Module #1

Captain Drake’s Pricing: $4,000
Package Includes:

• Up to 7 nights at the Captain Drake’s lodge or RV parking space
  
  

•        Phase 2) Student Intake paperwork/student certificate required per FAR 61.423

•        Phase 3) Ground school / classroom time

•        Phase 4) Pre-solo flight training (10 hrs dual flight instruction)
  
  

Training materials and home study products/expenses and FAA knowledge test fees are paid to third parties and are not included in the Unit #1 pricing. Prices for these items/services may vary. Please ask us for recommendations on which products to choose. Expect to invest about $300–$500 on these products/services if you are completing a sport pilot certificate program.
If you are a local student that does not require flight training related housing as part of your flight training package, please ask about our local client discount.

Phase 1 – Introductory Flight Lesson

(Milestone one; first lesson)
Currently offered at $200

Includes ground briefing and 0.5–1.0 hrs dual flight instruction. The candidate will have the opportunity to take the flight controls in a safe and systematic setting.

Purpose: The purpose of an introductory flight lesson is to be a bridge for the person who seeks to learn more about actually becoming a pilot. The introductory flight is meant to be a low stress highly enjoyable flight. Many important things happen in this first lesson.

Some of the value of this first lesson is to allow the candidate to feel the actual sensations of the aircraft in flight, how it moves and sounds in real life. It is well known and documented that Flight instruction and the pursuit of a pilot certificate requires serious commitment of both time and money. What is not so well advertised and understood is that during the student and instructor relationship those two individuals are quite literally trusting one another with their lives and often livelihoods. Both will experience long hours, mood swings, learning plateaus and setbacks, and ultimately forward progress toward a significant goal. Like a marriage, these two people must be able to get along and work with one another in and outside of the cockpit. Trust and communication are key elements in this relationship and the introductory flight is a great place to find out if this relationship is any kind of a fit for both parties.

Phase 2 – Intake and Enrollment

(Milestone two; completion of your IACRA profile and student certificate application)

Purpose: To enroll the new student pilot in the Captain Drake’s program, build their IACRA profile, print out their course syllabus, and begin the formal progression toward an FAA airman certificate.

A decent amount of time should be allocated (think several hours) for all these steps. This should not be rushed, let your Certified Flight Instructor hold your hand and get your paperwork in order from the beginning. These steps will save you countless hours and future frustrations over the course of your flight training. Everything your CFI does in this phase is a service to you and one of the ways that keeps you on track toward your goal. The work your CFI puts in now will translate to saved time and money later.

Phase 3 – Ground Training Program

Our ground training program is unique and particularly focused to be effective to both FAR 103 students as well as to our FAR 61 sport pilots. We include several different sections each under the overriding heading of “ground school”; the charges are built into our flight training Module pricing. Our goal is to provide excellent and thorough training with a holistic approach.

Purpose: When most folks think of “ground school” they believe the sole point of it and therefore what they are paying for, is passing the knowledge test. This could not be farther from the truth! Yes, (at the earliest stage of training) the knowledge test is a milestone we are looking to achieve. However, I inform my students that there are five important outcomes we want from ground school.

1.        1. Build a vocabulary and common base of knowledge to be able to better communicate with your CFI about these technical subjects.

2.        2. Passing the FAA knowledge test (multiple guess test with 70% being a passing score).

3.        3. Preparing for the 61.87 (b) required pre-solo knowledge test (100% required passing grade essay test).

4.        4. Preparing for the oral portion of the FAA Practical test (100% passing grade oral questioning on all subjects listed in the Practical test standards).

5.        5. Last and the most important! 100% passing grade on the never ending test of staying safe and alive as a (passenger carrying) legal pilot faced with real world life and death
          challenges.
   
   

Ground school is ongoing throughout your training and is where the vast majority of the learning actually takes place. Your phase three training will be made up of: classroom study and lectures, home study with test prep software, work groups of you and other flight students going over the material together, and lots of reading of technical subject areas, pre and post flight briefings, hangar flying with your CFI and classmates! It truly pays to be a self starter here in this phase. Your very professional CFI will guide you, provide classroom lectures and projects for you, will encourage you to work in groups with other students, will provide you with materials, and will follow up with you. BUT… you ultimately have to consume and digest this huge volume of information, nobody can do that for you.

We will cover: preparation for FAA knowledge test (milestone; knowledge test). Practical (hands-on) working shop lessons on aircraft anatomy, aerodynamics, aircraft systems, weather, airspace, preflight checks, cross country flight planning and so on. Our typical sport pilot student will acquire approximately 60 hrs total ground instruction time (see Captain Drake’s specific ground school syllabus) by the time they complete a sport pilot practical test.

Phase 4 – Pre-Solo Flight Training

(Milestone; Sport pilots – completion of FAR 61.87 requirements / FAR 103 Ultralight pilots – Ability to go explore the exciting world of flying your ultralight)
Includes 10 hrs dual instruction logged.

Purpose: To gain actual flight experience and solid flying skills in all maneuvers required under 61.87. This phase of flight training builds the (stick and rudder flying skills) foundation upon which any and all future airman certificates and ratings will be based.

Specific training details, maneuvers, FAR 61.87 requirements, and notes about average student hours vs FAA minimums remain exactly as you provided.