Topic 5. Private Pilot Certificate

Since my friends knew that I got the license, some questions were repeatledly asked.
Such as...
"So, what kind of airplane can you fly?"
"How many passengers can you take?"
"How far can you fly, where can you fly to?"
...etc.

Therefore, let's talk about the privileges and requirements
of the FAA Private Pilot Certificate.

首先,第一部份先來談obtain private pilot certificate的requirements.

(1)需年滿17歲 (別懷疑,很多老外在我們還在學騎腳踏車的年紀就坐在cockpit了)
(2)需具備英文聽說讀寫的能力
(3)至少取得 Third class medical certificate
(4)通過aeronautical knowledge test電腦測驗
(5)通過FAA-designated examiner的aeronautical knowledge oral test
和practical flight test.

而至於在飛行時數上的要求則會因Part 61或是141 training而有差別,
在這我們討論Part 61的規定:
(1)總飛行時數至少40小時,需包括...
a.20小時with instructor
b.10小時solo flight
c.3小時instrument flight

(2)10小時的solo裡,至少需包括...
a.5小時x-country solo
b.一次超過150 NM total distance和包括三個機場的long x-country
c.三次在controlled airport做full stop takeoffs and landings

(3)夜航飛時要求包括了...
a.3小時夜航訓練
b.一次night x-country
c.1o次的takeoffs and landings

以上是requirements的部份,補充一提的是根據AOPA的報告,
student pilot平均取得private pilot的飛行時數為70~75小時.

接著,第二部份來聊privileges,
首先要提到的是,FAA Private Pilot Certificate是永遠有效,不會過期的.
但是,你必須要有合規定的flight review和有效的medical certificate.

關於flight review,
pilot必須每24 calendar months和FAA-designated examiner或是CFI進行測驗.
而如果你想要載passenger的話,則需在90天內有same category和class的飛機
三次以上的takeoffs and landings經驗(白天),或是
三次以上的full stop takeoffs and landings經驗(夜晚).

其實,當你取得Private Pilot Certificate之後,
你就擁有了相當多的權利,你基本上可以架駛各型的飛機,
就算是Boeing 747都可以,只要你有適當的rating.
你也可以帶passenger,能帶多少人則看你飛的機型而定.

基本上,對於Private Pilot Certificate只有這麼一條:
"Can not carry passenger and/or cargo for compensatiom or hire".
但是你可以跟passenger share flight costs (eg. rental fee, fuel...)
而如果你是為了慈善機構而飛行的話,則可接受pay.

So, the bottom line is...
你唯一不能做的就是靠飛行賺錢維生啦.