Simviation Forums

Well I got to fly a Cessna C150 for the 6th time this weekend, I did the taxiing, takeoff, landing, short field landing on grass, and a short field takeoff on grass.

And this brings me to my question, this summer I'm starting my PPL training on I was wondering what are all the medical exams and such that have to be done before the first flight and if I'm 16 now can I get my PPL before I turn 17 or must you be 17 to finish the training?

I took some pictures but I lost one of my camera battery's in-flight and it rolled to the back of the cockpit some there are only 2 pictures

Holding for takeoff      
En route to KLKR

Another thing one of my local airports is having an airshow on May 17-18 and if your in the area it should be worth attending heres the website for more information http://www.flylkr.com/ 8-)

You have to be 16 or older with a valide third class medical/student pilot certificate in order to solo, you have to be 17 or older to get the private license. the earliest you could get the private is on the very day of your 17th birthday.

the medical consists of the following

the doctor or one of his nurses will

1. Check your eye sight
2. check your color vision
3. check your blood pressure
4. have you fill out a medical application which asks if you are on medication or ever had surgery etc. just be honest
5. pee in a cup to test for various problems like diabetes etc

thats pretty much it, its very easy.

vision just has to be corrected to within tolerances (you can wear glasses or contacts)

Also I was reading a book and it said something about a radio license to able to use the aircraft radios, but the book is from 1986 and I don't know if you still need one :-/

Well I got to fly a Cessna C150 for the 6th time this weekend, I did the taxiing, takeoff, landing, short field landing on grass, and a short field takeoff on grass.

I took some pictures but I lost one of my camera battery's in-flight and it rolled to the back of the cockpit some there are only 2 pictures

...rolled under the Rudder/Brake Pedal?... ..!

(Loose objects in the cockpit.. ..).... ...!

A nice little Cessna 150 with a Roll-Royce Continental engine up at the pointy end!... ...!

Were you piloting it from the P2 seat?... ...!

Paul...G-BPLF....Baby Cessna's Rule!... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]...!

Well I got to fly a Cessna C150 for the 6th time this weekend, I did the taxiing, takeoff, landing, short field landing on grass, and a short field takeoff on grass.

I took some pictures but I lost one of my camera battery's in-flight and it rolled to the back of the cockpit some there are only 2 pictures

...rolled under the Rudder/Brake Pedal?... ..!

(Loose objects in the cockpit.. ..).... ...!

A nice little Cessna 150 with a Roll-Royce Continental engine up at the pointy end!... ...!

Were you piloting it from the P2 seat?... ...!

Paul...G-BPLF....Baby Cessna's Rule!... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]...!

No it had rolled to the cargo area behide the seats and got stuck on a lip on the floor mats. Yes, I was flying from the right seat as I'm not licensed (but I've been flying in this plane for the past year) and my PPL training start in the summer. Paul it also has a newly rebuilt engine as well, what a great little plane

Also I was reading a book and it said something about a radio license to able to use the aircraft radios, but the book is from 1986 and I don't know if you still need one :-/

I didn't need to have any sort of special radio license when I got my PPL license a couple years

Whoever the PIC is on these flights (and geez I hope it's a CFI) would probably be happy to answer these questions for you... seems odd that you don't know some of this stuff already.

-You need at least a third class medical certificate to solo.
And of course to obtain or hold a PP that medical cert must be current and valid (renewed every 3 years until age 40, then it's every 2 years).
This consists of a FAA-approved doctor confirming you are alive and can see, hear, and move your limbs.
 They also test your urine for diabetes (not drugs), and look for anything weird involving your heartbeat, etc.
Mostly they rely on you to be thorough and honest on the questionnaire...do not lie or hide anything on the questionnaire!

If you don't know what shots you've had or what hospital visits you've had, ask your parents.

-You can solo a light single in the US, with a signoff from your instructor, on or after your 16th birthday.

- You can take the PP check ride on or after your 17th birthday.


-A radio license is only required if you fly the aircraft outside the US...I'm not sure how that is obtained.

This leads to my next point: all of this info is contained in the FAR/AIM, a book I suggest you start studying now.

I can't overstate the importance of thinking and planning ahead with this... by the time most students are halfway through their PP training, they become completely overwhelmed unless they started out with good study habits.
It's hundreds of pages of stuff you need to know, not just to pass the tests, but  to be safe and not jeopardize your hard-earned ticket by busting regs.

Why wait when you can get an edge by reading it now?
You don't want to end up like me: having to reach for that book every time a kid asks you a question on the Internet, now do you?

Good luck!

Whoever the PIC is on these flights (and geez I hope it's a CFI) would probably be happy to answer these questions for you... seems odd that you don't know some of this stuff already.

-You need at least a third class medical certificate to solo.
And of course to obtain or hold a PP that medical cert must be current and valid (renewed every 3 years until age 40, then it's every 2 years).
This consists of a FAA-approved doctor confirming you are alive and can see, hear, and move your limbs.
 They also test your urine for diabetes (not drugs), and look for anything weird involving your heartbeat, etc.
Mostly they rely on you to be thorough and honest on the questionnaire...do not lie or hide anything on the questionnaire!

If you don't know what shots you've had or what hospital visits you've had, ask your parents.

-You can solo a light single in the US, with a signoff from your instructor, on or after your 16th birthday.

- You can take the PP check ride on or after your 17th birthday.


-A radio license is only required if you fly the aircraft outside the US...I'm not sure how that is obtained.

This leads to my next point: all of this info is contained in the FAR/AIM, a book I suggest you start studying now.

I can't overstate the importance of thinking and planning ahead with this... by the time most students are halfway through their PP training, they become completely overwhelmed unless they started out with good study habits.
It's hundreds of pages of stuff you need to know, not just to pass the tests, but  to be safe and not jeopardize your hard-earned ticket by busting regs.

Why wait when you can get an edge by reading it now?
You don't want to end up like me: having to reach for that book every time a kid asks you a question on the Internet, now do you?

Good luck!

 Thanks Rotty, umm, the pilot isn't a CFI (anymore) but he flys for the Young Eagles (by the EAA) program. I have an older Private Pilot Handbook by Gleim from the 1980's so it's a bit out dated, but it said that you must have a Restricted Radiotelephone operator permit from the Federal Communications Commission to use aircraft radios. I'll buy the FAR/AIM book next time I'm at the airport or bookstore, I've been told it's good to read if you can't fall asleep

 Thanks Rotty, umm, the pilot isn't a CFI (anymore) but he flys for the Young Eagles (by the EAA) program.

Well, if he at least held a CFI cert at one time, he probably won't teach you any bad habits.
That was my concern, not the legality of it.
In fact, although I was sure that the FARs forbid non-pilots taking the controls unless the PIC is a current CFI, but I was just looking and I don't think it is against the rules.
It is usually against the rules of any rental agreement, however... in other words, if you get your PP and take a non-pilot friend for a ride in a rental and let him/her have the yoke for a few minutes, it's a no-no. It's an insurance thing. Some insurance policies don't even allow rated pilots other than the person specified to fly the plane.
I have-cough- never done that myself, because I fly rentals, so I guess I was thinking it's in violation of the FARs.
 

I'll buy the FAR/AIM book next time I'm at the airport or bookstore, I've been told it's good to read if you can't fall asleep

Yes; better than sleeping pills... although it's exciting the first time you take a practice test and think "Wow, I actually remember some of this stuff!"

Also very useful as a weapon, in a pinch.

I've been told it's good to read if you can't fall asleep

It's an awful read!  The plot is the worst, but you can't argue with the subject-matter...

It's the worst combination of Government-ese and lawyer-ese that you'll ever try to digest. I can remember sitting in a room with; an aviation attorney, an aviation professor, a CFI and a designated examiner.... and STILL not being able to agree on what we were interpreting  ::)

None-the-less, it is full of required reading and improtant information.. so you have no choice but to try to decipher it... The sooner you start, the better..

It's the worst combination of Government-ese and lawyer-ese that you'll ever try to digest. I can remember sitting in a room with; an aviation attorney, an aviation professor, a CFI and a designated examiner.... and STILL not being able to agree on what we were interpreting  ::)

LOL!!!

So... what's your take on the "unlicensed pilot as sole manipulator with non-CFI pilot in the left seat" thing, according to the FARs? I scoured 91 and 61 and found nothing as far as I could tell.

Thanks for clearing that up for me

So... what's your take on the "unlicensed pilot as sole manipulator with non-CFI pilot in the left seat" thing, according to the FARs? I scoured 91 and 61 and found nothing as far as I could tell.

I think that's just a law that doesn't need a specific entry or reference. If you're not a pilot, or student-pilot with an acting CFI at the controls... you're not allowed to fly a plane... period. I think it's also, by default,  a, "no harm no foul" rule. And it would be pretty un-enforceable. I don't think there's a pilot who has never turned the yoke over to an un-licensed friend. A traveling companion who can hold heading an altitude while you dig through charts or the directory (or even while you just take a break) is a good thing. If they're able to change a heading or altitude, that's good too.

As for informal training ? Well.. that's another gray area. You're obviously, at some point, going to show them HOW things work, in order to turn the controls over.... but flights intended as informal training cross the line (IMHO). That kinda introduces a lack of respect for the rules ang regs. A CFI (or even a very experienced pilot), is perfectly capable of monitoring things, as a non-pilot enters a pattern and executes an approach. If he's willing to put himself, his passenger and all the other planes in the area in that position...  :-?   I just think it's not a good idea... and opens the door for poor decision-making. Heaven knows a pilot will make his share of poor decisions as his flying experience accumulates.. there's no need to start out doing it. A new pilot needs to "live" strictly within both the spirit, and the letter of the law... there's no room for fudging and snubbing safety.

It is unenforceable, and yeah, it's pretty common.
I guess it's more a question of what the FAA will do to you if your non-pilot "copilot" contributes to an accident...

And of course, your insurer and/or the hull insurer would leave you on the street with no pants...

It's one of those things that will, if needed, fall under 91.113 (the "don't be stupid" rule). Sometimes the FAA shows real wisdom... with many things, you're allowed some leeway to either be smart or stupid.

As far as unauthorized training goes, all the FARs say is you can't log the time as a student, nor can the "instructor" ever count that time as instruction given, even if they acquire or renew that cert.