Frequently Asked Questions
Learning to fly is easier than you think!
- McAir Aviation has been teaching new pilots how to fly for more than twenty (20) years. You don't get to do this for that long, if you don't do it right!
- Location is important too. McAir Aviation is located at the Augusta Regional Airport, Bush Field in Augusta, Georgia. Our airport has an FAA operated Air Traffic Control Tower with all of the amenities, but with light traffic. That means you spend less time waiting for things and save money in the process. Less traffic also makes it a little less stressful while learning the basics. Air Traffic Control (ATC) services at Bush Field provide traffic and weather advisories which are not available at non-towered airports. Having the benefit of these ATC services increases the overall safety and enjoyment flight.
- YOU are a determining factor here. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements are 40 hours minimum flight experience and pass written and oral exams. Your previous experience, how often you fly, the type of aircraft, and sometimes your age are all factors that impact the total cost of getting your Private Pilot's license. Click here for our current rates.
- Again, you are a determining factor here. The FAA says the minimum is 40 flying hours and pass the written test. Most people actually fly a little more. The average is difficult to estimate due to the differences in each Student Pilot's situation, but most people take from 45 to 65 hours of instruction before they test for their license. Our Ground School can prepare almost anybody for the written test!
- Well, we are very proud of the fact that all of our aircraft are equiped with Factory Remanufactured engines, exclusively. Our expert mechanics ensure the highest quality of maintenance on all of our aircraft with mechanical inspections every fifty and one hundred hours to insure they are safe, reliable and fun to fly.
- McAir Aviation has a fleet of expertly maintained airplanes, including two Cessna 172's (America's favorite initial training aircraft for years), a Piper Arrow and a Piper Seneca. Check out our airplanes on the Aircraft Fleet page.
- To receive your Student Pilot's license, you will be required to provide positive identification, usually a State-issued driver's license or ID card is sufficient, and pass an FAA approved flight physical. The FAA certifies certain Physicians (known as Aviation Medical Examiners) to administer these physical exams. Don't stress too much over this, as only basic health and vision is required. Fees for these exams vary slightly from Doctor to Doctor. Once you get your license, you'll need occasional re-checks to maintain your "medical" ticket. For details, call us and we'll put you in touch with a one of the Doctors that we recommend you use. They can answer any detailed medical questions you may have.
- You can fly at almost any age. If you are lucky enough to be younger than 17, you can't get your license yet, but you can still fly and learn towards getting it. If you're shall we say, a little more seasoned than 17, then the only hurdle you have to jump is the medical. But, don't worry too much, basic health is all that is required.
- Well, you can fly! You can see the world, or at least a small part of it, from a completely different perspective. You can cut travel time by a large margin when you travel any appreciable distance. You can enjoy just being above it all. You can put those ground-based non-flying friends and relatives in their places. If you have to, you can even take them for rides. In all, you can challenge yourself to learn something new, and benefit from the effort you've put into aquiring a new skill. Oh yeah, you can also just get in a plane, for no reason, and just enjoy it!