Pilot Eyes
Why Is a Private Pilot Commonly Called an Amateur Pilot?
The media is always on hand when an accident or incident involving a general aviation aircraft occurs. It seems that they watch for anything negative to promote regarding small airplanes and private pilots. Be it for tv ratings, newspaper circulation, magazine sales, etc the watchful eye of the media has always been quick to carefully detail airplane crashes and near misses between small planes. The private pilot is always being scrutinized in the media and in many cases being referred to as an amateur pilot. The word amateur is defined in numerous ways. It can be defined as a person attached to a particular pursuit or study without formal training or pay. Another definition is someone who pursues a study or sport as an informal pastime or hobby. The definitions are similar and broad. The problem is that the term amateur pilot paints the picture of an individual who reads a magazine on flying airplanes, and then hops into the nearest cockpit and flies away. Acquiring a private pilot certificate and the legal means to fly an airplane indeed requires formal training as well as certain medical requirements as well as successful completion of numerous tests. So where does the word amateur come into the picture? In comparison, a private pilot flying for hobby and fun does in fact need substantially less training then a commercial pilot flying cargo or human beings across the sky professionally.
Flying for sport or hobby requires a private pilot certificate in the USA. There are also certificates available that require less training such as the Sport Pilot certificate. This certification carries with it certain stipulations due to the fact that it requires less training and is less costly to the student. The private certificate however provides the pilot with the ability to fly in controlled airspace which can be critical depending on where he or she lives or flies. Another difference between these two certificates is the need for a medical exam by a certified medical examiner specifically qualified and approved by the FAA. A Sport pilot certificate does not require the student to pass an aviation medical exam.
Future pilots must be able to understand, speak, and read the English language. Aircraft control towers and airports, use the English language for communication. This is actually true in most airports around the world, even where English is not the native language. Choosing a flight school is very important. Information is always available at your local general aviation airports. Training does not come cheap. A private pilot certificate requires forty hours minimum of actual flying time. This includes the time in the airplane with an instructor as well as time spent flying solo. Many flight schools recommend students seek a medical certificate from your local FAA certified physician prior to starting any training. The medical exam is a general physical meant to encompass the senses required for flying a plane as well as a general check of the heart and its health. Once the student has passed that, your flight school or private flight instructor will begin the process of both ground training as well as in-flight training. Ground school varies tremendously among students based on amount of time spent per week along with the rate of material absorption. Student pilots can acquire information through a variety of methods including the internet, training videos, and good old fashion books and manuals. At some point in your training beyond basic ground school, student pilots have to take a multiple choice written test, nowadays typically from a computer terminal, with software provided by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Upon passing the written FAA test, as it is referred to, you need to log in-flight training hours beyond the minimums required by the FAA. For a private certificate, students need to log solo time, night flying time, and demonstrate the ability to successfully compete cross-country flights which are flights from one airport to another. A check-ride, or final test, is then required with your local FAA designated examiner. The checkride (or final exam) includes an oral test accompanied by a practical test where the student must demonstrate a variety of specific maneuvers and familiarity with the airplane. This is the point where the word amateur becomes skewed. With all the requirements met and tests passed, the student will be issued a private pilot certificate. Although a pilot’s experience is measured over time in flying hours and new pilots certainly lack air time when compared to a pilot who has been flying for years or even decades, it still seems a bit harsh to label a private pilot as an amateur pilot.
About the Author
Chet owns and operates Eye of the Pilot, a amateur pilot network dedicated to sharing the experience of general aviation and the adventure of being an amateur or private pilot. You can visit Eye of the Pilot to view general aviation pilot home videos and airplane and pilot pictures submitted by members. Account signup is free for pilots of any rating.
Pilot eye Austrian Airbus A321 Barcelona
|
|
2 White Eye Grey Dial AK-Homme Mens Pilot Dream Automatic Mechanical Wrist Watch $15.78 |
|
|
Vintage Pilot bike/Motorcycle Clear Lenses Goggle Glasses Sunglasses Eye Wear $5.98 |
|
|
Vintage Pilot bike/Motorcycle Silver Lenses Goggle Glasses Sunglasses Eye Wear $5.98 |
|
|
09 PILOT KINGMAN SPYDER PILOT PAINTBALL GUN WITH EYES.MASK ,TANK ,LOADER $159.95 |
|
|
09 PILOT KINGMAN SPYDER PILOT PAINTBALL GUN WITH EYES.MASK ,TANK ,JT LOADER $169.95 |
|
|
Private Eye (1987) VHS SFx PAL Esselte Josh Brolin Michael Woods TV-Pilot $10.79 |
|
|
NEW Cruiz’n Pilot CZ-112 Cobra Eyes LED Lights $0.99 |
|
|
Green Pilot Eye Dropper Fountain Pen $1.00 |
|
|
Wilson, Ned For Pilot’s Eyes Only: confessions of a … $180.00 |
|
|
16Pixs Signed!! FOR PILOTS EYES ONLY Ned Wilson Pilot $199.96 |
|
|
Grey Tone 2 White Eyes AK-Homme Pilot Day Date Mens Automatic Mechanical Watch $34.99 |
|
|
AK-Homme Pilot Grey Tone 2 White Eyes Day Date Mens Automatic Mechanical Watch $31.57 |
|
|
2 Black Eyes White Dial AK-Homme Mens Pilot Day Date Automatic Mechanical Watch $34.99 |
|
|
Vintage B&L Ray Ban USA Green Aviators Pilot Sunglasses Bausch Lomb Eye Wear $134.99 |
|
|
Vintage B&L Ray Ban USA Green Aviators Pilot Sunglasses Bausch Lomb Eye Wear $149.99 |
|
|
09 PILOT KINGMAN SPYDER PILOT PAINTBALL GUN WITH EYES.MASK ,TANK ,LOADER $134.95 |
|
|
09 PILOT KINGMAN SPYDER PILOT PAINTBALL GUN WITH EYES.MASK ,TANK ,LOADER $119.95 |
|
|
09 PILOT KINGMAN SPYDER PILOT PAINTBALL GUN WITH EYES $99.95 |
|
|
PILOT monday tuesday 7″ b/w evil eye (arista139) uk arista 1977 $11.62 |
|
|
MODERN OIL PAINTING FRAMED PILOT BIRD’S EYE VIEW $298.00 |
|
|
PO-1M Original Russian AF Pilot Bug Eye Goggles+Dark Lenses+Certificates+Box $59.99 |
|
|
09-10 HONDA PILOT FOG LIGHT Driver Side HO2594100 NEW $92.68 |
|
|
09-10 HONDA PILOT FOG LIGHT Passenger Side HO2595100 NEW $92.68 |
|
|
03-05 HONDA PILOT TAIL LIGHT Passenger Side HO2801154 NEW $70.87 |
|
|
03-05 HONDA PILOT TAIL LIGHT Driver Side HO2800154 NEW $70.87 |
|
|
03-05 HONDA PILOT HEADLIGHT Passenger Side HO2519105 NEW $69.72 |
|
|
03-05 HONDA PILOT HEADLIGHT Driver Side HO2518105 NEW $69.72 |
|
|
06-08 HONDA PILOT HEADLIGHT Driver Side HO2518110 NEW $168.37 |
|
|
06-08 HONDA PILOT HEADLIGHT Passenger Side HO2519110 NEW $168.37 |
|
|
06-08 HONDA PILOT TAIL LIGHT Driver Side HO2800162 NEW $79.64 |
|
|
Globe Trekker: Original Journeys $8.99 … |
|
|
Stallone: Music From The Films Of Sylvester Stallone $16.98 … |
|
|
End of Silence $24.49 UK reissue of 1992 album that’s unavailable in the US. Remastered by Henry Rollins, the first disc includes one bonus track, ‘Next Time’. The initial limited copies of the album include a bonus disc pulling together studio & live material including extend… |
|
|
Night Gallery (The Premiere Collection) – Three Episodes [VHS] $0.99 … |
|
|
Hawkeye:Pilot [VHS] $12.98 … |
|
|
A 747 Pilots-Eye-View … |
|
|
10609 Smith & Wesson Caliber Sunglasses $13.49 ANTI-FOG SCRATCH RESISTANT SMOKE POLYCARBONATE LENSES WRAP AROUND PROTECTION ERGONOMIC RUBBER NOSE PAD AND CONTOURED RUBBER TEMPLES FOR MAXIMUM COMFORT MEETS ANSI Z87.1+ SAFETY STANDARDS CSA Z94.3 COMPLIANT POLY BAGGED… |
|
|
Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – Helicopter Pilot – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
|
|
Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – Helicopter Pilot – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
|
|
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes $1.99 … |
|
|
View Showing the Eyes of an Army Pilot $69.99 Dmitri Kessel View Showing the Eyes of an Army Pilot – Photographic Print |
|
|
Pilot $8.34 Pilot |
|
|
A Portrait of Pilot James Joseph Patrick Nolan, Squinting His Eyes to Block Out the Sun $69.99 A Portrait of Pilot James Joseph Patrick Nolan, Squinting His Eyes to Block Out the Sun – Photographic Print |
|
|
Eyes $8.47 Eyes |
|
|
The Eyes $11.91 The Eyes |
|
|
Bright Eyes $9.85 Despite stiff competition like Poor Little Rich Girl and Heidi, Bright Eyes is arguably the best of Shirley Temple’s 1930s vehicles. The little curly-top is cast as Shirley Blake, daughter of Mary Blake (Lois Wilson), the widowed housemaid of snooty J. Wellington and Anita Smythe (Theodore Von Eltz and Dorothy Christy). Though continually terrorized by the Smythe’s obnoxious, doll-destroying daughter Joy (Jane Withers), Shirley finds comfort in the fact that she is the darling of the airplane-pilot buddies of her late father. Especially fond of our heroine is flyboy Loop Merritt, who arranges a birthday party for the girl. Alas, even as Shirley sings “On the Good Ship Lollipop” to a gathering of beaming airmen, her mother Mary is run over by a car while shopping for her daughter’s birthday cake. It thus becomes Loop’s painful duty to tell Shirley that her mother “cracked up,” just like her father did (if this scene doesn’t move the viewer to tears, the viewer is made of granite). Fortunately, the Smythe’s irascible Uncle Ned takes a liking to Shirley, securing her financial future at the expense of his repulsive relatives. But before this happy ending can come about, Shirley must be rescued from an imperiled passenger plane by the resourceful Loop. Though Shirley Temple is inarguably the main drawing card in Bright Eyes, 9-year-old Jane Withers is equally terrific as the pint-sized “villainess”; indeed, some critics felt that Withers stole the show, and it was this as much as anything else that earned Withers her own starring series at 20th Century-Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi |
|
|
Eyes & Eyes & Eyes Ago $18.95 Eyes & Eyes & Eyes Ago |
|
|
KITE PILOT: KITE PILOT $5.53 KITE PILOT: KITE PILOT |
|
|
Pilot and Co-Pilot $24.99 Pilot and Co-Pilot – Photographic Print |
|
|
Shirley Temple – Bright Eyes $12.73 Despite stiff competition like Poor Little Rich Girl and Heidi, Bright Eyes is arguably the best of Shirley Temple’s 1930s vehicles. The little curly-top is cast as Shirley Blake, daughter of Mary Blake (Lois Wilson), the widowed housemaid of snooty J. Wellington and Anita Smythe (Theodore Von Eltz and Dorothy Christy). Though continually terrorized by the Smythe’s obnoxious, doll-destroying daughter Joy (Jane Withers), Shirley finds comfort in the fact that she is the darling of the airplane-pilot buddies of her late father. Especially fond of our heroine is flyboy Loop Merritt, who arranges a birthday party for the girl. Alas, even as Shirley sings On the Good Ship Lollipop to a gathering of beaming airmen, her mother Mary is run over by a car while shopping for her daughter’s birthday cake. It thus becomes Loop’s painful duty to tell Shirley that her mother cracked up, just like her father did (if this scene doesn’t move the viewer to tears, the viewer is made of granite). Fortunately, the Smythe’s irascible Uncle Ned takes a liking to Shirley, securing her financial future at the expense of his repulsive relatives. But before this happy ending can come about, Shirley must be rescued from an imperiled passenger plane by the resourceful Loop. Though Shirley Temple is inarguably the main drawing card in Bright Eyes, 9-year-old Jane Withers is equally terrific as the pint-sized villainess; indeed, some critics felt that Withers stole the show, and it was this as much as anything else that earned Withers her own starring series at 20th Century-Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi Guide |
|
|
The Pilot $8.99 The Pilot’s shadowy hero–modeled on John Paul Jones–leads the American Navy in dangerous raids on the English coast. |
|
|
Pilot Bearing $13.99 Pilot Bearing; |