Humans have been fascinated with flying for as long as man has recorded history. Over the past 100 years to today private pilot training today has become one of the biggest business in the world today. Icarus and Daedalus began this trendm in aircraft. Daedalus wanted to implement testing and training before flying. Icarus because of his perpensity to enjoy a night time indiscrection with a certain fair lady was thus forced to fly without prior testing. Decisions made by these two ancient inventors which they soon regreted.
There are international organizations similar to the FAA. Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) situated in Europe and other oriental organizations who have copied many of the FAA requirements laid down for all private pilot training plus airport operations, repair stations, overhaul stations, and all general maintenance operations. They have even followed the guidelines for loading of aviation gasoline and jet fuel which falls under the mandatory purview all of all these international organizations.
The newest addition to grace our overcrowded skies are the many varieties of radio controlled (RC) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). FAA certified pilots which have been privately trained, USAF or Navy trained pilots who will have undergone through and rigorous training schools. Many of the UAV private pilots will have commercial airline or military backgrounds. Sadly to say "barnstorming" days are long gone. Today these skilled pilots sit in front a computer to fly the UAV, many times from thousands of miles away. A good example is Creech AFB situated in Nevada.
Nevada pilots often fly UAVs based in far away places such as Iraq or Afghanistan. They will also fly UAVs locally to gain private pilot training, limited to restricted areas (because of FAA regulations). It is hoped in the future that they will be allowed someday, by FAA, to be able fly above local places such as Peoria, Tulsa, Oklahoma,Small Town, Illinois, USA, or be used along international borders to spot transients that cross the border to bring back (or send in actual time) videos recordings of these border crossings.
All UAVs have the same attributes that will be found on manned airplanes; wings, landing gear, rudders, tails, an engine, elevators, propeller, fuel tanks, brakes, and a pilot. Although a remote pilot, a real pilot overseas the operation. The plane's instruments are all operated on the ground, and data is sent from the UAV using onboard sensors.
The variety of UAVs range in size from an average eagle to wingspans that reach to over 60 feet, that is much larger, for example, a Cessna 150. An added bonus the designers of UAVs and excited about is that pilot safety is assured resulting in a tremendous saving of millions of dollars.
Even though the United States Government plans to spend millions of dollars over the next few in the purchase of UAVs. General Aciation has a great need of private pilot training to cater for the many manned aircraft that will grace our skies.
High cost soc crude oil has fettered private pilot traingin in the past few years, but now oil appers to be taking a drop in price. Should this trend continue that should go a long way towards a greater interest towards private pilot training. One thing for sure interest in piloting aircraft will never die.
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