Pre-requisite: Private Pilot Certificate with 60 hours flight experience
Prairie Air Service, Inc. is a FAR Part 61 flight school, and the minimum
experience required for an FAA commercial pilot certificate is 250 hours; at
least 200 hours have to be flying time, and up to 50 hours can be instruction on
an FAA approved ground training device (i.e. low cost simulator).
The equipment available for your training are several Cessna 150 (click
here for picture) (single engine, 100 HP, 2 seat, 90 knots cruise speed),
a Cessna 172 (click here for picture) (single
engine, 150 HP, 4 seat, 105 knots cruising speed), a Piper Arrow 180 (click
here for picture) (single engine, 180 HP, 4 seat, retractable landing
gear, 135 knots cruise speed), a twin engine Piper Apache 160 (click
here for picture) (2 x 160 HP, 5 seat, retractable landing gear, 135
knots cruise speed), and an ATC-610 flight training device (click
here for picture).
Our specialty at Prairie Air Service, Inc. is multi-engine flight
training. What makes our flight training program different from most other
flight schools is that you will receive your instrument flight training in a
twin engine Piper PA 23-160 Apache, which is equipped with HSI, RMI, DME, RNAV
and Loran, as well as the usual dual nav-com, ILS and ADF required for
instrument training. By receiving your instrument training in a well equipped
multi-engine airplane you will become comfortable with the operation of
equipment you will later on encounter in typical business or airline airplanes,
and you will also become very familiar with multi-engine and complex airplane
procedures. We also offer single engine instrument training in the retractable
gear Piper PA28R-180 Arrow. We discourage instrument training in basic fixed
gear airplanes such as the typically used Cessna 172 or Piper Warrior. Using
retractable gear airplanes helps instrument students develop the procedural
discipline they will need later on in their flying careers.
In order to keep the cost of the instrument training as low as possible,
you will also receive 16 hours of training on the ATC-610 flight training
device. You will first learn the various procedures on the ground in the
simulator, and then practice them in the plane.
We offer four training programs designed to take you from your present
level as a 60 hour private pilot to your FAA commercial certificate with single
and multi engine and instrument ratings. They differ in the amount of multi
engine flight time included.
The first program is the least expensive. All off your flight training is
conducted in single engine airplanes. A multi engine rating can be added after
you have completed your commercial pilot training.
The other three programs include a multi engine rating and all of your instrument flight training in the multi engine Piper Apache. The programs differ in the in the amount of total multi engine flight time included, they include 37, 100 and 150 hours of multi engine flight time, respectively.
Single Engine Instrument and
Commercial Pilot Completion Course: $12,000.00.
This is the least expensive commercial pilot course. It includes 38 hours
of retractable gear flight time. We
will use a Cessna 150 for your time building and also part of your single engine
commercial training (approximately 140 hours: 7 hours dual and 133 hours solo
and / or pilot in command). The ATC-610 flight training device will be used for
approximately 16 hours of initial instrument procedures training. The Piper
Arrow (retractable gear) will be used for the flight portion of the instrument
training and part of your single engine commercial training (approximately 35
hours dual and 3 hour for the instrument and commercial flight tests). This
package includes a total of about 66 hours of instructor time (approximately 42
hours flight, 16 hours flight training device and 10 hours ground instruction).
Single and Multi Engine
Instrument and Commercial Pilot Completion Course #1:
$14,000.00
This training program includes 37
hours of multi engine flight time and a total of 48 hours retractable gear
experience. You will fly the Cessna 150 for of your time building and also part
of your single engine commercial training (approximately 135 hours: 12 hours
dual and 123 hours solo and / or pilot in command). The Piper Arrow (retractable
gear) will also be used for part of your single engine commercial training
(approximately 10 hours dual and 1 hour for the flight test). We will use the
twin engine Piper Apache for your initial multi engine training, the instrument
training, and finally for your multi engine commercial training (approximately
33 hours of dual and 4 hours for three flight tests). The ATC-610 flight
training device will be used for approximately 16 hours of initial instrument
procedures training. This package includes a total of about 85 hours of
instructor time (approximately 55 hours flight, 16 hours flight training device
and 14 hours ground instruction).
Single and Multi Engine
Instrument and Commercial Pilot Completion Course #2:
$16,250.00
This is our premium package which includes 100 hours of multi-engine flight time and a total of 111 hours retractable gear experience. It includes 67 hours Cessna 150, 11 hours Piper Arrow, 100 hours Piper Apache and 16 hours ATC 610 procedures trainer. It also includes 88 hours of instructor time (approximately 58 hours flight, 16 hours flight training device and 14 hours ground instruction). 60 hours of multi engine flight time will be enhanced instrument training and shared flight time: You will fly with another pilot, and one of you will wear a hood and practice instrument procedures, while the other pilot acts as safety pilot. Under this arrangement the FAA allows both pilots to log the flight time. Due to insurance requirements an instructor will be on board on these flights. He will ride in the back seat and act as coach. You will receive enhanced instrument instruction above and beyond the requirements for the instrument rating. If weather conditions permit, a multi-engine mountain flying checkout to Colorado or New Mexico is included in this package at no additional cost.
Single and Multi Engine
Instrument and Commercial Pilot Completion Course #3:
$18,000.00
This is our "deluxe" package which includes 150
hours multi-engine flight time and a total of 161 hours of retractable gear
experience. It includes 22 hours Cessna 150, 11 hours Piper Arrow, 150 hours
Piper Apache and 16 hours ATC 610 procedures trainer. This package also includes
88 hours of instructor time (approximately 58 hours flight, 16 hours flight
training device and 14 hours ground instruction). 110 hours of multi engine
flight time will be enhanced instrument training and shared flight time: You
will fly with another pilot, and one of you will wear a hood and practice
instrument procedures, while the other pilot acts as safety pilot. Under this
arrangement the FAA allows both pilots to log the flight time. Due to insurance
requirements an instructor will be on board on these flights. He will ride in
the back seat and act as coach. You will receive enhanced instrument instruction
above and beyond the requirements for the instrument rating. A multi-engine
mountain flying checkout to Colorado or New Mexico is included. We can also fly
a long multi-engine cross country trip lasting several days to a tourist
attraction such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Niagara Falls. There will be
a fuel surcharge of about $20.00 per hour (shared by both pilots) on long cross
country trips in the Apache, since fuel prices away from our home base are
considerably higher than our bulk fuel costs at home. Any hotel, restaurant and
rental car costs will be additional.
Customized Training Programs:
We can design a training program for you that includes any combination of Cessna
150, Cessna 172, Piper Arrow and Piper Apache time you desire.
The training packages described above are based upon average aptitude and a large amount of self study. They include all applicable taxes.
Duration of Training: Depending on weather conditions your training, if conducted full time, will take about 3 to 4 months.
Ground Instruction: All pre and post flight briefings as well as ground instruction in preparation for your flight tests are included in the above training packages. You will also be given study assignments in conjunction with your flight training. The flight and ground instruction included with the training packages is based on average aptitude and a considerable amount of self study on your part. Any additional instructor time will be billed at $ 30.00 per hour.
Additional Expenses:
Examination Fees:
In addition to the cost of your flight training one of the other expenses will
be fees for the required knowledge exams (formerly called written exams)
and flight tests. You will take the knowledge tests at a computer
assisted testing facility, where the results are available immediately after
your test. The fee is $80.00 per computer assisted knowledge exam. The
examiner's fee for each flight test is $200.00. You will have to take a total of
2 knowledge exams and 4 flight tests, for a total
cost of $960.00.
FAA Medical Exam:
You are eligible to take the commercial pilot flight test with a third class
medical certificate, but in order to exercise the privileges of the commercial
certificate you will need a second class medical. The cost of a second or third
class medical examination is typically about $65.00.
Pilot Supplies: You probably already have a logbook, plotter and flight computer, but will need some textbooks and charts. These supplies will add up to about $50.00 to $100.00.
Housing: If you do not live in the Wichita area, you will
need accommodations. You should plan on $600.00
per month for housing, meals, and transportation.
Brief Description of Training:
Your training will begin with a Cessna 150 check-out and area familiarization.
You will also receive the 2 hours of day VFR and 2 hours of night VFR dual cross
country training flights, which are part of the single engine commercial pilot
experience requirements, early on in your training. You will continue
accumulating cross country flying experience to meet the 50 hour cross country
time requirement for the instrument rating. If you are taking one of the single
and multi engine training programs, you will also receive your multi-engine
rating early in your training, and then begin your simulator and flight training
toward the instrument rating. To keep the cost of the commercial course as
affordable as possible, the instrument training includes about 16 hours on the
ATC-610 flight training device. You will first learn the various procedures on
the ground in the simulator, and then continue the training in the Apache or
Arrow.
At this stage of your training a typical day may consist of some cross
country flying in the Cessna 150 (or the Piper Apache if you are taking the #3
course), and an instrument lesson. You will also spend a large amount of time
studying for the instrument and commercial knowledge exams, watch many hours of
training video tapes, and work with test preparation software on one of our
computers. When you have completed your studies, you will take the instrument
and commercial pilot knowledge exams. If you have any difficulty preparing for
the knowledge exams, one of our instructors will gladly help you better
understand the area in question.
Upon completion of the instrument training you will take the IFR flight
test and then continue to accumulate flight time toward the 250 hours required
for the commercial license. If you are taking the #2 or # 3 course most of that
flying will be enhanced instrument training in the Piper Apache. When you have
about 235 to 240 hours, we will begin the maneuvers training in preparation for
the single and multi-engine commercial flight tests. Since the current
commercial pilot experience requirements went into effect in 1997, the most cost
effective way is to take the single engine commercial pilot flight test first.
Since you have to demonstrate single engine complex airplane competency, about
10 hours of your single engine commercial pilot training will be conducted in
the Piper Arrow.