Debunking myths
I cant become a pilot because I wear glasses - FALSE. Chances are good that if you have a drivers license, you qualify for most pilots licenses
Learning to fly is expensive. I cant afford that - While it's not cheap, making a few small sacrifices can afford you the ability to learn to fly. Many pilots fly 1 or 2 lessons per week at a cost of around $125 to $150 per 1 hour lesson.
- Do you eat out a lot? At $10 a day eating out, that's $70 a week. Pack a lunch and your half way there!
- Love Starbucks? Me too, but replacing a $5 Cafe Mocha per day for a coffee prepared at home could save you $35 a week.
Both of those sacrifices could put $105 a week toward your flying lessons. Your almost there!
- Do you smoke? Then STOP! That alone will probably fund your flying lessons and make you healthier in the long run.
- Want a new car? Fight the urge and don't buy that new car. Pay off your existing car and your car payment money will likely fund your lessons.
As you can see, just a few sacrifices can make learning to fly possible.
Small Airplanes are Dangerous! - FALSE. It is difficult to gather the exact data because not all flights are recorded by the FAA, however it has been estimated that flying in a small plane is somewhere in the spectrum of "safer then riding a motorcycle but slightly more dangerous then driving in a car". Small aircraft typicaly have simple, reliable, and redundant systems. Your pilot's choices provide the key to a safe flight. (See "I dont need to preflight the airplane" below.)
Experimental aircraft are dangerous - FALSE. Experimental means that the aircraft was not built at a factory. Many Homebuilt or "Experimental" aircraft are very safe such as (but not limited to) the "Vans aircraft" series (RV-x) and some even have additional safety measures and equipment that is not readily available in commercial aircraft. In addition, many warbirds are now registered as Experimental because some parts were not available and must be custom made.
What kind of idiot goes flying without a flight plan? - The news media criticized Steve Fossett for going flying without a flight plan. A Flight plan is generally used when there is a specific plan to get from point A to point B. Many Sight seeing flights and flights the depart and return to the same airport are flown every day without a flight plan.
I don't need to pre-flight the airplane. I was the last one to fly it and I locked it in my hanger - FALSE FALSE FALSE!! Have you ever seen rust form on your airplane right before your eyes? No. It happens slowly over time. Do bolts wait to come loose until you are staring at them? NO. They vibrate loose over time (and maybe on your last flight!) Does the gas tank leave you a note when it decides to leak? NO. Gas evaporates quickly and will leave little or no warning and gauges are frequently inaccurate.
Preflights take just a few minutes and are a crucial step to eliminating unnecessary risks or even accidents and deaths. Isn't you life worth 5 minutes? If you answered YES, do a preflight! (See Samurai Airmanship by Rod Machado
A new pilot is more dangerous - False. Most accidents happen after the 250 hour mark. Some pilots become complacent after time which starts the chain of events that leads to an accident/incident.
