. It has two solid long runways, the control tower operates 24 hours a day, and aviation traffic is not as dense as at the main airport, where civilian airliners arrive.

The airfield code is KFXE.

First flights

The first training flight with an instructor takes place almost immediately after the introductory lessons, during which they talk about the structure of the aircraft. This knowledge is necessary to carry out the pre-flight check.

The pilot checks the plane using a checklist. It describes in detail all the steps: first you need to check the external condition of the aircraft, main components, fuel, oil. After this, the pilot sits in the cockpit, starts the engine and checks the on-board systems. Then he finds out the weather, contacts the controller on the tower and informs him of his intentions: where he is going to fly.

The pilot receives permission to take off from the tower, takes the plane onto the taxiway and moves along it to the desired runway. He stops before the runway, checks the aircraft systems again, and again contacts the dispatcher. If the runway is busy, the pilot waits until the path is clear. Finally, permission to take off was received - acceleration along the airfield began.

The first flights take place on the so-called airfield circle. The student takes off, makes a circle around the airfield, lands and immediately takes off again. Takeoff and landing are the most difficult and critical stages of flight, so these elements are repeated many times during training.

At the same time, the student conducts radio conversations, reports his position and the next step, and the dispatcher confirms his intentions or asks them to change them in connection with the actions of other aircraft.

A week after the start of classes and 10 hours of flying in this mode, Greg asked me to return to the hangar after landing. Suddenly he got off the plane and announced that it was time for my first “solo” - an independent flight.

Trying to calm my excitement, I contacted the dispatcher and said that I was planning to make my first flight, to which the dispatcher wished me good luck. I made three normal takeoffs and landings and returned to the hangar. It was an amazing moment, I was overwhelmed with emotions.

A little later I went through the initiation ceremony. Students who perform their first “solo” have part of their jersey cut out. This tradition dates back to the times when airplanes did not yet have walkie-talkies. Then the student and the instructor sat next to each other on the plane, in tandem. To give the student commands on where to point the plane, the instructor would pull on the side of his jersey. After a successful first flight, this part of the shirt is cut off - now the pilot can independently decide where to fly.

Maneuver training

The next stage of training takes place in the training area above the Everglades swamps. Students are trained to perform standard maneuvers - climb, descent, turns - as well as monitor the environment and the position of the aircraft, and use navigation instruments.

The most difficult thing is the training simulation of abnormal and emergency situations, such as stalling, engine shutdown, and fire on board. After several such lessons with an instructor, the student makes such flights with emergency situations independently.

Long distance flights

The final test for the student is long-distance flights between multiple locations. They are also called cross-country flights.

This is the pinnacle of piloting skill. They use all the knowledge about the aircraft and its capabilities, skills in piloting, navigation, radio communications, and analysis of weather conditions.

You need to thoroughly prepare for a cross-country flight:

Plan your own route.
Check the weather along the entire route and consider what to do if the weather worsens.
Calculate the required amount of fuel and the weight of the aircraft.
Determine takeoff, landing and altitude speeds, as well as the effect of wind on speed.

For my first XC flight, I took the scenic route to Key West. The route of such a flight passes at low altitude, first over the beaches of Miami, then over a winding road in the ocean. During this flight, I experienced tremendous joy and realized that it was not all in vain.

After the first cross-country flight, the student makes several more similar flights, including at night.

Exam

After 40 hours of flights, the student is allowed to take the exams. Usually the training takes 2-2.5 months, but due to excellent weather and daily practice, I completed it in 42 days.

The first stage of the exam is a computer test. You need to answer 60 questions and score 80% correct answers. This stage costs $165.

The second stage is an oral examination and a practical flight with a certified examiner. The examiner is a private person, so he must be paid separately. The second stage of the exam costs $500.

I passed the test and did well on the oral exam, but during the flight I had a bad landing. The examiner took control. This meant that I had failed.

I had to take extra classes with an instructor. It cost me $600 for 3 hours. I had to pay again for the re-exam, but the examiner agreed to reduce my payment by half - to $250, since I had successfully passed the oral part before.

A week later, a repeat practical exam took place. This time I made no mistakes. Having received congratulations from the examiner, the first thing I did was go to the store and buy the well-deserved pilot stripes for $20.

That same day, I received a temporary certificate that allowed me to fly solo with passengers on board. I took my wife, rented a plane, and we flew over Miami, the Everglades and the azure ocean.

Renting a plane for 2 hours cost me $300.

Looking back

A little more than two months passed from the time I first appeared at school until I passed the exam. I went over my budget because I couldn't pass the exam the first time. Well, that's okay.

In total, I spent $10,730 on my studies.

Two months after returning to Moscow, they sent me an envelope in the mail with my “rights” - a valid US private pilot certificate. Russian legislation does not recognize foreign certificates. But you can go through the validation procedure: submit to the Federal Air Transport Agency a package of documents about the training completed abroad and pass a difficult medical commission (VLEK).

Even with a Russian pilot's license, in Russia it is impossible to simply come to the airfield and rent a plane. To do this, you need to join one of the flying clubs and pay membership fees.

I set myself the goal of defeating aerophobia and achieved it. But I didn’t plan to plunge into the Russian bureaucracy. I decided that I would fly the next time I was in the USA.