Becoming a Private Pilot is broken down into a few basic steps.

1) Medical exam (Third Class)
2) Solo Flights
3) Written Exam
4) Oral and Flying exam (The "Checkride")

In terms of training, there are two different parts. Learning to fly the airplane, and the ground training. Most of the ground training can be taken in group classes at West Valley or there are very good DVD courses that can be taken. I encourage people to get the Medical exam done as soon as possible. The medical exam is easy to pass if you are healthy, have good hearing and vision (glasses and contacts are OK). If you take medication or have a medical condition, it may take longer to receive. I highly advise speaking to the FAA medical division before you take a medical exam to find out if a condition could disqualify you or not. A medical certificate is needed before any solo flights can be done.

Cost
To get your Private Pilots license, the minimum cost starts at $13,000 and goes up from there. The largest variable in cost is how quickly a student learns. The national average is 75 hours in the airplane, in a 5 to 6 month time frame. The cost of the aircraft rental is from $100-$140 per hour that the engine is on. My instructing rate is $55/hr. The total cost consists of the instructor and the aircraft rental, plus an addition $1000 for supplies and examination fees.

Other Lessons
I offer other types of training besides the Private Pilot. People who want training to build more confidence and sharpen their skills are always welcome. For specific training I offer Commercial Pilot, Multi Engine, Bi-annual Flight Review, Mountain Checkout and Aircraft Checkout with West Valley Flying Club. For Multi Engine training I can currently instruct in the BE-76 and BE-55. Please contact me if you have another Multi Engine plane and would like training.