Privileges: The Private Certificate permits holders to check out in a wide variety of aircraft and to carry passengers virtually anywher. New Private pilots are restricted from flying in non-visual conditions (clouds and other "bad" weather).
Requirements: Applicants need to meet standards in three separate areas to qualify for FAA pilot certificates: Flight experience, Flight skill, and Theoretical understanding.
Flight Experience: An applicant for the Private Pilot certificate must have 40 hours flight time, to include a minimum of 20 hours dual instruction and 10 hours solo. Part 141 students have slightly lower requirements: 35 hours total, to include 20 hours dual and 5 hours solo.
In either case, it is normal for most students to require significantly more time: Private Pilot training nationally averages over 70 hours. The Sunrise Private syllabus is designed to achieve its training goals in 50 hours--40 dual and 10 solo.
Flight Skill: The skills required for the Private Certificate can be grouped into three broad areas:
Solo flight
Cross-country navigation and night flight
Pilot-in-Command experience
In each area, Sunrise aims to deliver training well above the minimum standards established by the FAA. As an example, all Sunrise students are carefully taken through the training necessary to master spins, an element we believe essential in enhancing competence and safety.
Theory & "Knowledge Tests": To thoroughly teach the necessary theory and to prepare students for FAA knowledge exams, Sunrise offers two alternatives: a classroom ground school taught by senior flight instructors and an interactive digital video instruction program. Both provide strong support for student pilots. For your convenience, Sunrise Test Center offers FAA Computer Exam testing on the premises.
Aircraft: Sunrise gives basic instruction in our Cessna 152's, Diamond Eclipse's, Cessna 172's, Decathlons, and Citabrias. All are equipped with voice-actuated intercoms and headsets, a major benefit for the student.
Each type is chosen for its qualities as a training aircraft; regardless which you choose, you will spend some time in our "tailwheels," learning essential skills not commonly available at other schools.
