By Kirby Reed

By STAFF WRITER

As I turned the Piper Cherokee 30 degrees to the left I could see the Long Island Sound directly below me. “You’re doing great,” my instructor cheered. With the icy waters 3,000 feet below, I couldn’t help but feel the butterflies in my stomach start to pick up again. I never imagined that the first time I experience air transportation would involve me being the one behind the control panel.

With Project Pilot, it’s easier than ever to learn to fly or even to gain a pilot’s license. Sponsored by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), this learn-to-fly initiative provides the prospective pilot with information and resources, including a list of local flight schools. The AOPA represents over 400,000 pilots nationwide who share a passion for flying and a love for teaching others.

According to Federal Aviation Administration requirements, one may fly solo as early as age 16, but must be 17 years old in order to obtain a private pilot certificate. A private pilot certificate allows for the carrying of passengers and the full range of standard pilot privileges.

With that in mind, Project Pilot encourages both young and old to learn how to fly. “If you’ve ever found yourself looking up at the sky and thinking ‘That looks so cool,” you can now make it happen,” said Chris Remustat, a flight instructor with Air East Airways Inc., Farmingdale, New York.

The first few flying lessons can be filled with ups and downs, said Remustat. For that reason, each student is paired with both an instructor and a mentor. The mentor acts as a support system and encourages the student when he or she tackles a new maneuver. “Taking an aspiring pilot on their first flight – they go through the roof emotionally,” said Remustat.

With steeply discounted prices, flying is no longer a pastime reserved for the rich and famous. “A lot of people of average means are able to fly,” said Remustat. According to Project Pilot, more than half of all pilots rent their planes, some for as little as $65 per hour. Obtaining a pilot’s license costs between $3,500 and $7,000 depending on the region; that’s less than the cost of one semester’s tuition. With a pay-as-you-go system, the total cost can be spread over a few months, or even a year or more.

Prior to taking to the skies, my first question dealt with safety. The Federal Aviation Administration has very strict regulations concerning aircraft maintenance and they must approve every aspect of the training process. Each plane at Air East Airways is inspected after 100 hours in the air and every year the engine is completely broken down and accessed. “Every two years a pilot must take a flight review to prove they’re worthy of their license,” said Remustat. “We should have the same regulations for people who drive cars.”

Remustat also stressed that the majority of accidents were a result of pilot error, which can include flying in ominous weather and negligence of controls. So the old adage seems to hold true, you’re safer in the air than you are on the roads.

“Well it looks like the hour is almost up,” said my instructor. “We better head back to the airport.” As we decreased our altitude and prepared to land, the wind gently tossed the Cherokee from side to side. Once we were back on the ground I knew I’d experienced something I wouldn’t soon forget. Through the efforts of Project Pilot, even the sheltered flyer can find the wings to soar.

For more information about Project Pilot or to schedule your own introductory lesson, visit their Web site at www.projectpilot.org.