| It wasn't until 1926 when the Air Commerce Act was | | | | accredited by a national accreditation agency - an |
| signed into law by Calvin Coolidge did licensing pilots | | | | accredited school has to have high standards in quality |
| become a requirement. With this additional requirement, | | | | of instruction, accuracy in their marketing, and must be |
| the first Flight School came into existence around the | | | | strong financially. If you plan to re-locate for your |
| same time to help students pass the FAA's exam. | | | | schooling, another good question is the cost of living in |
| There are a number of different types of certificates | | | | the area. |
| and ratings offered by flight schools - from a Sport | | | | If you are like many flight training students, you will |
| Pilot License to Air Transport Pilot License. A Private | | | | most likely be on a budget, so you'll probably prefer |
| Pilot Certificate requires a minimum of 35 hours of | | | | your training in an area where you can live modestly. It |
| flight training and a Commercial Pilot Certificate | | | | would, of course, be preferable if the locale has |
| requires at least 120 hours. | | | | apartments available at a low cost, plus has great |
| Each school is required to give their students both | | | | recreational opportunities: After all, you'll probably be |
| ground training, which consist of an instructor teaching | | | | living there for a year. |
| in the class room and air training in which you pilot the | | | | Another good question concerns the weather - does |
| plane with the instructor. | | | | the area offer excellent weather? If not, you will most |
| The flight training schools themselves can be licensed | | | | likely find that you're not able to fly as often as you |
| under FAR Part 61 or FAR Part 141. FAR 141 flight | | | | wish because of bad weather. That means it will quite |
| schools can only have the "141" designation if the | | | | possibly take you longer to complete your flight training |
| school and training syllabus are approved by the FAA. | | | | in, for example, Oregon and Indiana than it will in Florida |
| Plus the quality of student performance is measured | | | | simply because of the weather. Also, be sure to ask |
| through progressive flight exams throughout their | | | | about the training aircraft. You'll want many aircraft - |
| training. Training is documented to FAA standards. | | | | and newer ones. Older aircraft are more often "down" |
| Training conducted according to FAR Part 61 typically | | | | for maintenance, which, again, means you may not be |
| requires more hours for licensing than FAR Part 141, | | | | able to fly as often as you'd like - thus, extending the |
| but stage checks (flight exams throughout training) are | | | | time necessary for you to become certified... |
| not required. At the completion of the specific program, | | | | 3. If possible, visit your top two or three schools on |
| the student pilot must take an FAA checkride to obtain | | | | your list. Talk to instructors and students and ask to |
| a license or rating. | | | | see the training aircraft. Do you like the way the school |
| If you plan on a career as a pilot, you will most likely | | | | "feels?" Do you feel you would fit in and be |
| train under FAR Part 141. If you are an international | | | | comfortable studying and flying there?. Of course, if |
| student, the US State Department requires you to also | | | | you're an international student wanting to come to the |
| train under FAR Part 141 regulations. | | | | US for flight training, you may not be able to visit. In that |
| Now the next step is how to determine a flight training | | | | case, be sure you talk to an Admissions Officer and |
| school that best suits you needs. The basic steps | | | | ask all your questions - and don't hesitate to ask for |
| below, will help you make a good choice. | | | | advice, if you're not sure how to proceed with your |
| 1. Create a Checklist to use to evaluate each school | | | | flight training. An Admissions Officer at the flight school |
| you think you may be interested in attending. | | | | will be able to advise you, based on what your goals |
| 2. Check out these schools web sites for more | | | | are. |
| information. Then call or email to request more | | | | 4. Once you're comfortable with choosing a school |
| information from them.. Be sure to tell them if you have | | | | and you've found one that meets the checklist that |
| already logged any hours or if you have achieved any | | | | you created in step 1, you'll also want to get a written |
| flight certificates. Also, be sure to let the school know | | | | agreement with costs and the courses or programs |
| what your goal is - recreational flying or career flying. | | | | you'll be receiving. |
| Some flight training organizations are small and have | | | | 5. Now that you've gone through this most important |
| part-time instructors. This might be perfectly adequate | | | | selection process, get ready to study hard, learn new |
| to train you to be a weekend flyer, but probably not | | | | and exciting things, and have the time of your life! You'll |
| what you want if you expect to end up flying B-767s | | | | probably very quickly learn why so many pilots say |
| for an airline. And if your goal is professional, career | | | | "flying is my passion. |
| flying, you may want to ask if the flight school is | | | | |