Do You Need a License to Fly an Air Taxi?

Becoming any type of pilot is a journey that involves several necessary steps.

Do you need a license to fly an air taxi? Flying an air taxi requires a pilot’s license. To qualify for a pilot’s license, you’ll need a lot of personal discipline and the general qualifications required for becoming a pilot.

Before becoming an eVTOL (one of the newer types of planes) or air taxi pilot, you’ll need to think about your enthusiasm for aviation. After all, becoming a pilot requires a skill set many are unwilling to pursue.

Read on to learn more about everything involved with getting a pilot’s license. You’ll be better positioned to decide on an air taxi pilot career.

Do You Need a License to Fly an Air Taxi? What You Need to Know

Whether you can pilot an aircraft or not is one of many things you’ll need to consider if you opt to become an air taxi pilot. Here are some important questions to ask yourself:

• Do I enjoy working around people?
• Can I spend a lot of time away from home and my family?
• Can I afford the cost and do I have the time?
• Do I enjoy flying that much?

Your piloting knowledge, work ethic, and personality will determine how easily you become a gifted pilot. The crew will become like a second family, and you’ll be in contact with passengers a lot, making sociability a significant asset.

Spending a lot of time studying is also necessary because pilots need to stay updated on a lot of information.

You’ll need to remain physically and psychologically well-balanced to be a pilot because your tasks will involve controlling how fast the electric air taxi goes and communicating with the crew, including your co-pilot.

What is Involved in Ground School in Pilot Academy?

Ground school focuses on teaching you what you need to know to successfully pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) written exam to get a pilot’s license. Aviation schools teach their courses according to either Part 61 or Part 141 of FAA regulations.

Aviation schools in the United States can operate under either set of regulations. However, a Part 141 school must use an FAA-approved curriculum for ground school.

Part 61 schools have more flexibility in their curriculum. However, before you apply for a pilot Certificate, you must undergo a home study course or take ground training with an approved instructor, with the training adequately logged.

Requirements Before Flying Solo

A pre-solo knowledge test is necessary before you can fly alone. The test contents include the airspace rules and procedures for the airport where you’ll fly solo.

You’ll be able to demonstrate flight characteristics knowledge and the operational limitations of the plane you use. Your instructor will give you the test, with your ability to fly solo, depending on the results.

Requirements for a Private Pilot license

A Private Pilot License, necessary before flying commercially, involves an aeronautical knowledge test taken by computer. Topics on this test include:

• Aerodynamics
• Federal aviation regulations
• Navigation
• Radio communication procedures
• Weather factors

What Happens During Practical Flight Training?

As with ground school, Part 61 and Part 141 flight schools have different regulations. Part 61 schools allow broad discretion on the instructor’s part, while Part 141 schools will require more structure.

Students will learn everything involved with successful aircraft operation in flight school. Communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC), takeoff, and recovery from stalls are covered.

Your instructor will brief you on the objectives of your lesson before you begin. The maneuvers discussed during the briefing are an essential part of the lesson and the debriefing at the end.

Before You fly Solo in Flight School

Before flying solo in flight school, you must have some basic familiarity with maneuvers, procedures, and operations. Some of the basics you’ll need to know include the following:

• Flight preparation
• Go-arounds
• Landing
• Takeoff
• Taxiing

The time that flight school takes may depend on your aeronautical knowledge, aptitude, and flight frequency. Students could take 35-40 hours or more to fly solo.

What’s Next After Private Pilot Certification?

After a Private Pilot Certification, a pilot can take additional training to fly for hire. The training required for a pilot to fly for hire will satisfy the requirements for being an air taxi pilot.

The extra hours of flight experience allow you to receive a Commercial Pilot License. Although more advanced training is necessary to fly an air taxi, training for a Private Pilot License provides a solid foundation.

Is a Multi-Engine Rating Necessary?

A Multi-Engine Rating proves your ability to fly a craft with more than one engine. If your plans include flying commercially or increasing your overall marketability, a Multi-Engine Rating is a necessity.

Multi-Engine Rating Requirements

Multi-Engine Ratings are considered an additional qualification for Private Pilot Certificate holders. Because the knowledge that someone with a Private Pilot Certificate has provided an advantage, this certification is easy to take on an accelerated schedule.

An authorized instructor will need to provide the necessary endorsements. The examiner will also require you to perform a check ride.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Once you’ve resolved the issue of whether you need a license to fly an air taxi, you will better understand your responsibilities. Flying an air taxi can be one of the most rewarding careers in aviation.