| One of the most memorable moments of your life will | | | | Finally you are strapping yourself into the left seat of |
| occur on a relatively lonely airstrip, sitting at the end of | | | | that flight school airplane as your flight instructor is |
| a runway, with just one other person with you. It will be | | | | strapping themselves into the right seat for your first |
| the first time you will take the controls of an airplane | | | | flight lesson. At this point, you may be feeling a little |
| and take it out on your first flight lesson. The first time | | | | anxious. Don't worry though, your flight instructor will be |
| you fly an airplane is an event that makes the | | | | there every step of the way to guide you and |
| difference from any other kind of training because it is | | | | encourage you. From this point on, the left seat will be |
| hands-on...and exciting. You are doing something that a | | | | your classroom and your instructor will be sitting in the |
| very, very small percentage of the population ever do. | | | | right seat to help you. You will have most of the flight |
| You have chosen to get your pilot's certificate and | | | | instruments on your side but you and your instructor |
| become a pilot. While lots of ordinary schools have | | | | will share flight controls. The passenger seat of the |
| hands-on training, taking an airplane into the sky is unlike | | | | cockpit of a training airplane has parallel controls so if |
| any other classroom experience there is. | | | | your instructor senses you need help and needs to |
| How does it start? | | | | explain something, they can take over and |
| Well today we will talk about the process of getting | | | | demonstrate the technique for you in actual flight |
| into flight training, a little bit about ground school and | | | | practice. There is no better learning situation than this. |
| what you can expect on your first flight lesson and | | | | From the moment to arrive at the airport for your first |
| beyond. Let's get started. | | | | flight till you tie-down the airplane, it will be a flurry of |
| If you want to fly, the first thing you need to do is visit | | | | events, instructions, and information. And chances are |
| a flight school or fixed-based operator (FBO) at your | | | | you will only remember a portion of what your flight |
| local airport. You can find them on-line or in the yellow | | | | instructor is telling you because excitement will be |
| pages. If you have never heard the term "FBO" | | | | dominating your thoughts. You will go through every |
| before, an FBO is like a gas station for airplanes. They | | | | aspect of the flight and there will be checklists of |
| provide ramp service, i.e., fuel and parking, but a lot of | | | | things to be mindful of from the moment you sit down |
| times they provide airplane ground school and flight | | | | at the controls to the end of the flight when you have |
| instruction as well. Sometimes they even rent airplanes | | | | landed the airplane and have stepped out onto the |
| and may have their own charter service. After all, | | | | tarmac with one flight successfully in your logbook. |
| once you pass the Private Pilot checkride, you will | | | | You will have covered all of this in the classroom but |
| become certified by the FAA which means that you | | | | you might feel overwhelmed when you are actually in |
| are qualified to fly an airplane and that you can take | | | | the process of a flight lesson because you will not only |
| that plane up, handle different situations during the flight | | | | have to remember dozens of things to check off, you |
| and return it to the ground safely. A flight school or | | | | are dealing with the sensations of flying an airplane. |
| FBO will allow you to rent their airplane so you can do | | | | But don't worry because your instructor knows that |
| just that. | | | | especially on this first flight, you will not be an expert at |
| So you have stopped by a flight school and talked to | | | | every aspect of the flight. They will help you start the |
| a certificated flight instructor (CFI) and discussed your | | | | engine, taxi it onto the runway, handle the radio |
| flight training options. You like the instructor and you like | | | | communications and assist you with the take off. |
| the flight school, so you sign-up for ground school and | | | | During the flight, your instructor will be having as much |
| your first lesson. When the day actually comes for | | | | fun as you watching you discover the fun of flying, |
| you to do your first training flight, you can bet you will | | | | banking the plane, gaining altitude, changing directions |
| probably be a bit nervous. I know I was. It will be a | | | | and dealing with the atmosphere around you. And |
| nervousness that is mixed with excitement because | | | | when the time is right to land the plane, the most |
| soon you will be flying above the world in an | | | | important part of the flight, your instructor will be very |
| environment you have never been before. After years | | | | involved and maybe handle this first one for you so |
| of just admiring airplanes from afar and staring at | | | | you can get on the ground safely with a good learning |
| airplane flight controls in pictures, you are now the one | | | | experience behind you. |
| actually learning to control an airplane. You are learning | | | | In conclusion, during your first flight lesson, pay attention, |
| how to fly. | | | | ask lots of questions and get comfortable with what is |
| Hopefully you studied hard and paid lots of attention | | | | going on. If you feel some nervous jitters in your |
| during the ground school portion of your training. Flying | | | | stomach, that's normal. Just relax and remember your |
| an airplane isn't like studying English literature or | | | | training. In the flight lessons ahead, you will handle the |
| American history. Every bit of knowledge you get in | | | | controls more and more until finally you are flying the |
| the classroom will have direct and important application | | | | airplane and making the radio calls during the whole |
| when you taxi an airplane onto the runway and take | | | | lesson. It takes time and if you fly often you will notice |
| to the air. So really learn, ask questions and leave no | | | | your skills improving steadily and that you get more |
| question unanswered in your eagerness to understand | | | | and more out of every lesson. It won't be long before |
| and comprehend every detail of this complicated and | | | | you wonder why it was so difficult for you in the |
| important field of learning. Granted, during ground | | | | beginning because now everything seems so easy. |
| school there will be many things that you will | | | | I hope you've enjoyed this article. We have talked |
| understand but have no practical foundation for but | | | | about what the first few steps are towards becoming |
| that you have to learn anyways. I guarantee though | | | | a pilot and what you can expect as you take your first |
| that you will be amazed when you are flying along and | | | | lesson and beyond. You will never forget your first |
| you have that "ah-ha" moment when you correlate the | | | | lesson and the first time you take an airplane into the |
| information together and it becomes crystal clear and | | | | air. Becoming a pilot is a wonderful process and you |
| you understand everything. Wait for it, because it is | | | | should enjoy every aspect of it as you take that first |
| truly a wonderful experience. | | | | important step toward becoming a pilot. |