| You can get a private pilot's license in the U.S. as long | | | | license, for obvious reasons. You don't have to own a |
| as you're over 16 and healthy - a basic license allows | | | | plane for this - the school provides students with |
| you to fly single-engine aircraft and carry passengers. | | | | access to a plane. |
| Once you have a basic license from a flight school, | | | | 8. Finish a solo flight with an instructor - think of this as |
| you can upgrade at any time to a commercial or | | | | your "in-air" preparation for the final test. |
| professional license. Here's how to get a private pilot's | | | | 9. Write the final exam - this is called a check ride. An |
| license step-by-step: | | | | FAA-certified examiner administers this test, asking |
| 1. If you're 16 or over, and speak and read English | | | | you questions and coming with you for a flight to test |
| fluently, you're all set to start the process. Pilot training | | | | and assess your flying skills. |
| requires fluency in English because this is the language | | | | 10. If you successfully pass all final tests, you're granted |
| used by the world's control towers and airports. | | | | a private pilot's license with a visual flight rating. This |
| 2. Do some research about flying lessons. Contact | | | | means you can fly a single engine aircraft at day or |
| local aviation airports to find out where the flight | | | | night in conditions that provide good visibility. |
| schools are located in your area. | | | | Flying lessons aren't easy - it takes a lot of skill to fly a |
| 3. The next step is to enroll in a licensed flight training | | | | plane, but that doesn't mean most people can't do it. In |
| program. Relatively inexpensive, flight school can cost | | | | fact, you'd be surprised how many people, with the |
| $3,000 to $4,000 for both ground school and pilot | | | | right pilot training, have the ability to become excellent |
| training. | | | | pilots. Flight training is only as good as the instructors. |
| 4. Before you start flight training you're required to get | | | | Before you sign up for flying lessons, make sure you |
| a medical certificate from a doctor of aviation | | | | find a good school with a reputation for success. |
| medicine to ensure you're healthy enough to fly and | | | | Quality aviation schools will help you gain the skills you |
| handle the requirements of pilot training. If you don't | | | | need to learn to fly. |
| know where to go, ask the flight school for information | | | | A lot of people dream of taking flying lessons. If you're |
| on where you can find a good doctor. | | | | one of those people who want to learn to fly, |
| 5. Successfully complete a ground school course. | | | | research the pilot schools in your area. Every aviation |
| These typically last 3-5 weeks. | | | | school is different, so try to find one that you feel |
| 6. Write the FAA test after you've completed all | | | | comfortable with. These days most pilot schools have |
| course work. This test has 100 multiple choice | | | | written manuals, videos, and computer aids to help with |
| questions, and you can take it at Federal Aviation | | | | the process of learning aerodynamics and how to |
| Administration centers or with any test providers that | | | | operate a plane. |
| are licensed to administer the test. | | | | Before you pay for lessons, read through some theory |
| 7. Complete 30-40 hours of flight training with an | | | | manuals yourself and get a grip on some of the |
| instructor. Practical experience is crucial to getting your | | | | material to see if you really like it. |