American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 271 Pilot's License (Seeking monthly votes~)

And at the heart of the storm, in Wiesman, Alaska.

After ending the three phone calls, Lin Yu'an showed no excitement or unease, as if the game that had just involved tens of millions of dollars was just an insignificant chat.

He walked back into the warm living room, where Arya and Emily were looking at him with a mixture of worry and curiosity.

"Is everything settled?" Emily asked softly, more concerned with whether the process had gone smoothly.

"Mm." Lin Yu'an nodded, sat back down between the two of them, and gently put his arms around them.

Lin Yu'an didn't say anything, but simply handed her phone to them.

Arya and Emily huddled together, cautiously glancing at the screen. It was a trading screen for a securities account.

A row of cold, clear numbers was etched onto their retinas like a brand:

Securities Name: Game Station (GME)

Transaction price: USD 22.50

"Transaction volume: 577,777 shares"

Transaction amount: USD 12,999,982.50

That bright red negative sign, representing expenditure, seemed to carry a scorching heat; the account's available balance was reduced to a string of meaningless decimals.

It's all over.

Arya's mouth opened slightly, but she couldn't utter a single word. She raised her head, her eyes filled with excitement.

She suddenly laughed, a laugh filled with a sense of relief and liberation.

She leaned on Lin Yu'an's shoulder: "I really didn't expect that I would witness a sum of money, enough to buy half the houses in our town, being spent in just a few seconds."

Emily also breathed a long sigh of relief. She returned the phone to Lin Yu'an, and the tense lines on her face finally softened.

She looked at Lin Yu'an with a hint of inquiry and deep understanding in her eyes: "I finally understand why those top gamblers sleep the most soundly after going all in."

"Oh?" Lin Yu'an looked at her with great interest.

Emily looked at him intently with her blue eyes and explained softly, "Because before making a decision, there are countless choices, and each choice represents a possibility, an anxiety."

"But once the only decision is made, all possibilities collapse into the single reality. We no longer need to be anxious, we just need to face it."

“That’s right.” Lin Yu’an kissed her forehead approvingly. “So, ladies, let’s get back to reality.”

He stood up and stretched: "I promised Hank I would study flight theory properly. From today onwards, your husband will begin his efforts to become a real pilot."

He took out two thick, brick-like professional books from his backpack: "Pilot's Aviation Knowledge Handbook" and "Private Pilot License Examination Guide".

The crackling pine wood in the fireplace bathed the cabin in warmth and light. Outside, however, lay a frozen polar night and temperatures plummeted to minus thirty degrees Celsius.

Lin Yu'an brewed himself a cup of hot tea, sat down on the most comfortable reindeer leather sofa in front of the fireplace, and opened the first page of the book.

In an instant, the wind and snow outside the window and the hustle and bustle of Wall Street were shut out, leaving me in a distant world.

Lin Yu'an's entire mind was immersed in this new realm constructed from force, air, machinery, and rules.

The "Pilot's Aviation Knowledge Handbook" in his hand, jokingly referred to as the "PHAK Bible" by flight students, is an authoritative textbook officially published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Lin Yu'an also looked at the other people's flight license cards, and could only say that the design looked like it was outsourced to college students.

Lin Yu-an used the deluxe illustrated collector's edition of "Pilot's Aviation Knowledge Handbook," which cost $40. Of course, the electronic version can be downloaded as a free PDF from the official website of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Arya curiously leaned over for a look, but was immediately deterred by the dense formulas and complex charts on the pages.

“My God,” Arya stuck out her tongue and whispered in Lin Yu’an’s ear, “this looks more complicated than our university quantum physics textbook.”

What does it mean that Bernoulli's principle and Newton's third law together explain the generation of lift?

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu'an's eyes revealed a hint of a smile. He liked this feeling, peeling back the layers of the complex world and presenting it to his beloved.

He smiled and pointed to a cross-sectional diagram of an airplane wing in the book, explaining in the simplest terms: "You see, the upper surface of the wing is convex, while the lower surface is relatively flat."

"When an airplane moves forward, air flows over the wings. The air above has to travel a longer distance, so it flows faster than the air below."

"According to Bernoulli's principle, the faster the flow, the lower the pressure. Therefore, the pressure above the wing is lower than below it, and this pressure difference generates upward lift, which lifts the aircraft up."

"At the same time, the wing will deflect the air downwards. According to Newton's third law, action and reaction are equal, so the air gives the wing an upward reaction force."

"The combination of these two theories is the fundamental reason why airplanes can fly. Everyone who wants to soar in the blue sky must first learn to crawl on this ground made up of words and charts, and crawl with mastery of every detail."

He explained things in a simple and easy-to-understand way, but Arya still didn't quite grasp it. She looked at her man with adoration and kissed him on the cheek.

"Honey, you're a genius. I've decided it's more practical to get you some late-night snacks."

Emily, however, was more interested in another section. Pointing to the table of contents at the back, she asked, "Flight, it's not just about physics, is it?"

“Of course not.” Lin Yu’an turned to the next chapter, his expression becoming serious. “Physics is just the foundation. Look here—Aeronautical meteorology.”

The pages of the book contain various complex weather maps, cloud classifications, and air pressure symbols.

"A qualified pilot must be a half-baked meteorologist."

"You need to be able to read weather radar charts, understand what high-pressure ridges and low-pressure troughs mean, and know that cumulonimbus clouds contain vertical airflows, hail, and lightning that can tear aircraft apart."

He pointed to a screenshot of a routine aviation weather report, which contained a string of seemingly incomprehensible code:
“For example, this string ‘KLAX 121852Z 25015G25KT 10SM SCT025 20/15 A2992’, you must be able to decipher its full meaning within three seconds.”

"Los Angeles International Airport, 18:52 PM, December 12th: Wind direction 250 degrees, wind speed 15 knots, gusts 25 knots, visibility 10 miles, sparse clouds at 2500 feet, temperature 20 degrees Celsius, dew point 15 degrees Celsius, corrected sea level pressure 29.92 inches of mercury..."

"Especially in places like Alaska, weather is a matter of life and death. You also need to learn to judge wind shear, mountain waves, and the risk of aircraft icing in clouds."

In the vast wilderness, the weather is a more terrifying enemy than any wild beast. One wrong judgment could prevent you from even sending a distress signal.

For the next few hours, Lin Yu'an absorbed this knowledge like a sponge.

He was not just reading; he was building a complete mindset for pilots.

In the chapter on aerodynamics, he not only understood lift but also studied the causes of stall and spiral in greater depth.

He learned that when the angle of attack of the wing is too large, causing the airflow on the upper surface to separate, a stall will occur, and the lift will suddenly disappear.

If the aircraft is also sideslipping at this point, it may enter an even more dangerous spin. Every diagram and every warning in the book seems to be written in the blood of those who came before.

The chapter on aircraft systems reads like a detailed mechanical manual, starting with the simplest principles of the Cessna 172's piston engine.

Then we delve into the fuel system, hydraulic system, electrical system, and those cockpit gauges that look cool in the movie but are actually all about life and death.

He had to build a virtual cockpit in his mind.

It is necessary to clearly understand the function of each of the six key instruments: airspeed indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator, attitude indicator, heading indicator, and turn coordination indicator.

And when they conflict or malfunction during flight, how should they be cross-checked to determine which one is the problem?

He even began studying how GPS and modern glass cockpits work, because he knew that the aircraft he would own in the future would never be an old-fashioned mechanical instrument panel.

Aviation meteorology instilled in him awe of the sky, while the Federal Aviation Regulations instilled in him awe of the rules.

He learned that the sky was not a free place, but was neatly divided by various invisible walls and highways.

From Category A to Category G, different airspaces have drastically different flight rules, access conditions, and communication requirements with air traffic control.

For example, entering Category B airspace near a busy airport without permission could have consequences as severe as a bicycle running onto an F1 track.

He also learned the fundamental differences between visual flight rules and instrument flight rules.

The former involves flying while looking out the window, suitable for clear weather. The pilot is responsible for seeing and avoiding other aircraft.

The latter involves flying blindfolded, relying entirely on instruments in clouds or in bad weather, leaving the responsibility for navigation and safety to air traffic controllers on the ground.

In Alaska, where the weather is unpredictable, mastering instrument flight is the true key to all-weather freedom.

As night deepened, the firelight in the fireplace gradually dimmed, and Arya and Emily were already asleep in their bedroom, embracing each other.

Lin Yu'an covered them with blankets and added a few pieces of pine wood to the fireplace, but the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He closed the book, shut his eyes, and a complete knowledge framework had already formed in his mind. He knew that to obtain that little book called the Private Pilot License - Fixed-wing, he needed to overcome three major hurdles.

The first hurdle: a written test on theoretical knowledge.

This is like a pilot's college entrance exam, a closed-book computer-based test, with 60 questions randomly selected from a huge question bank, covering all the knowledge points in the book.

He must score 70 points to pass, which is the first step to obtaining the final pilot's license and a prerequisite for subsequent solo flight training.

The second stage: oral examination.

This is the part that tests a pilot's comprehensive knowledge reserves the most. Before the practical flight test, the FAA examiner will be like a strict professor, and will have a face-to-face Q&A session with you for one to two hours.

The questions are very imaginative, such as, "If you were to plan a flight route from Anchorage to Fairbanks, what weather briefings and aeronautical charts would you need to consult, and how would you calculate fuel, ballast, and flight time?"

"Look at this aircraft outside. Please point out the location of its static pressure tube, pitot tube, ailerons, elevator, and rudder, and explain how they work together."

"If your engine suddenly stops in the air, what are your procedures? Please describe each action and its corresponding checklist in order."

If you fail the oral exam, you won't even have a chance to board the plane.

The third stage: practical flight test.

This is the final, ultimate test. Under the examiner's supervision, you need to fully demonstrate all the skills a qualified pilot should possess.

This includes pre-flight preparation, from obtaining a weather briefing to a walk-around inspection of the aircraft, starting the engines, and communicating with the control tower in a standardized air-to-ground manner, using standard aviation terminology that is concise and accurate.

Basic flight operations include smooth takeoff, precise landing, stable level flight, coordinated turns, and uniform climb and descent.

Airport procedures, standard takeoff and landing routes, include five phases: upwind, crosswind, downwind, bottom edge, and final approach. Each phase has strict standards for altitude, speed, and operations.

Precise maneuvering, completing a steep 45-degree turn at a specified altitude and speed; controlled slow flight at the stall threshold; and most importantly, safely recovering from a stall.

And most importantly—emergency response.

The examiner will suddenly reduce the throttle to idle when you least expect it, and coldly say, "Your engine just malfunctioned."

You must react within seconds, maintain optimal gliding speed, find the best landing site, execute the engine restart checklist, and send a Mayday distress signal to air traffic controllers before the simulated crash.

Only when the examiner, after landing, says those words that every flight student dreams of – “Congratulations, you are now a pilot” – do you truly receive your ticket to the sky.

And this is just the beginning.

Lin Yu'an's goals went far beyond that; a clear roadmap for upgrading his pilot's license emerged in his mind.

Step 1: PPL (Private Pilot License - Fixed-wing Land-based Single-engine).

This is his current entry-level goal, much like a private driver's license that allows him to fly a specific type of aircraft, carrying family and friends, but not for commercial profit.

Eligibility requirements: Applicants must be at least 17 years old, fluent in reading, speaking and writing English, and pass an FAA Level 3 medical examination and obtain an aviation personnel medical certificate.

The most crucial requirement is to complete at least 40 hours of training, including at least 20 hours of guided flights and 10 hours of solo flights.

Lin Yu'an quickly calculated the tuition fee in his mind, while the instructor's fee was between $60 and $80 per hour.

Although regulations require a minimum of 40 hours, the average time to obtain a driver's license in the United States is approximately 60 to 70 hours.

The exam fees are approximately $175 for the written exam, while the oral and practical flight exams require a substantial fee to be paid to the examiners, typically between $800 and $1200.

He estimated that obtaining this first and most basic license would cost a maximum of around $2. For him now, that amount is negligible.

Step 2: IR (Instrument Class Labelling).

With IR, he can fly legally by instrument alone (IFR) in the clouds or in conditions of extremely poor visibility.

This is an essential skill for anyone wanting to fly freely in all weather conditions in Alaska. Without it, the so-called freedom of flight is only effective on clear days.

Eligibility requirements: Must hold a PPL (Professional License Level). Must complete at least 50 hours of solo flight time during transit and 40 hours of simulated or real instrument flight training.

Cost estimate: This is another significant investment. Instrument flight training places higher demands on instructors and sometimes requires the use of more expensive flight simulators.

Flight training cost: 40 hours x ($180 for the aircraft + $80 for the instructor) = $10400.

Exam fee: Approximately US$1500, including both written and practical exams.

Total: Acquiring IR will require an additional cost of approximately $1.4.

Step 3: CPL (Commercial Pilot License).

Only after obtaining a CPL (Certified Pilot License) can he become a professional pilot and earn money through flying.

For example, becoming a jungle flight guide, or like Hank, running your own air transport service. It's similar to having a truck or taxi driver's license.

Eligibility requirements: Must be at least 18 years old and pass a more stringent FAA Level 2 medical examination. Most importantly, candidates must have accumulated 250 hours of flight experience.

Cost estimation: This is the most expensive part of the process from PPL to CPL – accumulating flight hours.

From the 70 hours required to obtain a PPL to the 250 hours required to meet the CPL requirements, there is a huge gap of 180 hours that needs to be filled with real money.

Accumulated hourly cost: 180 hours x $180/hour (aircraft leasing only) = $32400.

CPL specialized training fee: approximately 20 hours of commercial flight training, approximately US$5000.

Exam fee: Approximately US$1500.

Total: The most critical step from IR to CPL will cost around $4.

Then comes the pinnacle of professional flying: ATP (Airline Transport Pilot License).

This is the highest level of license to become an airline passenger plane captain. Lin Yu'an had no interest in it, but he knew how arduous the path would be.

The eligibility requirements are being at least 23 years old, passing the most stringent Level 1 medical examination, and having a total of 1500 hours of flight time.

The 1250-hour gap between 250 and 1500 hours is a chasm that countless pilots would have to spend years bridging by working as flight instructors or regional pilots.

In addition to these vertical upgrades in license levels, there are also horizontal skill expansions, like skill points in a game, which unlock the types of aircraft you can fly.

A tailwheel landing gear endorsement is required for flying a classic jungle aircraft like the Super Cub. It requires approximately 10 hours of specialized training and costs around $2500.

Seaplane rating: In Alaska, the ability to take off and land on lakes and rivers signifies unparalleled freedom. Training is expensive, typically costing between $5000 and $8000.

Multi-engine aircraft level: Want to fly a twin-engine aircraft? Be prepared for training fees of around $5000.

Lin Yu-an's ultimate goal, piloting a helicopter, requires him to move into a completely new category of aircraft.

He needs to obtain a fixed-wing license before going to flight school to learn how to fly a helicopter from scratch.

The operating logic of helicopters is completely different from that of fixed-wing aircraft.

It requires the use of both hands and feet, and the coordination of the collective pitch lever (to control lifting), the cyclic pitch lever (to control forward, backward, left, and right movement), and the foot pedals (to counteract torque), making it extremely difficult.

More importantly, it is extremely expensive. The wet rental cost for a Robinson R22 helicopter used for teaching is as high as $300-$400 per hour.

Obtaining a PPL (Pre-Licensed License) for a helicopter typically takes 60-80 hours and easily costs over $3. If you want to go further and obtain a commercial license, that's another long and arduous journey costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

All of this unfolded slowly in Lin Yu'an's mind like a grand and complex scroll.

He quickly did a mental calculation to figure out all the core skills he envisioned.

Obtaining a fixed-wing commercial license, instrument rating, seaplane rating, tailpipe endorsement, and a private helicopter license will easily cost over $100,000.

This is a long, expensive, and challenging path. Behind every license, level, and endorsement lies dozens or even hundreds of hours of arduous training and countless rigorous examinations.

But at this moment, sitting in front of the warm fireplace, listening to the howling wind and snow outside the window, Lin Yu'an felt no fear, but rather an unprecedented burning desire.

He closed the book, thoroughly reviewed the knowledge in his mind, then picked up the "Private Pilot License Exam Guide" and turned to the practice test section.

What he needs to do is to load every knowledge point in these thousands of questions into his memory like bullets, until it becomes an instinctive reaction like muscle memory.

Because he knows that at an altitude of 10,000 meters, when an accident occurs, what can save your life is the knowledge etched deep in your mind and your honed flying instincts.

This is the only path to true freedom.

(End of this chapter)