How can I get back into flying

[JPCOYLE]

Just curious. I had a Private Pilots license in the early 1970s. I havent
flown since then. Do I have to start over or is there a process to renew
with less time. I know that I will need a lot of retraining.

Thanks,

-Joe

[Newps]

Find an instructor. You need a BFR at a minimum.



JPCOYLE wrote:
> Just curious. I had a Private Pilots license in the early 1970s. I havent
> flown since then. Do I have to start over or is there a process to renew
> with less time. I know that I will need a lot of retraining.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Joe
>

[Jim Macklin]

Best link http://www.aopa.org/learntofly/getback.html for a
series of step by step articles with guidelines by date you
last flew.



"JPCOYLE" <u26966@uwe> wrote in message
news:66a439b661d24@uwe...
| Just curious. I had a Private Pilots license in the early
1970s. I havent
| flown since then. Do I have to start over or is there a
process to renew
| with less time. I know that I will need a lot of
retraining.
|
| Thanks,
|
| -Joe
|

[Matt Whiting]

JPCOYLE wrote:

> Just curious. I had a Private Pilots license in the early 1970s. I havent
> flown since then. Do I have to start over or is there a process to renew
> with less time. I know that I will need a lot of retraining.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Joe
>

Do you still have your license or did you surrender it to the FAA when
you stopped flying? If you kept it, you need a BFR (probably a very
extensive one!) and you should be good to go. Obviously, you also need
a current medical.

Matt

[Mortimer Schnerd, RN[_2_]]

JPCOYLE wrote:
> Just curious. I had a Private Pilots license in the early 1970s. I havent
> flown since then. Do I have to start over or is there a process to renew
> with less time. I know that I will need a lot of retraining.


I went through the same thing last year after a 15 year hiatus. Here's the
order I suggest:

1) Get a current third class medical. If you can't get one of these, there's
no point in looking any further or spending another dime.

2) Call around to the local FBOs and find an instructor / rental aircraft
situation you're comfortable with. I'd suggest you try to find the same kind of
aircraft you're most accustomed to if it's common enough. In my case, it was
the C-172, so that was no problem.

3) Drag out your old textbooks and look them over. Ignore the FAR section.

4) Buy a current copy of the AIM/FAR from Sporty's or whomever and set it by
the throne in the bathroom. Every time you go in there for a spell, read a
section of regulations or anything else that you know you're weak on. Spend
some time on this before you actually go to fly.

5) When you go for your first flight, tell the man you want a BFR but you
haven't flown in 30 years. You'll go out and do some airwork mixed with a
couple of hours of ground school. Do not expect to leave that day with a
current BFR... it's going to take a few sessions to get you back up to speed.

6) At whatever point the instructor is convinced you can go out flying without
having to alert Civil Defense, he/she'll sign your BFR and you're good to go...
VFR at least. How many sessions it takes is up to you. Performance is
everything. I got mine in two sessions.

As an aside, I picked up something from watching a Blue Angels documentary that
helped me when I was going to get reacquainted with the Arrow after so many
years away: before their flights they sit and imagine the flight... in your
case, every aspect of preflight, engine start, etc. I daydreamed my flight all
the way on the drive to the airport and when I actually climbed in, it was like
I had never left. I had to be reminded where the fuel drains were but very
little else.

Good luck and welcome back.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

[Steve Foley[_2_]]

"JPCOYLE" <u26966@uwe> wrote in message news:66a439b661d24@uwe...
> Just curious. I had a Private Pilots license in the early 1970s. I havent
> flown since then. Do I have to start over or is there a process to renew
> with less time. I know that I will need a lot of retraining.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Joe
>

The only area I differ with everyone else is in getting a medical. If you
fail the exam, you cannot fly. If you do not try to get a medical, you can
still fly as a sport pilot.

Hopefully, this won't be an issue.