Dreaming of becoming a private pilot? The first step is to join a flight school, where you will take ground classes and accumulate the minimum required 40 hours of flight time. (However, most students will get about 60 to 80 hours.)

It isn’t easy, though… but you can do it!

You’ll have to learn how to maneuver the air craft, navigate, and handle cross county flights. You are then given exams (called “check rides”) which includes an oral exam and a demo flight. Only then will you be given a pilot’s license.

Some pilots can get frustrated by the process. Arthur Hayssen, one of Northern California’s most respected flight instructors and aviation safety advocates in Northern California, gives these tips to help aspiring pilots “stay on course”:

1. There are no shortcuts.
While new programs promise the fast track to a license (charging thousands of dollars, of course) Hayssen says that there’s nothing like old-fashioned studying and practice. You’ll have to understand the plane, go through exercises that teach you how to handle everything from turbulence to a broken engine.

Understandably, you won’t automatically be allowed to fly solo. Don’t be impatient. One day, your passengers will be placing their lives in your hands—your skills, experience and confidence will come from knowing the plane inside out.

2. Don’t be discouraged by the costs.
First of all, following your dream is priceless. Second of all, there are many affordable courses. “The ground school’ at our local college, which prepares students for the academic part of the licensing process, costs about $40.00. The same amount of class time, privately tutored, would cost (more…)

1) Why do you love Aviation?

Being airborne provides a perspective on the earth not available in any other way. In 30 years of flying, I’ve never tired of viewing the ever changing patterns of both the human and natural landscapes on the planet’s surface.

Additionally, aviation has a cast of interesting characters not equaled by many communities.

2) Why did you start up North Coast Air?

I developed North Coast air as an alternative to other aircraft rental and flight school operations that I experienced as a student and renter. Many of my early instructors were on a fast track to other aviation jobs, using instruction as a time builder to apply for airline flying jobs. They found little joy in teaching, even annoyed that they needed to build experience in that way.

My goal was to assemble a group of professional and personable instructors who shared my passion for teaching. A goal for North Coast Air was to provide well-maintained rental aircraft, not sacrificing safety to cut costs. I believe we have succeeded on both accounts.

3) What is the most rewarding part of being a Flight Instructor?

Facilitating student pilots in achieving their dreams of flying and becoming licensed pilots provides great satisfaction to me. A number of those students have gone on to become captains of major U.S. airlines.

4) What is one affordable tip to get your Pilot’s License for the person on a budget?

Stay on track, do your homework, and study the old-fashioned way. A “ground school’ at our local college, which prepares students for the academic part of the licensing process, costs about $40.00. The same amount of class time, privately tutored, would cost $2,400.00.

5) What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Determining the best teaching technique for individuals of widely ranging aptitudes, personalities, and styles of learning.

6) What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring Pilot?

Stick with your goal. There are always ups and downs emotionally in training. Realize that you WILL feel discouraged at times, but that persistence will facilitate achieving your goal.

7) What changes for the better do hope to see with Sonoma County Airport by 2010?

These are exciting times at the Sonoma county Airport. The Sonoma Jet Center recently opened as a full service FBO (fixed base operator) to provide first class service for not only transient corporate jet owners and operators, but for locally based aircraft owners and operators as a whole.

With the return of scheduled air service by Horizon Air and Horizon’s high initial ridership (80% plus seats filled on a weekly basis), the airport has been revitalized. Aircraft activity overall is up substantially this year.

In the next 5 years I hope to see a continuing upswing in that air activity with a healthy mix of recreational, corporate, air taxi, and air carrier flying. Instrumental to an expanded air carrier presence will be the long delayed lengthening of our main runway to accommodate the new fuel efficient, quiet aircraft which regional airlines could operate profitably out of our airport.

Become a Pilot, Rent Aircraft and more at http://www.NorthCoastAir.com

For more information email Art Hayssen at: norcoast@sonic.net

We look forward turning your dreams of flying into a reality!

Pilot’s Compartment
Note: This is a general checklist. Please advise your POH guide for accurate and complete details when flying your specific aircraft.

DA Form 2408 - Check.
Status today
Servicing
Weight and balance forms, if applicable.
Battery master switch - OFF.
Ignition switches - OFF.
Flap selector - Full down.
Crew oxygen masks - Check condition (3) (60-3762 through 62-4171)
Hydraulic hand pump handle - Stowed
Oxygen supply value - As desired (62-4172 and subsequent) (more…)