Jerry Eichenberger - Your Pilots License

Your Pilots License

From the McGraw-Hill PRACTICAL FLYING SERIES

Cross-Country Flying

Jerry A. Eichenberger

Handling In-Flight Emergencies

Jerry A. Eichenberger

The ABCs of Safe FlyingFourth Edition

David A. Frazier

The Pilots Air Traffic Control HandbookThird Edition

Paul E. Illman

The Pilots Radio Communications HandbookFifth Edition

Paul E. Illman

Weather Reports, Forecasts, and Flight PlanningThird Edition

Terry Lankford

Understanding Aeronautical ChartsSecond Edition

Terry Lankford

Better Takeoffs and Landings

Michael C. Love

Seventh Edition

Jerry A. Eichenberger

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Your Pilots License is now ending its fourth decade of publication. I remember reading the First Edition of this book, written by the late Joe Christy, when I was a student pilot. Ive had the honor of carrying on the two most recent revisions of Joes excellent work. The Sixth Edition was written in 1999, and a lot has changed since then that affects every fledgling pilot. These changes merit another revision to bring this book up to date.

This book is for both prospective and beginning pilots. It is not intended to be a formal text for, or to replace, ground school training. What this book will do is explain what a newcomer to the aviation world can expect to encounter, explore some licensing options, and cover some of the basics of aeronautical knowledge that will get far more complete treatment once you begin ground school. This book now covers not only the training steps to achieve a private pilots license, but also discusses other options, such as the sport pilot and recreational pilot certificates and flying sailplanes, and the changes in the flight training industry that have occurred since 1999. The simple and straightforward approach of previous editions is retained, so that you are not confronted with overly complicated terms and subject areas. The theory of flight, navigation, control techniques, weather basics, air traffic rules, and aircraft instrumentation are all covered in easy-to-understand language that will not intimidate even the reader with no prior exposure to flying.

Virtually anyone can learn to fly and become a safe and competent aviator. With the coming of the newly created sport pilot license, this statement is truer than ever before. Yet all pilots need a good foundation in the basics and must have a willingness to expend the needed effort in order to enjoy this exciting new venture.

The world of the pilot and of personal aviation is boundless. Through these pages you can begin to understand why most pilots say, The worst day flying is better than the best day doing anything else. Happy flying!

Jerry A. Eichenberger

Every pilot will probably have a different answer to this question. The important and correct answer depends upon you and your interests in life. Do you enjoy an exciting, yet safe challenge? If so, that can be reason enough to learn to fly without going any further. Some pilots, including me, like the idea of being able to do something that not everyone can do. Some people like watching other people do something, while others prefer to be doing it themselves. Most pilots value highly the fellowship that exists among pilots that transcends the barriers of income, job status, gender, and age that accompany so many other endeavors.