Somewhere there is someone just like you who recently became a pilot. Although the average student pilot is 32 years old, anyone 16 years old or older can learn to fly an airplane. People from every occupation and every geographic location in the nation are pilots.
There are three basic requirements for learning to fly powered airplanes in the United States. First, you have to be at least 16 years old. Second, you have to be in good health. And third, you have to be able to read, speak, and understand English.
You can solo in an airplane when you are 16 years old if you have accomplished all flight and ground training requirements. This means you can fly in an airplane by yourself, but you are not allowed to carry any passengers except your Flight Instructor. When you're 17, you can apply for a Private Pilot Certificate. There is no maximum age limit because it's health and not age that determines a person's ability to fly well.
As with any other skill you master, flying is learned step by step by step. It's a fascinating experience. But it's not particularly difficult. It can be learned by practically anyone who is willing to invest some time and effort.
Pilot training has two aspects: Ground Training and Flight Training. Ground Training takes place on the ground. It covers flight rules and regulations, flight planning, navigation, radio procedures, and weather. In the next phase, Flight Training, you learn to fly by actually controlling the airplane yourself. Under the supervision of a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), you learn how to take off, land, and fly cross-country (from your home airport to another airport and then back again).
Millions of people have learned to fly. By the time you're ready for your Private Pilot Certificate, you'll be secure in the knowledge that you're a safe and competent pilot.
Most people receive their Private Pilot Certificate after about 50-55 hours of flight time, including time spent with an instructor aboard (dual time) and time spent flying alone (solo time). Training will include some night flying, some instrument flying (flying solely by reference tot he airplanes instruments), and some cross-country flying. The minimum time required by the federal aviation regulations (FAR's) is 40 hours of flight time.
You can fly in the early morning, during the day, or on weekends. Scheduling your flight is up to you and your instructor.
How long it takes to accumulate flight time is largely up to you and your instructor. Usually two to three hours of flying time per week is a good learning rate, with more hours during weeks when cross-country flights are made. Normally the average Student Pilot completes the requirements for a Private Pilot Certificate in about four months. Some students decide to train full time (flying twice per day with Ground Training between flights). These "full time" students can complete the course in as little at four to six weeks.
Your Instructor will introduce you to the general aviation airplane you'll learn to fly. You'll be briefed on the instruments, controls, and equipment in the plane and on what to watch for when you're flying.
After this preflight briefing, the two of you will take off. Normally on the first flight the student does much of the airplane controlling, however, only very simple operations will take place. You will simply climb out, level off and fly straight and level for a while. Feeling the exhilaration of flight. Then the Instructor may have you try some very shallow banks left and right so you can get the feel of the airplane and the control surfaces.
You'll be amazed at the feel of flight and have a wonderful sensation that "YOU" were in control!
No test is required for a Student Pilot Certificate. As a Student Pilot, you will always be under the close supervision of a Certified Flight Instructor. But before a Private Pilot license is issued, you must pass two tests. One is a written FAA examination - largely a practical exam on flying rules and regulations. You'll also have to work out the details of a hypothetical flight for this exam. But don't worry; you'll have done it all before in planning the cross-country flight you made as part of your training program.
Following this exam is a practical examination of your flying ability. Here you take a designated FAA examiner for a check-ride to demonstrate your ability to maneuver the airplane safely and confidently. You'll have practiced the maneuvers many time before, and your Flight Instructor will have prepared you thoroughly.
Flight Training costs vary. Fuel prices, maintenance, and insurance costs are but a few of the variables. You can expect to pay between $3,000 and $4,000 for a good Private Pilot training program.
Compared to the costs of training in other business skills, becoming a licensed Private Pilot is a good value. Prorated over a lifetime, it's probably one of the best bargains you'll ever find. The cost of becoming a Pilot is a solid investment in your future.
General aviation airplanes are built to rigid federal specifications, and they are constantly checked and rechecked to make sure they are mechanically and structurally safe. People who fly are safety conscious. As the pilot-in-command of an airplane, you're also in command of most variables that affect flying safety. Safety is the most important word in the general aviation vocabulary.
Your Flight Instructor will emphasize training you to operate the airplane safely. Flying as pilot-in-command of the airplane puts you in charge. A well-built and well-maintained airplane in the hands of a competent, prudent, and well-trained pilot makes flying safer than many other forms of transportation.
An aircraft engine is a piece of finely built machinery that is designed to keep running. If the improbably should happen, however, you won't fall out of the sky. Your airplane descends slowly in a glide. You'll simply do what your Instructor will have had you practice during you lessons: select the nearest safe landing site and land there without power.
Life insurance - The insurance companies have come to learn how extremely safe flying really is. Most new policies don't even mention general aviation flying. If you have an older policy, restrictive clauses for private flying can often be removed at little or no cost.
Liability insurance - Many people purchase special low-cost pilot insurance that cover private flying. You should check with your insurance agent to find out where you stand and whether there are any addition costs or requirements. You can also talk with you Flight Instructor about the insurance provided with the aircraft you are flying.
Aircraft rental is very economical. Depending on the type of aircraft you rent and the route you travel, many (because they fly from point A to point B in a straight line) are as economical as driving. Plus, the speed at which you can arrive sometimes makes a big difference.
Most airports across the country have aircraft for rent, even the small airports. It's how they pay for their aircraft. Simply call the airport and ask what the requirements are for you to rent.
Another economical point about renting, most fixed based operators (FBO's) charge for the aircraft only while the plane is operating. The time is broken down into 1/10's of an hour (every 6 minutes). Therefore, if you fly somewhere for an overnight stay, you only pay for the aircraft while it is running, not all night.
You'll never be quite the same person you were before. You'll have access to a whole new world of personal freedom. You'll think of travel in terms of hours, not miles. You'll know what it means to make your own schedules, go your own way...far above the crowds, the congestion, the hassle, and the annoyances of ordinary transportation.