If you have always wanted to fly, you can get your private pilot's license with our club. Many of the questions you might have about the process are answered here. When you are ready to go, please join the club and contact one of our instructors.

How to Start

If you are still thinking about becoming a pilot but are not sure, check out Be A Pilot. As the site says, "Stop Dreaming: Start Flying. Be A Pilot." This site features a basic introduction to flight training and is a great place to start.

Another good on-line source is the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Check their Learn To Fly portal.

Once you have decided to begin your flight training, the club invites you to become a member. Join us at an upcoming meeting to meet club members, ask questions, and inspect the planes.

The Club has a team of instructors who can help you earn your Private Pilot Certificate. There are also plenty of non-instructor club pilots who are eager to encourage you along the way. You will meet them at the airport, at club activities, and on the club's active e-mail system. As you are working towards your license, you may enjoy flying with other club members who are always looking for flying companions.

Even before you find an instructor and start flying, you might consider finding a pilot mentor. AOPA runs a pilot mentoring program called Project Pilot for students pilots looking for pilot mentors. Whether you find a mentor in our club or through Project Pilot, you will get a lot out of this relationship. Your instructor is always available to answer questions, but a mentor can be helpful in other ways.

How Much Does it Cost?

The cost depends on the price of fuel and how long it takes you to prepare for and pass your FAA check ride.

As a non-profit organization, the club is not making any money from your dues or fees. You pay what it costs to operate, maintain, store, and insure the planes. You share these costs equally with your fellow members. The following breakdown is a rough estimate of costs for a new club member who spends a year earning a Private Pilot Certificate.

Things to remember about the cost of getting your pilot's license:

• All costs are current as of March 1, 2011.
• As fuel prices increase, hourly operating costs also increase. Conversely, when fuel prices drop (and they do!), hourly operating costs decrease.
• The above estimate is based on the FAA's minimum requirement of 40 flight hours. Most pilots need more time to be properly prepared for their FAA check ride.
• Your training will be more effective and efficient if you fly regularly and follow a program that you design with your instructor. The longer it takes, the more money you will spend.
• The one-time share buy-in will be returned to members in good standing when they leave the club. This significantly reduces the total estimate above.

Is It Safe?

Yes. According to the Air Safety Institute, general aviation aircraft experience about one-tenth as many accidents as cars on a per-vehicle-mile basis. Many of the most common questions about general aviation safety are answered in this article - How Safe Is It?

Is your safety guaranteed at all times as you learn to fly? No. Like all forms of transportation, flying has risks. Pilots mitigate those risks with rigorous training, aggressive maintenance, and the application of new technology.

In the TSS Flying Club, safety is always first. We maintain our excellent safety record by holding our planes and pilots to high operational standards. For example:

• Each club aircraft has one Plane Captain who is responsible for all maintenance on that aircraft. Any club pilot who notices a problem on a club plane tells the Plane Captain who authorizes the necessary repairs.
• All club aircraft are inspected annually in accordance with FAA regulations.
• All club pilots are checked out annually by one of the club's FAA certified flight instructors. The FAA requires this checkout only once every two years, but the club follows its own more stringent annual checkout standard.
• A Safety Officer on the club's Board of Directors tracks each pilot's flight currency and assures that each and every pilot meets FAA and club requirements.
• All club aircraft are equipped with a variety of monitoring instruments and redundant systems that enhance flight safety. All of our planes have IFR-certified GPS equipment. GPS database updates are installed on a regular schedule.
• The panel-mounted Garmin GPS units are equipped with the latest wide area augmentation system (WAAS) upgrades.
• In addition to the panel-mounted GPS units, the club owns a portable Garmin 496 GPS unit that any member can reserve and use for VFR navigation, in-flight weather, and entertainment courtesy of XM Satellite Radio.

Success Stories

Congratulations to Guy Federico. He earned his private pilot certificate on August 13, 2007. Guy's instructorwas Will Russell. Guy's mentor and flying coach is his wife and fellow club pilot, Kristin Mitas.