becoming a pilot http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for becoming a pilot Copyright 2008 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:24:17 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/becoming+a+pilot Pilot Careers http://www.artwoo.com/article/pilot-careers http://www.artwoo.com/article/pilot-careers#comments Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:27:33 +0000 becoming a pilotpilot careerscareer as a pilotpilot careerbeing a pilotprivate pilotcareer descriptions http://www.artwoo.com/article/pilot-careers career as a pilot? If so, you are in for major excitement. Flying a plane can be one of the most exhilarating experiences in the world, and doing so day in and day out is a great career. But before you get too excited about you need to be aware of all the careers that are available in this field. After all, the more that you know about s the better off you will be in the long run. The most obvious career choice for a pilot is to work for a commercial airline. These airlines employ hundred of pilots to fly from one end of the world to the next, everyday of the week. The only bad part about trying to break into this area of the industry is that jobs are scarce due to a lot of competition. But with that being said, this does not mean that you should shy away from looking into this area of interest. If you stick with things long enough you will eventually work your way up to of a major airline company.

Another career path that you may want to look into is becoming a . There are many people who need pilots to fly them around the world based off of their busy schedule. You can even start your own chartering business if you have enough interest in this line of work. Although it may take some time and money to get started, you can make much more in the long run.

Overall, there are many careers that you can follow if you are interested in becoming a pilot. You may be up against a bit of competition, but when you think about it this is the same regardless of what type of career you are interested in. The key is to find out what careers are available, and then make a decision early on as to what path you want to follow. Francois offers information on at his website http://www.career-descriptions.co.uk. Take a look at the pilot career descriptions. ]]> Top Ten Aviation Gifts http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-ten-aviation-gifts http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-ten-aviation-gifts#comments Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:27:03 +0000 pilot canbest buygreat aviationaviation giftstorque wrenchaviation calendarbest aviation http://www.artwoo.com/article/top-ten-aviation-gifts aviation gifts on the market today.

1. An air band transceiver with navigation display is a great gift for a pilot. Even though you will have to spend several hundred dollars, this is one aviation gift that will be used time and time again.

2. Another gift is a good headset. Again, you will have to spend quite a bit of money on this item, but it is something that any use every time that they take off.

3. If you want to get the best of the best, buy the pilot in your life a GPS system. This may cost a couple thousand dollars, but as far as aviation gifts are concerned this is the cream of the crop.

4. For a lower priced alternative look into a simple . One of these will only set you back a few bucks, but it is something that anybody can use day in and day out.

5. A crew shade kit is a great aviation gift that will not break the bank. Every pilot could use a shade kit in order to keep sunlight to a minimum and a lot of heat from the cockpit.

6. To go along with a headset you may want to buy a headset bag. This aviation gift gives the pilot an area where they can safely store their headset.

7. A simple bottle of plastic cleaner can be a great aviation gift. Every pilot wants their plane to look good, and with a quality cleaner this should never be too much of a problem.

8. As far as maintenance is concerned, a great gift may be a bottle of fuel treatment. This can go a long way in helping to keep your favorite pilot's aircraft in good working condition.

9. An oil may sound a bit strange, but it is something that every pilot needs. These specialized aviation gifts are meant to reach hard to find places while working with precision.

10. There are many different types of DVD's that make for perfect aviation gifts. They range from teaching pilots how to complete certain tasks to maintenance tips. Glenn Day is an avid flyer. He purchases his equipment and supplies at http://www.SkyGeek.com. SkyGeek is an online retailer offering a huge selection of low-priced aviation parts and material by the top manufacturers in the industry. SkyGeek is based out of the Styles family's Sky Acres airport in upstate New York. Visit SkyGeek today and view their products. ]]> Before Becoming A Helicopter Pilot http://www.artwoo.com/article/before-becoming-a-helicopter-pilot http://www.artwoo.com/article/before-becoming-a-helicopter-pilot#comments Thu, 14 Dec 2006 06:27:07 +0000 helicopter pilothelicopter training schoolprivate helicopterpilot licenseacquiringmedical requirementterm commitment http://www.artwoo.com/article/before-becoming-a-helicopter-pilot helicopter pilot and make a career out of it, the first thing you should do is to enroll at a . In this way, you will be equipped with the right skill and both basic and advance knowledge of the aircraft you are planning to fly. After finishing the course, you are eligible to apply for a license. After the license, you can call yourself a helicopter pilot.

But as simple as it sounds, becoming a helicopter pilot is way too complicated than taking the course and acquiring a license.

To better understand this, consider the following...

Before enrolling for a helicopter-training course, make sure you have enough finances to finish it. This is a long- that involves a lot of money (ranging from $20,000 to $45,000) and therefore, must be planned properly. One shortage or missed training hours could mean bigger expenses. It is painful both on you and your pocket to realize that you are 20 hours short of finishing the course after you realize that you are out of resources to continue, so make sure that once you enter, you can finish.

Before enrolling for a helicopter-training course, you should also know if you are fit or not. It is useless to go and complete the training if you cannot acquire for a license. Read on the specifics about the of becoming a helicopter pilot before anything else. If you feel you are fit, validate it by doing a research.

Before enrolling for a helicopter-training course, make a research on the different helicopter training schools. You can prioritize the location since cost of relocation is too much. It would be better if you choose a school that is near your place so that you don't need to relocate. Also consider the cost of the training.

Once you have finished the training and after acquiring a Helicopter License, you can now be called a helicopter pilot. One thing to note is that there are two kinds of helicopter : License and Commercial License. The training is different. Of course, the Commercial License is much thorough. Think of this: we have a professional and non-professional driving license which is relatively the same with the Private Helicopter License and Commercial License. And one thing more: if you plan to make it a living, salary is not worth that much, but with more experience and better skill, you can get paid big-time. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on RC Helicopter and other useful information, please visit http://rc-helicopter.articlekeep.com ]]> Private Pilot License Requirements http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-requirements http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-requirements#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:51:17 +0000 private pilot licensefaa written testworst case scenariopilot examineraeronautical experiencefaa regulationsaeronautical knowledge http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-requirements private pilot license requirements are broken down into a few different sections. In most cases you will see something like this:

40 Hours Total

20 Hours Dual Instruction

10 Hours Solo

Now in other places you may see some added information

3 Hours Instrument

3 Hours Night

5 Hours Solo Cross Country

Now this is correct and the for the private pilot license do state this. The things that are missed are all of the area's of operation within these requirements. Many times the student doesn't realize what is exactly required, this can add up to more flights if something is missed by the flight instructor. The is this is picked up by the on flight test day.

If you have read over my Private Pilot License Cost articles you can see that I break the cost down the same way. This is because you have to realize that there are a lot of subject areas that need to be DOCUMENTED. If they are not documented in your logbook you are not qualified for your flight test.

I can't tell you how many stories I have heard from examiner friends of mine about this. It happens all the time on flight test day. In many cases the flight instructor is nowhere to be found and the student has to reschedule the flight test. This happens so often that I made some special sections in my book called ( Keeping Your Instructor In Check )

So I will point them out to you so you can double check your instructor. Once in a while a student of mine will remind me of something, even after 20 years of doing this Better a week before the flight test than on you Private Pilot Flight Test Day.

The above requirements for the Private Pilot License are the Minimum Requirements. Within these requirements are a lot of subject areas and individual training requirements.

In addition to the Requirements ( Flight Time) There are Requirements. Most people just look at this is the . You have to realize that once again your instructor has to DOCUMENT each of the subject areas. The FAA is starting to get very tough on this. If these subject areas aren't documented on flight test day, the examiner walks out. Hopefully your instructor is somewhere to be found but if he/ she isn't, then you will have to reschedule your flight test.

I will outline all of these Private Pilot License Requirements for you and try to make it as simple as possible. So like my cost estimates I will break everything down into the following:

Private Pilot License, Pre-Solo Training Requirements

Private Pilot License, Post-Solo Training Requirements

Private Pilot License Requirements

I have written different articles for each area.

The reason I do this is so you can get an idea of what you are required to do at each stage of your training and then what is required for you to take your flight test. There are a lot of things to learn so my advice is to plan this process out before you spend a dime flying.

Hope to See You In The Sky

AirfreddyFrederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy'sPrivate Pilot License Manual]]> Pilot Training Requirements and Types http://www.artwoo.com/article/pilot-training-requirements-and-types http://www.artwoo.com/article/pilot-training-requirements-and-types#comments Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:36:18 +0000 private pilot licensealtitude flightflorida airlinescrew resource managementinternational pilotpilot trainingpilot school http://www.artwoo.com/article/pilot-training-requirements-and-types Pilot training is a must after graduating from a . It also has a lot of training system one can choose from. Thus, there are also certain requirements which students should comply with in order to stay in various pilot training programs.

Pilot training requires a maximum of 45 hours training experience in order to be a Licensed Pilot. Private pilots are required to complete three perfect landings and three takeoffs in a span of 90 days in order to carry passengers. The national average that is required for every trainee is about 65 hours. There is leadership and command training for pilots.

Listed are the basic requirements in order to obtain a .



• Must be at least 17 and above year of age.
• Able to understand the English language, write, speak and read.
• At least has 40 hours flight training.
• Passed the knowledge test.
• Obtained the pilot medical certificate.
• Completed 20 hours of SOLO flight training.
• Passed the Practical Test of flight test and oral examination.

Types of pilot training

• Alternate Recurrent Pilot Training: This pilot training is topic-based and a traditional recurrent preparation. The pilot must qualify for a pilot-in-command proficiency and for the second-in-command check. Alternative recurrent pilot training has three types such as , high as well as international flight. The Crew Resource management teaches the pilot the exact usage of the minimum equipments. The rule of a High altitude flight is to examine the result of the highest altitude flight in the aircraft body. Flight reviews the international procedure, ATC, /FR and ICAO weather.

• Accelerated flight school and flight training: This training program offers the best and strictly advanced aircraft training, best accelerated pilot training in the industry. It has certified trained instructors that teach the pilots. It is located in , Kissimmee, and Orlando.

• Regional Airline academy: This pilot school offers airline pilot discussions, pilot flight trainings. It also gives job placements after completing the flight or pilot training. The academy also has a financial help service for trainees so that they may enroll in the program.

• Advanced flight pilot training: This training school had specialist instructors that are based along the Coast airport, Australia airport as well as Queensland. It also offers the highest quality of ATPL airlines transport for pilot licenses. It even offers full-time courses such as airplane pilot training and helicopter pilot training.

• Hamilton pilot training system: It has a comprehensive system for learning in passing certain flight test. The school simply progresses in learning because of their materials that are passed in sequential and logical order.

• Professional Pilot Training: The objective of professional pilot training is to educate and train finished flight pilots because they have superb manipulative skills and an in depth understanding of the theory. This pilot training program offers personalized preparation or training for little classes of airline cadets. Professional pilot training uses a (CBT) Competency Based Training system that uses the very skill assessment guidelines which are based on pilot skill development and recent aviation psychology. This pilot training facility operates on a full arena of HPT or Hawker Pilot synthetic trainers, which are considered as instruments for flying pilot training as well as procedural training. Professional pilot training has internal review trainings for its student or new pilots.

• Balloon Pilot Training: It has 8 hours flight training or preparation and 20 hours ground training. Balloon pilot training has a requirement such as pre-flight preparation, aircraft familiarization, and launching, along with inflation procedures. It also teaches how to regulate during emergencies, long distances, and high altitude landings.

• Eurocopter Pilot Training: This training program gives a closed-book examination on helicopter limitation. This training program requires a 75% or higher score before one is allowed to enroll. This pilot training program also teaches Emergency procedures, aircraft systems, balance and weight of the helicopters, autopilots, controls and cockpit displays plus a review of the aircraft manuals.For more information on Pilot Training Requirements and Types please visit our website.]]> Private Pilot License - Total Flight Training Cost http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-total-flight-training-cost http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-total-flight-training-cost#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:08:22 +0000 private pilot licenseprivate pilot trainingsolo flight timedual instructionsolo trainingflight schoolsflight instructors http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-total-flight-training-cost private pilot license up for you. As you can see from breaking your down into three sections and then adding in books and materials, this is probably quite a bit higher than most will lead you to believe.

Like I said there are a lot of great flight schools out there and then there are a lot of bad ones. The key to the entire process is planning and researching. From the other three articles here, I have put down all of the costs together to come up with a realistic cost estimate for you.This way you can understand what you are getting into before you start spending money.

Once again I will use an aircraft rate of $120 Per hour For a C-172 and $45 for the Instructor Since that is what I charge. Remember you will find many different rates in different areas of the country so just use my numbers as a guide for you. After you read this you can use the cost estimate workbook at the bottom of the page to plug in the rates for the aircraft and in your area.

Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost. This is all the books and materials needed for your pilot training.

Private Pilot License Kit





$200.00

Aviation Medical







$100.00

Headsets









$290.00

Total









$590.00

Private Pilot License Pre Solo Cost. This is the Cost of your Pre Solo Flight Training.

17 Hours  @ $165 Per Hour

5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

Total Dual Instruction





$2805.00

Total Ground Instruction





$225.00

TOTAL # 2









$3030.00

Private Pilot License Post Solo Cost. This is all the Post required before you go on solo cross countries.

11.1 Hours Dual Instruction @ $165 Per Hour

2.5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

5 Hours of @ $120 Per Hour

11.1 Hours Dual Instruction





$1,831.50

2.5 Hours Ground Instruction





$112.00

5 Hours of Solo Flight Time





$600.00

TOTAL# 3









$2543.00

Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation Cost. This is the cost to get prepared for your flight test.

3 Hours Dual Instruction @ $165 Per Hour

5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

10 Hours of Solo Flight Time @ $120 Per Hour

Flight Test Examiner Fee

Flight test (airplane)
3 Hours Dual Instruction





$825.00

5 Hours Ground Instruction





$225.00

7.5 Hours of Solo Flight Time





$900.00

Flight Test Examiner Fee





$400.00

Flight Test (airplane)





$180.00

Total # 4









$2,530.00  

Total Private Pilot License Cost. This is everything all added up. This will give you a realistic idea of what a priivate pilot license will cost you.

Now when we add all of this up we get the following cost Estimate:

Books and Materials







$590.00

Pre Solo Flight Training





$3030.00

Post Solo Flight Training





$2543.00

Flight Test Preparation





$2530.00

TOTAL









$8693.00

So you can see this is probably more than most flight schools will lead you to believe. There are some honest one out there. You just need to research before you start flying. Remember you want to plan and then get your private pilot license in the most cost effective manner.

Hope to See You in the Sky

AIrfreddyFrederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy'sPrivate Pilot License Guide]]> Palm Pilot - Boon Or Curse? http://www.artwoo.com/article/palm-pilot-boon-or-curse http://www.artwoo.com/article/palm-pilot-boon-or-curse#comments Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:27:11 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/article/palm-pilot-boon-or-curse Palm-top computers or Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) have found their way into innumerable coat pockets across the country, having replaced the revered authority of the paper based agendas and index cards. The Palm Corporation produces a number of Personal Digital Assistants, which run the Palm operating system. Palm pilot was the name given to the first two generations of PDA manufactured by Palm Computing in 1996; which was then a division of US Robotics, then of 3Com and finally a standalone corporation.

Palm Pilot was the brainchild of Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky and Ed Colligan who were the founders of Palm Computing. The first machines were Palm Pilot 1000 (RAM size 128 K) and Palm Pilot 5000 (RAM size 512 K). Though provided with a serial port, they did not have infrared ports, backlights or flash memory. After the first two attempts, Palm Pilot Personal (RAM size 512 K) and Palm Pilot Professional (RAM size 1024 K) were introduced which had a backlight but no infrared ports or flash memory as yet. Meanwhile, Palm Computing, which was a subsidiary of 3Com, became upset on not having enough control over the palm pilot and founded Handspring in June 1998, which due to the efforts of Hawkins became the first Palm OS licensee.

Handspring later produced 'Handspring Visor', a clone of the Palm Pilot that included a hardware expansion slot. A standard feature of all Palm Pilots is to have 8 megabytes of memory and internal rechargeable batteries. Handspring merged with Palm to form palmOne in 2003. The whole idea of Palm Pilot had developed from Palm Computing's original ambition to create a handwriting recognition software for other devices; a process which convinced them that they could create better hardware as well. Toy Robots Initiative and Manipulative Lab created the design of the Palm Pilot with the purpose of enabling just about anyone to start building and programming mobile robot at a modest cost.

In 1998, when Pilot Pen Corporation brought on a trademark infringement lawsuit, handheld devices from Palm venue as Palm Connected Organizers officially and as 'Palms' more commonly. However palm pilot had entered the vernacular as a synonym for PDA. The Palm Pilot is bestowed with many advantages. It is small enough to be carried during just about every waking moment, so that useful bits of information may have no need to find place in your already cluttered brain. Also, it is a fully functioning computer where the contents can be searched, as you want. Turn it into what you like -- patient-tracking device, calculator, repository of information, built-in calendar, address book, to-do list, memo pad or almost anything else. What's more? This five inches, six ounces Palm Pilot is an easy fit in any shirt pocket and runs for weeks on two AAA batteries.

However, theoretical drawbacks like "the Palm Pilot traces you wherever you are" has not stopped it from being an enormous success. The latest entry, the Palm VII brings us a step closer to the 'Total Connectedness' scenario of the future. Tyson J Stevenson is a prolific writer of useful articles on a variety of topics. Related resources are: http://www.my-palm-pilot.info http://www.hubbuh.info http://www.buhhub.info ]]> Private Pilot License- Understanding The Private Pilot Cost http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-understanding-the-private-pilot-cost http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-understanding-the-private-pilot-cost#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:01:26 +0000 private pilot licenseprivate pilot licensesaviation communityprivate pilotsflight schoolslicense certificateflight school http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-understanding-the-private-pilot-cost private pilot license, I am sure you have seen some articles written by people who are not even in the industry and others written by who may have just received their .

Some of the information may be close and others are pretty far off. There are a lot of factors that will determine what a Private Pilot License (Certificate) will cost you. The first things you want to think about are:

1: Airplane Price Per Hour

2: Flight Instructor Price Per Hour

Depending on where you are in the country these rates can be dramatically different. These two rates will be the most important factors however, there are other factors that can dramatically increase your cost. I will give you some examples of things you want to look at.

1: The Itself: You need to poke your nose around the community and see what is going on. You will want to ask people who recently got their Private Pilot License and ask them how much it cost and how many hours they ended up having.

In many cases you will see much more than the flashy clean flight school. I know of many Flashy High Dollar that once you get out into the , you will want nothing to do with them. You may find many of the people you talk to ending up with an excessive amount of hours and may have had up to six instructors. I know this first hand since many of those students come to me half way through their training. This is one reason I always tell people to take some time and research and come up with a plan first.

There are on the other hand many flight schools that are concerned about their students and are willing to work with students to get them licensed in a cost effective manner. You just have to find them.

2: The Flight Instructor: If your instructor is not a good teacher your chances of getting your private pilot license in a cost effective manner get slimmer. You need to look into this. Other factors that have to do with the flight instructor is their aviation game-plan. If they are a good flight instructor that cares about his/her students you can plan with them and get things done in a cost and time effective manner. If you have an instructor that is just trying to get to the magic hiring number for an airline, your flight training will be compromised and you can plan on spending a lot more money.

3:Books and materials: In most cases you can get home study courses for about $200 or so. Some schools will require you get their $500 DVD packages. I have always told students to do what is best for them. All of the courses out there cover the same material taken from the official FAA publications. The material that is used for your practical test is the FAA publications.

4:Examiner Fees: This part most flight schools don't even mention at all. Once again depending on where you are in the world, this price can vary a lot. One part of the country you may find a private pilot flight test for $200 but in others like here in phoenix it will around $400.

A few of these factors put together can make the difference between a happy safe confident Private Pilot and a frustrated student pilot. If you are on a tight budget and have been saving for a long time, these factors will make a difference.

Planning this out is the most important thing you can do. In order to pass the Private Pilot License flight test you need to be proficient. Depending on the rates, instructor, and Flight School You Choose, $8,000-$9,000 is a realistic budget and finishing at 45-50 hours is realistic.
The Planning process is the most important part. There are many delays that can happen, weather, maintenance and people getting sick.

For Explaining this I break the Private Pilot License Cost down into four parts. I do this so you can understand each phase of training. Then we will add it all up and you can see were the expenses are coming from. I have published an article on each one of the areas. I break everything down in the following manner:

Private Pilot License Books and Materials Cost

Private Pilot License Pre-Solo Pilot Training Cost

Private Pilot License Post- Solo Pilot Training Cost

Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation Cost

Private Pilot License Total Cost

Each one of these areas has a cost. It is easier to understand when you have everything broken down in front of you. Planning for the Private Pilot License is the most important thing you can do.

Hope to See You In The Sky

AirfreddyFrederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy'sPrivate Pilot License Guide]]> Navigating Across America With The Garmin Street Pilot http://www.artwoo.com/article/navigating-across-america-with-the-garmin-street-pilot http://www.artwoo.com/article/navigating-across-america-with-the-garmin-street-pilot#comments Fri, 05 Oct 2007 02:25:02 +0000 garmin street pilotstreet pilot garmingps navigatorspilot modelsgps technologygps systemxm radio http://www.artwoo.com/article/navigating-across-america-with-the-garmin-street-pilot Garmin Street Pilot has set the standard for automotive GPS navigation. It seems that are more brands of automotive GPS on market than any other type of GPS receiver. Each day a new model is brought on to the market with more high tech features. The new models have voice, blue tooth and capability. Screens are larger, more vivid and much easier to read in direct sunlight conditions. Garmin has been the leader in with an excellent record of durability and reliability. Garmin is the preferred used by the military.

The Garmin Street Pilot comes in several different models. These include: the c310, (which costs $239), the c330, (which costs $349.99), the c340, (which costs $428.56), the c530, (which costs $428.56), the c550, (which costs $535.70) and the c580, (which costs $642.84). The similarities among all of these models include features typical to most automotive . According to Garmin.com these include: touch screens, colorized graphics, automatic routing, voiced directions, address look-up, 2D and 3D maps and an SD card slot. What are the differences between these various Garmin Street ? There are not many, but the few that are could be of significant use to the potential automotive GPS customer. An example would be the Garmin Lock anti-theft feature. The more expensive c530, c550 and c580 models contain this feature. Another example are preloaded maps, which are offered on the c530, the c550, the c580, the c340 and the c330. Then there are the high-sensitive receivers, offered only on the c530, the c550 and the c580. Lastly, there is the ability to get on the Internet through MSN. This is only offered on the model c580.

Where is the best place to buy a Garmin Street Pilot? Garmin's site, offers a list of what stores offer their products. This list contains both brick-and-mortar stores along with online enterprises. If one doesn't mind buying a used Garmin Street Pilot, there is also the option of purchasing the product from an online auction site. Finally, one can try using Froogle.com. This site not only lists price comparisons of different products, but it also provides links to where one can buy them.

For most people the Garmin Street Pilot is the perfect solution for anyone wanting an automotive GPS navigator that is simpler, cheaper and more user-friendly than other automotive GPS navigators on the market. If one does decide to buy a Garmin , they can choose from six different models. Although there are not too many differences in these models, the few differences that do exist are related to the latest technology. When purchasing a Street Pilot, you have several options including: Garmin.com, auction sites and Froogle.com. It is really hard to beat the reliability, durability and features of a Garmin Street Pilot automotive GPS. James Kesel, MS http://www.gps-auto-trackers.com ]]> Law Enforcement Pilot as a Career http://www.artwoo.com/article/law-enforcement-pilot-as-a-career http://www.artwoo.com/article/law-enforcement-pilot-as-a-career#comments Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:44:21 +0000 prisoner transportshelicopter pilotstate highway patrolhelicopter pilotsaviation unitsaviation unitwing pilot http://www.artwoo.com/article/law-enforcement-pilot-as-a-career wing pilot? This is a question asked by many young people who one day aspire to be a pilot, or more specifically a law enforcement pilot. The standard answer you will hear, is that most police agencies "hire their pilots from within." This is true for the most part but let's take a closer look at this possible career choice. Another related question I see often is how much do law enforcement pilots make?

Indeed there are some agencies who hire civilian pilots. We will take a closer look at this in a future article.

First let's look at where most of the law enforcment pilots are found in the United States. By far the vast majority are found in state and local law enforcement agencies. In other words your local police and sheriff's department, or your . Yes there are a number of federal agencies who employee pilots, but the vast majority are local law enforcement agencies.

Take LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) for example. They operate approximately 18 aircraft, most of which are helicopters, and have somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 people assigned to their . They are one of the largest law enforcement in the country, if not the largest.

I probably don't have to tell you that the helicopter dominates the law enforcement aircraft inventory, though many agencies will operate one or two fixed wing aircraft for and surveillance operations. So the majority of law enforcement pilots are s.

The vast majority of agencies do in fact take their sworn officers and deputies, and either train them in house, or send them to flight school to obtain their helicopter pilot license. Why do they do it this way instead of just hiring people who are already pilots? Well I can't answer for every agency, but suffice it to say that the majority do, do it this way and they have for many years.

So how long would you have to spend on the ground as a patrol officer before being able to transfer into a law enforcement air unit? This varies significantly from agency to agency. There is usually a minimum amount of time, such as 2 or 4 years, and then there is the actual time and experience you will need in order to be competetive for such a position. I know of some law enforcement officers who were able to transfer into their air units with as little as 5 or 6 years on the department.

About that pay. Most law enforcement pilots do receive a premium pay for being a pilot in the air unit. However, all you really need to do is look at the salary of a law enforcement officer on a large department with about 10 years on. This will give you a good idea of what a law enforcement pilot makes. Depending on the part of the country I would estimate most law enforcement pilots are making $60,000 to $70,000 at a minimum. Some make much more. Ultimately, law enforcement and law enforcement pilot are excellent and rewarding career choices.Darryl Kimball is a law enforcment helicopter pilot with a large Southern California Sheriff's Department. You can visit his website at http://www.policehelicopterpilot.com]]> All The Aircraft Supplies A Pilot Could Need http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-the-aircraft-supplies-a-pilot-could-need http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-the-aircraft-supplies-a-pilot-could-need#comments Mon, 06 Nov 2006 18:27:08 +0000 david clark headsetsluckilyfaa testspecially designedpilotnirvanaaviation supplies http://www.artwoo.com/article/all-the-aircraft-supplies-a-pilot-could-need pilots out there whose profession is flying. This special population has special needs, but it is hard to find the right aircraft supplies and all in one spot. Not to mention the specially made . Well, now there is an option. It's the Internet. This is a pilot's and everything you could imagine is ready and waiting for you.

The David Clark headsets are for pilots. They manage to offer pilots the hearing protection they need while still allowing them to hear what they need to hear. Aircrafts can be very loud and at times so many decibels can be produced that hearing loss occurs within a few seconds. Pilots rely on good hearing to know what is going on around them so taking chances with their hearing is a definite no-no. , there are some great headsets out there that are specifically designed for pilots. David Clark headsets are some of the best on the market and have been around for quite some time. If you are a pilot then you know you need to wear protective headsets, but you might think all brands are the same. They aren't. However, the David Clark headsets are outstanding and the best choice to protect your hearing.

Aviation supplies as well as aircraft supplies are also necessary for pilots. GPS, batteries, transmitters, DVDs, and more help pilots become even better at their jobs or hobby. If you are interested in studying for the then there are supplies to help you prepare. If you need a magnifier or even special cleaning supplies then you will find these, too. Pilots have a wide range of needs and there are few places on the Internet to find everything in one place. However, there are some websites that do focus on the aviation needs of the pilot and supply almost everything a pilot could possibly need from headsets to supplies. If you are looking for these types of items then simply search your favorite search engine and you will be on your way! Glenn Day is an avid flyer. He purchases his equipment and supplies at http://www.SkyGeek.com Explore the site to see the latest equipment. And, have a great flight! ]]> Between Gas And Electric RC Helicopter http://www.artwoo.com/article/between-gas-and-electric-rc-helicopter http://www.artwoo.com/article/between-gas-and-electric-rc-helicopter#comments Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:27:03 +0000 electric rc helicopterhelicopter pilotgas powered rc helicopterssize helicopterlithium batteriesrcsgas powered rc http://www.artwoo.com/article/between-gas-and-electric-rc-helicopter
Rc helicopter usually come in either gas or electric powered. Here are the things you should know about the two:

-- If you are a novice rc enthusiast, then the most advisable thing to buy is the electric rc helicopter. The reasons are simple. Electric rc helicopter is simpler than other types of rc helicopters especially the gas rc's. With the electric, you don't have to deal with the engine and the gas it will consume. You would not need to have proper knowledge about mechanics just to make it fly. You don't have to spend a lot of time reader the manual just to understand how it works. And if the helicopter fails, you don't have to figure out how to fix it.

If you are thinking that electric rc helicopter would not fly for long then you should change you perspective. Most modern electric rc's are powered by and coupled with brushless motors. This makes it fly much longer. In fact it can out last some of the gas rc's.

And last thing: It is quiet on air thus you cannot disturb other's privacy.

Gas rc Helicopter -- A more experienced rc prefers helicopters for several reasons. One is, flying gas rc helicopter flies like flying a full- since the sound that the engine creates can trigger excitement. Oh! You might think that it is quite absurd. But no! The sound of the engine makes it more exciting to fly. Another reason is that gas rc helicopter is more complicated that keeps its pilot more addicted with it. Why? This is because the pilot is not only limited to flying the helicopter alone. Pilot is involved with how the mechanics of the RC. This gives him more reason to become excited on the RC.

Choosing between an electric RC helicopter and a gas RC helicopter is up to you. Evaluate carefully so that you get most out of your rc flying experience. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on RC Helicopters and other useful information, please visit http://rc-helicopter.articlekeep.com ]]> Private Pilot License - Post Solo Training Costs http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-post-solo-training-costs http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-post-solo-training-costs#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:15:33 +0000 private pilot licensesolo flightssolo traininginstrument timepreparation stageinstrument trainingflight test http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-post-solo-training-costs Solo Training Costs associated with the are normally close to the pre solo phase but will burn your money up the fastest. Once you break this down you want to look at the big picture of the entire license. You don't want to get stuck and run out of money because in this phase of your training, you are doing longer flights and will have more ground instruction.

Once again there are some requirements put out by the FAA that have to be done before you can do your solo cross countries. Some training syllabuses will do some of the things I list below before solo but I like to build each lesson on top of the other so you learn one thing and then integrate it into the next lesson.

A perfect example is the simulated . I have this broken into 2 post . That will get about 2.2 hours of simulated . Then I have a lost procedures lesson where we will get about another .3 hours then the rest I will pick up at the . Bottom line is you need the three hours but if you are getting a little here and then a little there, chances are someone misses it and the examiner picks it up on flight test day and then walks out because you aren't qualified.

The other thing that can happen is your instructor picks it up and then up you go for an extra flight. The same thing can happen with the night time. I can't tell you how many times it has even happened to me no matter how careful I was. Now I do all the night time in one flight so it is over and done with. You don't want to get a call from your instructor the night before your flight test telling you to meet them at the airport to get some more flight time.

For our purpose here I will just list the requirements and then give you an estimate on the cost. The Private Pilot Post Solo requirements can be found at the link below. I will just outline the cost for you:

Private Pilot License, Post Solo Requirements
Basically there are 5 things needed before you can go on solo cross countries.

Soft Field Takeoffs and Landings

Short Field Takeoffs and Landings

Simulated Instrument Time

Vor Navigation

Cross Country Flight Training

Now the Hour Requirements are just for the Private Pilot License Aeronautical Experience but you have to have logged the above subject areas. I also Include the Dual Cross Countries Day and then all the night time Required.

1.5 Hours Dual Instruction for Soft-Field / Short-Field Takeoffs and Landings

2.2 Hours Dual Instruction / Simulated Instrument Instruction

4.4 Hours Dual Instruction for Cross-Countries

2.5 Hours Ground Instruction

3.0 Hours Dual instruction for Night Flying

5 Hours Solo Cross Country  

In my syllabus, I have two dual cross-country flights, and each averages 2.2 hours. The FAA only has an hour requirement for the private pilot certificate, but I personally think that students need two different cross-country flights and about 2-3 hours of ground instruction. I am also going to add the solo cross country hours here since the goal here is to get the solo cross country requirements and move on to the flight test preparation portion of your Private Pilot Flight Training.

If we add this all up we get the following cost for this part of your private pilot training:

Private Pilot License Post Solo Cost

11.1 Hours of Dual Instruction @ $165 Per hour

$1831.50

2.5 Hours of Ground Instruction @ $45 Per Hour

$112.50

5 Hours of Solo Cross Country Flight



$600.00

Total











$2543.00

Once again with a good instructor and flying consistently, you should be close to this amount for this phase of your Pilot License Training.

Depending on the instructor or the syllabus you may do one day cross country and then one night cross country. I personally have two different day cross countries to different types of airports.

Hope to see you in the sky

AirfreddyFrederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy'sPrivate Pilot License Guide]]> Discover Flying http://www.artwoo.com/article/discover-flying http://www.artwoo.com/article/discover-flying#comments Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:11:36 +0000 discovery flightemailgary bradshawhttplearning to flyjourneypilot http://www.artwoo.com/article/discover-flying Discovery Flight Available

Have you ever thought about ?

March 1 (Nashville TN) -- .com has announced a new introductory flight program called Discovery Flight. This program is sponsored in part by Pilot Journey, hundreds of flight schools, and several corporate sponsors. The goal of the Discovery Flight program is to share what learning to fly can do to change lives by introducing them to aviation.

The Discovery Flight consists of a real flight lesson, a Discovery Flight online seminar and a Discovery Flight Plan e-book, all delivered instantly via from www.pilotjourney.com . The Discovery Flight coupon, online seminar and e-book are all free and entitles someone to purchase a flight lesson at a local flight school for $99, "this is lower than the actual cost of providing the lesson" according to , president of Pilot Journey. "Even if a person never uses the coupon, the seminar and e-book are still free since payment is made only to the flight school if the flight takes place"

"This program is important" says Bradshaw. "this is not just about having just another hobby, this is about doing something that will change someone's life" Asked what he means Bradshaw states that learning to fly seems to have almost a spiritual effect on people, in that it increases self-esteem and cause people to have a can do attitude about other things in life.

There are over 600,000 pilots in America, along with 2,000 flight schools and yet this adventure is still not known to most people. The thought is that one has to be rich to learn to fly. Most pilots actually rent airplanes and fly with others for family vacations, meetings and just plain fun, according to the website. About The Author: Gary Bradshaw is an evanglist for learning to fly at Pilot Journey in Nashville. The company's website is http://www.pilotjourney.com ]]> Private Pilot License - Flight Test Preparation Costs http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-flight-test-preparation-costs http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-flight-test-preparation-costs#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:15:19 +0000 private pilot licenseprivate pilot trainingsolo flight timedual instructionsteady pacesolo timeflight test http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-pilot-license-flight-test-preparation-costs flight test preparation of your training is the finish up part of your training where you will get prepared for the flight test. Now the one thing that you want to keep in mind is, if you have been going at a through your this phase will be just getting everything up to the practical test standards. If you have been starting and stopping, make sure you get some time in your schedule to get proficient.

If you have gotten all your cross countries done and waited two months, guess what, it is going to take more flights to get you up to speed. So you can see how having all of this planned out from the beginning can really benefit you.

You want to be proficient for the flight test, if you can continuously fly from the beginning, this is going to be much easier. This is why I am training students 4 times per week now. I remember one of my students last year came within $300 or so of my cost estimate. He was done in about 8 weeks since the thanksgiving holiday week was at the end of his training. This is pretty good and the student was VERY happy.If there had not been a holiday at the end of his training he would have been done in 6 1/2 weeks.

Here I add all of the left over since most people end up getting it at the end for practice before the flight test. You are going to want to get out there by yourself before your flight test.

The requirement by the FAA is 3 Hours within 60 days of the flight test. I find that I am still doing about 4-6 hours with the students and 7-10 hours of ground instruction on average. If you are on track and have been studying hard, you can get done close to the hours I list below.

I use rates of $120 Per Hour for the airplane and $45 Per hour For the Instructor. I also use an examiner fee of $400.00.

Flight Test Preparation Cost

3 Hours @ $165 Per Hour

5 Hours Ground Instruction @ $45 Per hour ( Flight Instructor )

10 Hours of @ $120 Per Hour

Flight Test Examiner Fee

Flight test (airplane)

3 Hours Dual Instruction





$825.00

5 Hours Ground Instruction





$225.00

7.5 Hours of Solo Flight Time



$900.00

Flight Test Examiner Fee





$400.00

Flight Test (airplane)





$180.00

Total # 4







$2,530.00

 
Now this is realistic if you have been training consistently. If you have started and stopped for some reason, make sure you can do the solo cross country phase and then jump right into the Private Pilot License Flight Test Preparation.

At the end of your training is where you will want to be 100% confident in your flying. If you don't fee confident in one or more of the areas of opperation in the practical test standards, don't go up for the flight test.

Hope to See You in the Sky

AirfreddyFrederick Longe has been flying since 1985. He has logged over 9,000 Hours of flight instruction alone. In 1998 Longe was awarded one of the first Master CFI Designations in the country by the National Association Of Flight Instructors. Airfreddy'sPrivate Pilot License Guide]]> Aviation Gifts: How To Buy For The Pilot In Your Life http://www.artwoo.com/article/aviation-gifts-how-to-buy-for-the-pilot-in-your-life http://www.artwoo.com/article/aviation-gifts-how-to-buy-for-the-pilot-in-your-life#comments Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:27:08 +0000 aviation giftsbest betcluerecipientpilotemailgreat aviation http://www.artwoo.com/article/aviation-gifts-how-to-buy-for-the-pilot-in-your-life pilot in your life has never been easier. With technology advancing every year, new are always popping up. But with that being said, you still need to make a decision as to which gift is best. For some people this is easy, but for others it can be a long process. In order to cut back on the stress you should simply take your time when searching for aviation gifts. There are plenty of items to choose from. All you have to do is look into all of them and you will surely be able to find something that suits your budget, as well as the pilot's needs.

If you are familiar with what the already has your life will be much easier. After all, this will help you to avoid buying a duplicate item. But even if you have no , you should still be able to find something that is a bit unique. You may want to listen for hints, or even try to pry them out of the recipient. Anything that you hear them say about their plane should be music to your ears. For instance, maybe their transceiver was giving them trouble on their last flight. This may seem innocent enough, but right there you have come up with a gift. There are several high level transceivers on the market today. So not only can you buy a great gift, but you can also get one that they need.

For a lot of buyers, dealing with the finer details of all the aviation gifts can be difficult. The reason for this is that they have no clue what to buy or how much they should pay. If this sounds like you, your would be to get in touch with somebody who has experience in this industry. For example, talk to the salesman at the store or if shopping online the customer service team. Simply tell them what you are looking for, and ask if they have any suggestions. More times than not, somebody with a bit more knowledge will be able to assist you.

Buying for a pilot is not always the easiest thing to do. Not only do you have to find what they need, but you also have to learn a bit about the industry as a whole. But one thing is for sure. If you take your time you will come across many aviation gifts that are the perfect choice! Glenn Day is an avid flyer. He purchases his equipment and supplies at http://www.SkyGeek.com. SkyGeek is an online retailer offering a huge selection of low-priced aviation parts and material by the top manufacturers in the industry. SkyGeek is based out of the Styles family's Sky Acres airport in upstate New York. Visit SkyGeek today and view their products. ]]> The Cost Of Learning To Fly And The Private Pilot License http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-cost-of-learning-to-fly-and-the-private-pilot-license http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-cost-of-learning-to-fly-and-the-private-pilot-license#comments Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:43:27 +0000 private pilot licensedual instructiontime aircraftsolo timeaircraft rentalflight schoolsflight instructors http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-cost-of-learning-to-fly-and-the-private-pilot-license flight schools were not completely straight forward with the students. I was also a victim. Since that time I have grown into a Career Flight Instructor and we even a flight school owner. I owned and operated 5 airplanes and have had many working for me.

One thing I always tried to do was be straight forward with students, telling them exactly what they were going to spend. Also to make sure they understand if they don't stick with their training, the more it is going to cost.

The first thing you want to make sure you do is commit to getting your . Many people will start learning to fly and then run out of money because a flight school wasn't quite truthful about what it was going to cost. Another scenario is the student will let everything get in their way when learning to fly. In short many people won't get their license because they don't plan.

The first thing you want to do is plan. Would you just start building a new house without a plan? Probably not. So why do so many people just start taking flying lesson without a budget or plan?.

So I will familiarize you with some terminology that you will need to know and start you going thru this entire process.
When you start looking around you will find a few things that are in the cost estimates of all the flight schools.

: This is also known as flight instruction received. This is the time you are up in the airplane with your flight instructor. In the case of dual instruction the cost will include both the airplane and instructor.

/: This is the time you will be renting the aircraft that is charged on a per hour basis like the dual instruction:

Flight Instructor: This is the charge per hour for the flight instructor.

There are some different ways that a flight school will word their cost estimates.

One school may have DUAL INSTRUCTION in an estimate and another school may have Aircraft Rental and Flight Instructor.

I will give you some sample prices below:

Flight Instructor Rate: $50.00 Per Hour
Aircraft Rental Rate: $96.00 Per Hour

Examples of a brief cost estimate from a flight school may look like this:

A: 40 Hours Aircraft Rental $3,840.00
B: 20 Hours Certified Flight Instructor. $1,000.00
Total $4,840.00

Another Flight School May have a cost estimate that looks like this:

20 Hours Dual Flight Instruction $2,920.00
20 Hours of Solo Flight $1,920.00
Total $4,840.00

In a lot of cases this will be it. Some schools do try and make this a little more realistic. But in general they all will stay very competitive. Since flying is very expensive they like to keep their cost estimates as low as possible to get the students.

You have to remember this is just pure business. So you may want to call it a scam or you may not want to call it that. I call it just telling the customer what they want to hear.

Now the FAA only requires 20 hours of dual instruction and 10 hours of solo for the private pilot license but there is still a minimum of 40 so you have to get them somewhere. I just put them under the solo hours.

Most of the schools will be honest about it if you start asking the right questions. You have to remember that there is a lot of competition in this industry and there aren't enough students to keep every flight schools planes flying 100 hours per month. Bottom line is they need to keep the planes flying or they go out of business.

You will want to remember that the national average for private pilots is 65 hours. Most private pilot syllabuses are between 45 and 55 hours. There are to many things that need to get covered. If you want to be a safe pilot you should plan on over 30 hours of dual instruction.

With that said, you have just added another $2000 on to the above cost estimate. Remember this will also depend on the aircraft rental rates and the flight instructor rates. So you are already somewhere around $6,800 and you haven't included any books, materials, medical expenses, flight test fees and any other costs you may have.

The first thing you want to do before you start learning to fly is PLAN. I tell all of my students to plan on at least $7,500. You may want to add a little to that estimate since people learn at different speeds.

Once you start, don't let anything get in your way. This is the best way to keep the cost down for a private pilot license.

You have to remember that learning to fly is not like driving. You will need to be proficient in all the maneuvers and be a safe confident pilot. The quicker you can get it done, the better.You can visit him at the links below: Airfreddy's Pilot License Manual Arizona Flight Training and Instruction]]> Charter Schools In Boston Are Urged To Join Boston Schools System http://www.artwoo.com/article/charter-schools-in-boston-are-urged-to-join-boston-schools-system http://www.artwoo.com/article/charter-schools-in-boston-are-urged-to-join-boston-schools-system#comments Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:27:04 +0000 charter school teachersboston schoolsboston teachers unionpilot schoolsjurisdictionfreedomsautonomy http://www.artwoo.com/article/charter-schools-in-boston-are-urged-to-join-boston-schools-system Boston schools launched an initiative to convert all the charter schools within the city over to their school system as . The move was in response to the millions of funding dollars lost each year for the children who attend the charter schools. Converting the schools to pilot schools, under the of the Boston schools, would reclaim future dollars, as well as expand the Boston schools' portfolio of experimental schools.

The Boston schools began with a recruitment letter to 550 and principals, signed by Boston Teachers' Union President Richard Stutman, then Boston schools Chief Operating Officer Michael Contompasis (now interim superintendent), and the Pilot Schools Network head Dan French. It was followed up with an open invitation meeting, where Boston schools officials and union members tried to convince the charter school educators of the advantages for making the conversion.

Charter schools were created in 1993 by state law and are under the jurisdiction of the state. There currently are 14 charter schools in the city of Boston that serve approximately 4,300 students. They give parents more choices for schooling their children, while enjoying and more than traditional schools. Educators determine what and how students are taught, the length of the school day and year, and how to disburse budgets. Teachers' salaries and benefits, however, are determined by each school with no guarantees or unemployment protections. Additionally, there are no restrictions on how many overtime hours teachers may work without pay.

Pilot schools, under the jurisdiction of the Boston schools, were created in 1995 in response to the competition from the charter schools. Of Boston schools' 58,600 students, about 6,000 attend the 19 pilot schools. They have more autonomy than traditional schools but less than charter schools, with educators having to negotiate their freedoms with the Teachers' Union and the Boston schools. Pilot school educators, however, are guaranteed union pay between $42,355 and $81,702 annually, as well as benefits and protection, including a restriction on how many overtime hours teachers may work without pay. Seven new pilot schools are planned by 2009.

The Boston schools' conversion initiative will be an uphill battle. It has been met with skepticism by many charter school educators, who like the flexibility and autonomy that would be lost. Converting to a pilot school would mean immersing themselves into rigidity, red tape and bureaucracy, as well as inheriting the Teachers' Union.

Some educators were intrigued by the idea but do not give it much hope. Some see it as a bold move that deserves a hearing and discussion, as with any new idea. Some would be interested, if the Boston schools were set up to deal with charter schools like New York City and Indianapolis -- autonomy is embraced rather than restricted.

Spencer Blasdale, executive director of the Academy of the Pacific Rim and president of the Massachusetts Charter School Association, encouraged each charter school to at least find out more details. He stated that his school, which is currently located in an old factory complex, could save $396,000 annually in rent -- if the Boston schools provide permanent facilities. Then Superintendent Thomas W. Payzant noted that the Boston schools already had difficulty finding permanent facilities for their existing pilot schools.

As the Boston schools continue their recruitment of charter schools, the residents of Boston can only wait to see what the outcome may bring. Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Boston schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Massachusetts/Boston/index.html ]]> How To Become A Fighter Pilot http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-a-fighter-pilot http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-a-fighter-pilot#comments Sat, 02 Dec 2006 12:27:08 +0000 fighter pilotservice academyofficer candidate schooladvanced mathcoast guard academycareer aspirationstrain http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-a-fighter-pilot fighter pilot isn't something that happens overnight. It requires lots of time, dedication and perseverance if you want to be successful. A special type of person is required to join such an elite group. Funnily enough, most people think that becoming a fighter pilot is mostly about flying, when in fact that isn't the case. You also need to successfully as an officer. So you're primarily an officer, even if you continue on to be a fighter pilot. Your primary job is to defend the USA against its enemies, and any are secondary to that.

There are three possible ways to train as an officer - , (OCS) or Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). As a high school student, you should apply to a service academy if you want to become an officer. You can choose between the Air Force Academy, Annapolis (Navy and Marines), West Point (Army) or the U.S. . All of them put you through rigorous military training, and you also obtain a Bachelor of Science degree. If you have a strong aptitude to and science then you'll have a much better chance of succeeding.

If you're planning to enter one of the academies, then be aware that the competition to get in is fierce. You'll need a high school grade point average of 3.8 as a cadet, as well as a SAT score of 1300. This has to include a minimum of 1050 for verbal and math. It's a good idea to have a strong extra-curricular activity record as well, even more so if those activities demonstrate leadership or athletic skills.

So if you want to enter a service academy, earn a commission and receive a college education, the path is simple. It's not easy though - you'll need to perform very well in high school, and not just inside the classroom. It takes a long time to work your way through the application process. You certainly don't just hand over a simple form and expect to be accepted into a service academy. You need three letters of recommendation, extensive paperwork, and even to be nominated by your Congressman. To improve your chances of success, start preparing your application early, and certainly don't start any later than your junior year.

The bad news is that just because you made it into the service academy, pilot training slots are still extremely limited. Being accepted by the academy is a piece of cake by comparison. However pilots are in demand right now, as all the military streams are struggling to retain the pilots they have. So if you're keen to be a fighter pilot, it's a little easier than usual to obtain a slot. How long that lasts, nobody knows.

You might also find that The Reserve Officers Training Corps is the best option for you. With this, you study at a college or university as normal, but add in the officer training requirements. On top of your regular studies you will have to attend military training and courses, spend at least one summer on a training camp and attend weekly meetings. Most of the time you live as a civilian, only donning your military garb when you're actually attending military classes. When your officer training is complete, you can then apply for specific programs such as pilot training. Competition is tough, and you'll need to pass some rigorous academic, medical and testing requirements to be successful.

For those who decide a little later in life to become a fighter pilot, The Officer Candidate School (OCS), sometimes called The Officer Training School (OTS), is the best route. Within 4 months OCS will take a college graduate with no background in the military and turn him into an officer. Again, you have the opportunity to apply for pilot training school when you qualify as an officer, but the competition is just as fierce. It's also necessary for you to begin training as a fighter pilot before you turn 27, so this third option is only available for a limited time. Steve Dolan always wanted to be top gun but didn't quite make it. Find out how you can make the grade at http://www.fighterpilotweb.com ]]> Aviation: Having Fun In The Sky, Part 2 http://www.artwoo.com/article/aviation-having-fun-in-the-sky-part-2 http://www.artwoo.com/article/aviation-having-fun-in-the-sky-part-2#comments Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:40:01 +0000 becoming a pilottime skydiversskydivingsecurity checkpointsfear of heightsexcruciating painexperiences http://www.artwoo.com/article/aviation-having-fun-in-the-sky-part-2
Where have you always wanted to go but could not because of time constraints and lack of money? When you are the pilot, no where is off limits. Been meaning to go to Ireland? Jamaica? No problem, since now you have your own plane and can fly there yourself.

Not to mention you bypass the headache everyone must face now in going to the airport. Why wait in line for hours and go through when you can take off whenever you want and go wherever you want? Flying can now become a fun, relaxing, educational experience rather than the it is now.

Another recreational activity that can be done with flying is . Skydiving is enjoyed by thousands of people each year. One of the most gratifying is conquering your , getting a rush from the free-fall or just plain doing something new and exciting.

For first , tandem diving is recommended. With this method, you do not need to learn how to skydive at all but can still enjoy the feeling. A trained professional is connected to you while you jump and they do all the necessary work as you have all the fun. Sounds like a good combination? It is.

For other more seasoned skydivers, there is always the accelerated free-fall. In this method, a person can move faster towards their goal by completing this as a first jump and getting closer to full certification. This is for serious jumpers that intend to continue skydiving for some time.

So, all of this fun and excitement stems from the wonderful invention and profession of aviation. So many opportunities presented themselves when the first plane was flown. Whether one experiences it first hand by learning to fly and or uses a plane to take a trip or to participate in a fun activity such as skydiving, everyone benefits from its practice. Like to fly? Visit Aviation Social Networking at http://www.trueaviation.com/ ]]>