Resource FAQs

Here are some questions that we are asked frequently:

Can you help me with my cross-country flight planning? (top)
Absolutely. AOPA members have access to our Real-Time Flight Planner, a tool that assists with flight planning and weather gathering. Ask your instructor when it would be appropriate to begin using this powerful tool; initially, it may be best used to validate your manual calculations. Additionally, we have a staff of experienced flight instructors, pilots, and mechanics standing by to assist you with any flight-planning question you may have.
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Can you help me understand the many aeronautical chart symbols? (top)
Yes, we can. Learning how to read and interpret a sectional chart can be a daunting task. Even though each chart includes a very detailed legend, not all symbols are shown there. There is a little known but very helpful guide that shows all chart symbols, not just the common ones -- see the Aeronautical Chart User's Guide in our online library.
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Do all cross-country flights need to be 50 miles long? (top)
The answer to this question depends on who is asking. For a student pilot working on a private pilot certificate, only the solo cross-country flights that include a landing point of more than 50 nautical miles from the point of departure can be counted toward that certificate's cross-country flight requirements. Sport pilot certification requires shorter distances, which include 25 or 15 nautical miles depending on the aircraft privileges being sought.
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What can I do if I am having problems with my instructor? (top)
While most student/instructor relationships work out very well, a small number do not. In flight training, as with most any other endeavor, personalities, teaching styles, and schedules can and do clash. The result can be an unpleasant learning experience that can adversely affect a student to the point he or she is unwilling to continue flying. Fortunately, this problem has been addressed before and can be resolved; it usually involves switching instructors to someone you can better associate with.
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What career advice can you offer a beginning pilot? (top)
If you plan to fly as a career, you must first earn the basic pilot certificates and ratings -- private pilot certificate, instrument rating, and commercial pilot certificate. While most people think of flying for the airlines, many others job opportunities do exist in aviation -- charter flying, corporate flying, aerial patrols, traffic pilot, firefighting, agricultural flying, and flight instructing, to name a few. If your interest is in personal flying, however, all you need is an entry-level pilot certificate -- sport, recreational, or pilot (you can always upgrade later). The bottom line: determine what path you want to follow and set your sights on achieving that goal.
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Should I purchase aircraft renter's insurance as a student pilot or wait until I get my private pilot certificate? What does aircraft renter's insurance actually cover? (top)
While your flight instructor is the person responsible for your training aircraft when you fly together, you are responsible for it while flying solo. It is wise to purchase renter's insurance prior to your first solo. While nobody plans on an accident, it is best to be covered from the beginning. Even seemingly minor incidents, such as a propeller strike or lightly bumping another aircraft while taxiing, can be very costly to repair. Renter's insurance covers damage you do to an aircraft you do not own.
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Can I log pilot in command (PIC) time when I fly solo? (top)
Yes, you may. Federal Aviation Regulation 61.51(e)(4) states that a student pilot who is undergoing training for a pilot certificate may log PIC time when he or she is the sole occupant of the aircraft. The student pilot must have a current solo flight endorsement as required under FAR 61.87, as well as a current student pilot certificate/medical certificate. So be sure to log all of your applicable solo time as PIC time.
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Am I required to solo in a light-sport aircraft if training for a sport pilot certificate? (top)
Yes. According to Federal Aviation Regulation 61.89(c), a student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate may only act as pilot in command (solo) of an aircraft that is a light-sport aircraft.
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Can I take a friend or family member along on my solo flights? (top)
No, you may not do this as a student pilot. Federal Aviation Regulation 61.89(a) prohibits a student pilot from acting as pilot in command of an aircraft while carrying passengers.