BECOME A PRIVATE PILOT
Explore the world from above! Cascade Aviation has trained over 100 pilots in the last decade with thorough, FAA-approved instruction courses and a team of dedicated instructors. Contact us today to start your journey to becoming a pilot!
Discovery Flight
Take a one-hour lesson and introductory flight around the San Juan Islands or Mount Baker to whet your appetite for more to come! Your introduction to flying can be tailored to you, including back-to-back flights with a stop in the islands, a trip around Deception Pass, or even having the instructor pilot demonstrating some of the maneuvers you will get to learn en route to earning your license.
Stage 1: Pre-Solo
Start training with your instructor towards your first solo! Initial lessons begin with learning the basics of flying your airplane and with familiarizing yourself with the area. Soon you will learn how to perform stalls, steep turns, slow flight, and ground reference maneuvers. You’ll also learn how to address in-flight emergencies, and you’ll work to finesse your landings. Our practice areas are less than five minutes away from the airport after takeoff so you won’t waste any time traveling to and from another location just to get out of busy airspace. You can also appreciate the incredible views of the Skagit Valley while experiencing the freedom of flight! Stage 1 culminates with a stage check where you will demonstrate your knowledge and flying skills to another instructor to ensure your training is progressing well and is up to standards.
Stage 2: Solo flying and cross-country training
Once you pass your stage 1 check you will earn solo privileges! On your first solo you will perform three takeoffs and landings at the airport completely on your own, and afterwards you may choose to participate in the time-honored tradition of having your shirt tail cut off. Subsequently you will be able to practice all the maneuvers you learned in stage 1 by yourself. The instruction portion of stage 2 builds on your flying skills to learn more advanced takeoffs and landings, and also introduces cross-country flying procedures (learning how to fly in the national airspace system and navigate to airports greater than 50 nautical miles away). As with stage 1, stage 2 concludes with a stage check with another instructor to ensure you are ready to progress to stage 3.
Stage 3: Solo cross-country flying and checkride preparation
The final portion of your private training is all about preparing you to take your checkride, an oral and practical examination with an FAA-approved Designated Pilot Examiner. You will do one or two solo cross-country flights (usually to the Seattle metro area), practice all the required flight maneuvers and landings solo, and train with your instructor to make sure you are proficient to pass the exam. Also required by this point is passing the FAA’s required knowledge test. Stage 3 concludes with one final stage check with another Cascade instructor, and following that you will be endorsed to take the checkride.
Final exam: the checkride
Having been endorsed by your instructor for the checkride you will complete a two-hour oral exam followed by a two-hour practical exam in the airplane with an FAA-approved Designated Pilot Examiner. Upon successful completion of that you will earn your private pilot’s license! This grants you permission to fly almost anywhere in the United States and around the globe, day or night, carrying passengers, and exploring the world from above. The sky’s the limit!