| The hardest part about getting started in a career in | | | | the flight schools that make your cut are certified to |
| flying is taking the first step. What are the rules? Who | | | | offer pilot training that will result in a FAA recognized |
| do I talk to? What's is it going to cost? I think you will | | | | pilot's license. |
| be surprised after you read this article how easy it | | | | 2. Make sure your finances are in order because flight |
| really is to change your life and career and move | | | | school will run between $3000 and $5000. There are |
| towards a career that is challenging, rewarding, and | | | | scholarships available and you might be able to use |
| filled with adventure. | | | | federal student loans through FAFSA if the school |
| Let me share a bit about myself first, just so that you | | | | qualifies. If you are a veteran and signed-up for the GI |
| know it is possible to become a pilot at any point in | | | | Bill, it will pay for some of your training. |
| your life. When I was 35 years old, I quit a well paying | | | | 3. Enroll in the flight school and clear your schedule. |
| job as a computer programmer. I had always been | | | | Getting your pilot's license should be your life's passion |
| drawn to flying airplanes and at some point something | | | | for the next few months. If you stop and start and |
| clicked and I realized that if I was going to make a | | | | stop and start you will be wasting your time and |
| change and live my dream now was the time. So, I | | | | money. Flying is a skill and the more you fly the better |
| picked up AOPA's Flight Training Magazine and | | | | you will be. |
| learned that it was now easier than ever to become a | | | | 4. Get a medical certificate that is specific to aviation. |
| pilot. | | | | A general check up is not enough so work with the |
| Continue reading and you will learn the 10 steps that I | | | | school to find a doctor who can help you pass the |
| took, and you can to, on your way to becoming a pilot. | | | | medical requirements to be able to fly. You can find |
| The Big First Step | | | | this information again at the FAA website. |
| Probably the biggest first step you must take if you | | | | 5. Take a ground school class either at your flight |
| want to get moving on a career that involves flying an | | | | school, a local community college, or on your computer. |
| aircraft is to get a pilot's license that enables you to | | | | At some point you will need to take a written exam |
| serve as a Private Pilot. | | | | for your Private Pilot license. If you attend the classes, |
| A Private Pilot license (certificate) allows you to carry | | | | they will take about four to five weeks to complete. |
| friends and family and create new adventures. It is | | | | 6. Take AND PASS the written exam required by the |
| also the time to start building hours and is the stepping | | | | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at any FAA |
| stones to higher ratings such as an Instrument Rating | | | | testing center. |
| (fly in clouds), a Multi-Engine Rating (an airplane with | | | | 7. Work with the school to complete thirty to forty |
| more than one engine), and a Commercial Rating (fly | | | | hours of required flight time with a certificated flight |
| and get paid). | | | | instructor (CFI). You can move through the |
| To put that in context, there are lesser pilot's licenses | | | | requirements at your own pace which means as fast |
| such as the Student Pilot license or the Sports or | | | | as you can afford to get through it and schedule the |
| Recreational Pilot licenses but there are a lot of | | | | time with the school and the instructor. The school will |
| limitations on those licenses, which will limit your | | | | provide the airplane as that is part of the fees. |
| chances of become a full-fledged career pilot. | | | | 8. Keep flying. Fly solo. Fly cross-country. Fly at night. |
| Quick Note: If all you want is to be able to fly in | | | | Before you know it, you will be ready for your check |
| support of your business (but not AS your business) or | | | | ride! |
| to be able to fly with some freedom as part of your | | | | 9. For the final "big" exam, you will go on a flight with |
| private life, a private pilots license is a good step and | | | | an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner who will ask you |
| it's a natural first step even if you plan to go on to train | | | | questions and watch your flying skills to determine if |
| to become a commercial pilot down the road. | | | | you a pilot worthy of a Private Pilot license. |
| So How Do YOU Do It? | | | | 10. And this is the most important: Have Fun! |
| Getting your Private Pilot certificate, like any | | | | Flying Is Fun and Rewarding |
| certification, is mostly set in stone. The Federal Aviation | | | | You are going to learn a lot during this process. Don't |
| Administration (FAA) has set out very specific steps | | | | be fooled, it is a lot of new knowledge to learn and |
| and milestones that you have to reach before you can | | | | you are basically learning an entirely new set of |
| get your rating. Visit the FAA website and look under | | | | physical skills similar to when you learned to swim or |
| Licenses and Certifications for more information! | | | | ride a bike. So throw yourself into your training and get |
| Before you start, you will have to be at least 16 years | | | | as comfortable controlling an airplane as you are |
| of age to get your Student Pilot license which is your | | | | driving a car. |
| "ticket to learn," but in order to get your Private Pilot | | | | You can do a lot not only to speed up the process but |
| license you must be at least 17 years old. With that | | | | to cut costs by working hard on your own to conquer |
| simple requirement out of the way, the step-by-step | | | | the skills you need to become a great private pilot. |
| process toward finally realizing your dream of having a | | | | You can study the written the test on your own and |
| private pilot's license is... | | | | complete the FAA test whenever you are ready. But |
| 1. Research the flight schools in your area and make | | | | once you have that license, you will be glad you |
| sure that the one you use has a good reputation, a | | | | worked hard to get through the process successfully |
| well-developed training program and the airplanes to | | | | so that from now on you can honestly say to people, |
| support it. The teaching staff that both knows how to | | | | "I am a pilot! |
| fly and knows how to teach is important. Make sure | | | | |