Page:The Fun of It.pdf/44



XCLUSIVE of those for glider pilots, there are four types of flying licenses to aspire to at present in the United States. The first is the private license which requires ten hours of solo time—that is, flying a plane alone. The second is the Industrial and the third the Limited Commercial (commonly called the L. C.), both of which require fifty hours solo. The fourth and highest type is the Transport license which requires 200 hours. This last is the only one which unre­strictedly permits its holder to fly passengers for hire or to give instruction.

The cost of obtaining a license varies from an approximate minimum of $300 to a possible out-of-pocket cost of $4,000 for the Transport grade. Of course, all that the schools can give is the training and supervised solo flying. The individual then must be examined by a Department of Commerce inspector, both in written work and in actual flying. The questions are on the plane, the motor, navi­gation, meteorology, Air Traffic rules and Depart­ment of Commerce regulations. The flying con­sists of landings and take-offs, with air manœuvers which easily show the pilot’s proficiency.

In a way, the time and money invested in secur­ing a Transport license is comparable to that neces-