Posted on Nov 29, 2014
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I have always been interested in aviation since I was knee high to a grass hopper. That being said in February 2005 while stationed at Fort Benning, Ga I finally took the plunge and went to the local airport and inquired about flight lessons. A few short months later (June 2005) I passed my check ride (flight exam) and have been flying ever since.
Aviation
Hobbies
Flying
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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Got my private pilot certificate in 2011. I started lessons at the age of 12 in 2005, not trying to make you feel old or anything SFC Rice! I'm currently attending Kansas State University in the flying program, half way through Instrument now, but I think I'll be switching to Airport Management next semester and plan to join the K-State flying club, $85/hr for a 172 is pretty good these days. Much better than the pilot program at KSU which is about $ 135/hr. :(
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Once you get your private certificate I would suggest people look into the organization that I do oversight for. That is the Civil Air Patrol. If you join, you can get checked out in their aircraft which very from C-172's to the latest Garmin cockpit 182's and turbo 206's. As a member you can rent the Air Craft for flight proficiency at wet rates well below the civilian market and even the prices at the base aero clubs. If you have 100 hours of PIC time you can get qualified as a mission transport pilot. At 200 or more hours you can get mission pilot qualified to do air search and rescue and disaster relief reconnaissance.
They also allow for flight training towards advanced ratings like instrument and commercial ratings. They don't allow for initial training towards the solo or private for the adult members.
I would highly encourage everyone who pursues aviation to work towards an IFR rating at a minimum as it may save you one day if you happen to poke your nose into a cloud.
They also allow for flight training towards advanced ratings like instrument and commercial ratings. They don't allow for initial training towards the solo or private for the adult members.
I would highly encourage everyone who pursues aviation to work towards an IFR rating at a minimum as it may save you one day if you happen to poke your nose into a cloud.
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SSgt (Join to see)
That's 200 PIC hours as well. I made the mistake of assuming the hour requirements were total time. Went up for Transport Mission Pilot after reaching 100 total hours and got shot down because I only had 75 PIC :( Finally got to 101.2 PIC last week and was supposed to take my TMP Form 5 ride yesterday but mother nature said no -_-
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SGT (Join to see)
Maj. Stanton,
Does that include 200 hrs PIC through the CAP group, or is that total PIC time? Because if its total PIC time, I ll go sign up right meow. Even with my Guard obligations and instructing full time, I ll go and help. Its a great organization.
Does that include 200 hrs PIC through the CAP group, or is that total PIC time? Because if its total PIC time, I ll go sign up right meow. Even with my Guard obligations and instructing full time, I ll go and help. Its a great organization.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
All you need is just 200 PIC hours to be a SAR/DR mission pilot with 50 hours of cross country time. Does not matter if it was done in or out of CAP. In fact they would probably not have many pilots if they made it a requirement to do it all in CAP.
When you join CAP you have to take a check ride with their Check pilots, which is similar to doing a biannual flight review and re-hacks your FAA flight review as well. You pay for your first flight review then they cover the additional ones. You have to do an abbreviated check to fly different models of planes. But once that is done you only recheck in the most complex plane the next year and it rehacks the rest.
The only catch to being a mission pilot is that there is a training curriculum that involves CBT's and some practical classroom type instruction. Usually done on a weekend or two. You have to get mission scanner qualified first as a prereq to mission pilot. This is a fairly easy requirement to hash out for pilots. There are a few other requirements to show proficiency in as well.
You do not have to be mission qualled to be checked out in their planes to use them for flight proficiency or become a cadet orientation pilot.
When you join CAP you have to take a check ride with their Check pilots, which is similar to doing a biannual flight review and re-hacks your FAA flight review as well. You pay for your first flight review then they cover the additional ones. You have to do an abbreviated check to fly different models of planes. But once that is done you only recheck in the most complex plane the next year and it rehacks the rest.
The only catch to being a mission pilot is that there is a training curriculum that involves CBT's and some practical classroom type instruction. Usually done on a weekend or two. You have to get mission scanner qualified first as a prereq to mission pilot. This is a fairly easy requirement to hash out for pilots. There are a few other requirements to show proficiency in as well.
You do not have to be mission qualled to be checked out in their planes to use them for flight proficiency or become a cadet orientation pilot.
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1SG Eric Rice - Like MSgt (Join to see) said, congrats on taking the plunge and accomplishing such a rare feat. I started flying back in September 2004 when I was still in college at Georgia Tech. Luckily they had a flying club that made it much more financially feasible than taking lessons out in town. After a long break while finishing up school and starting a full-time job, I passed my PP checkride in March of 2006.
Haven't flown in a while due to time constraints, but I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about doing it. Especially if you are near a USAF installation that has an Aero Club...
Haven't flown in a while due to time constraints, but I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about doing it. Especially if you are near a USAF installation that has an Aero Club...
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