The only real requirement for takeoff is whether a student can get close enough to the pedals and see over the black glare shield. The minimum age to pass the oral, written, and flight tests for a license is 17; but, at that point, “you can fly from here to California,” says Kuo. The private license doesn’t allow its holder to fly for hire, or in the clouds. It does allow night flights or trips with a friend—that is if they hold you and your judgment in the highest regard. “The things that constrict flight training are cost and time,” says Kuo. “Time and money are the big ones, followed by motivation.” Kuo says most introductory lessons at flight schools across New England cost about $150 for an hour-long flight and ground information about operating the plane. For those looking to dive into flying for a private license, take that number and multiply it by at least 55 hours, not to mention other fees. The cost of training to earn a private license is in the vicinity of $12,000 using a Cessna 152; as for the four-seat 172, add about another two or three grand to that total and you’ll get an idea why it isn’t a pastime for everyone. Still, some enthusiasts wouldn’t let the cost of training interfere with the exhilaration of cruising the skies above; for so many new pilots, nothing compares to flying your own bird. To fly solo, a medical certificate and student pilot’s certificate is required, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Kuo says that when she was first learning to fly, she got on a plane four or five times per week and finished her private license training in two months. “I came to the school to study and sat like a hawk, waiting for cancellations,” she says. For those who make it to the other side of a private license, there are options to make flying more affordable, such as local flying clubs where pilots can buy a share of an airplane. Not everyone who comes to Horizon wants to become a pilot. The school also has a program for people with a fear of flying, where the primary goal is to reach a point of comfort while seated in an aircraft. Kuo says that of the half-dozen participants in that program, several have moved on to wanting to fly a plane themselves. “The thing that causes anxiety is the unknown,” says Kuo when speaking about helping students feel at ease in the planes. “Going through the procedures of what to expect on the flight is going to alleviate that anxiety.” Safety at the school is of utmost concern, and each plane comes apart for an inspection every 100 hours. Four engines were replaced last month, and now and then, the skin of the airplane might need to be replaced after a bird collision. “You either repair or replace,” says Kuo. “Unlike a car, you can’t just pull over and call AAA. They’re built with redundant instruments; if one fails, there’s a backup.” She says
even a plane with a failed engine is still able to fly as long as air is moving over the wings. For Kuo, however, the education element is a real passion. She recalls a student who came to Horizon Aviation from Colombia. He had gone through three instructors and been advised to return when his English was more proficient. “If you listen close enough to a student and their scenario, you can figure out what the real problem is,” says Kuo. “It wasn’t English… Half the battle is listening to the student.” The student Kuo trained went on to obtain a commercial license and is now working as a commercial pilot in Colombia. Kuo has some advice for anyone looking to take the first steps toward a private license: “Go visit the school, look at the planes, and meet the staff. That has a huge impact. They should care about why you want to fly so they can create a curriculum that’s special to you.” Kuo, however, makes every excuse to fly, and she offers some motivation for anyone lured by the skies. On her day off work, she gets on a plane and makes the 15-minute flight from Warwick to Martha’s Vineyard. Once she’s done with breakfast, Kuo parks the plane and heads to the beach. In just under two hours, she can be in Maryland eating crab cakes. And Kuo says she’s personally flown across the country from Oregon, describing the country as it appears from far above—navigating the Rocky Mountains, the deserts, and the trees that turn black near Montana. Of course, there’s New England, which changes throughout the year from white and barren brown to green. Kuo says she can tell when all the gypsy moths have eaten through the oak trees, and she’s flown over cranberry bogs turned brilliant red with a tide of ripe berries. Still, for many, the question remains: Why fly? “It gives you amazing views you wouldn’t normally get,” says Kuo. “It gives you the ability to travel to places you wouldn’t have thought to go before because it changes the size of your universe.” Some just might agree it’s high time to join Kuo and many others in stretching their wings and expanding their horizons—by learning to fly. H SOCO MAGAZINE | JUNE 2017 41