What You Actually Need to Start Flight Training

The most affordable headsets can go for anywhere from $150–400. These will be sufficient for the brand-new private student. In the long term, we recommend purchasing a more expensive headset with Active Noise Reduction (ANR). These are not only more comfortable, but will also help protect your long-term hearing — which is very important when working with loud airplanes!

The syllabus outlines your training. It establishes what is covered in each lesson, including knowledge and maneuvers. Students should refer to this syllabus prior to each flight and familiarize themselves with the content of each lesson. Any subjects being introduced should be studied by the student. This will reduce lesson time on the ground and in the air, ensuring a faster course of training and reducing student spending.

The Jeppesen Guided Discovery book is designed to introduce a pilot to all ground knowledge topics covered by flight training. Students are encouraged to read each chapter applicable to their next lesson to ensure a sound understanding of fundamental concepts pertaining to aviation.

Example: the syllabus states that after Flight Lesson 2, the student should study Ground Lesson 4: “The Flight Environment”. Ground Lesson 4 in the syllabus will advise the student to read Chapter 4 Sections A–D in the Guided Discovery book.

The FAR/AIM is an FAA-published book consisting of the Federal Aviation Regulations found in 14 CFR, and the Aeronautical Information Manual. Students are required to have a basic understanding of applicable regulations found in Part 43, Part 61, Part 67 & 68, and Part 91, and should be familiar with the Information Manual. A current copy of the FAR/AIM is required to take the Private Checkride.

The ACS provides an outline of all tasks which must be covered during your checkride, and standards that must be met. While a digital copy of the ACS is sufficient reference for flight training, we encourage students to have a physical copy of the booklet in hand during their checkride.

The E6B is required for cross-country flight planning. It can be either a paper “whiz wheel” or a digital calculator. While some E6Bs can be downloaded onto your phone, your phone cannot be used while taking the knowledge test.

The maneuvers manual provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform each maneuver taught in flight training, as well as skills students will obtain from each maneuver. Students who study the maneuvers listed in the syllabus prior to each flight lesson will spend less time on the ground and in the air learning the maneuvers, reducing time spent in each lesson and lowering the cost of training.

The test guide provides a bank of hundreds of questions similar to what you’ll see when you take the FAA Knowledge Test. Continuous self-quizzing of the questions in the book until you’re consistently answering all questions right (while understanding why they’re right) is the best way to study for the written.

Sectional charts can be purchased for the New York region for around $20 online. As these expire every 56 days, we advise students not to purchase them until Stage II. A current sectional chart is required for cross-country training and the checkride.

A plotter is used on a sectional chart to draw courses, measure distances and determine true course. It will be used alongside the sectional chart and E6B for cross-country training.

A VLD can come in the form of a “hood” or “foggles”. These will be required for instrument training as well as for 3 hours of simulated instrument training in the private course. Private students will also have to demonstrate unusual attitude recovery during the checkride, which will require a VLD. Both foggles and hoods can be purchased for around $20 online.

A PIM can be thought of as your airplane’s owner’s manual. It provides information on normal and emergency procedures, airspeed and weight and balance limits, and expected aircraft performance. This will be required for cross-country training. Note that a PIM is not the airplane’s specific Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). The POH or AFM is specific to each individual airplane, while the PIM is provided by the manufacturer for a range of airplanes depending on serial numbers.

Now that you’ve graduated the Private course, it’s time to move on to more modern equipment. EFBs provide a place to store and review documents in-flight, and can be used for flight planning and navigation. Most pilots use a standard iPad or tablet. Students should not rely on their phone as an EFB due to the small screen and lack of backup in case of failure (overheating, battery depletion and so on).