| To answer some of the questions and comments we | | | | about the school. What is the training like? How much |
| receive from our blog readers, we propose the | | | | flight time do they get? What do they like about the |
| following step by step guide to prepare you for your | | | | school and what do they dislike. |
| aviation career. | | | | Facilities |
| Step 1 - Making The Right Choice. | | | | A clean and professional facility means a well- run |
| You made the choice to fly for a living. You are | | | | organization. What is the ground school like? This is as |
| pursuing a dream that requires much commitment and | | | | important as training in the plane. Make sure their flight |
| sacrifice. Apply the three C's to your studying: | | | | simulators are up-to-date. These can vary from |
| Commitment, Control and Challenge. Commit to your | | | | relatively simple Part-Task Trainers (PTTs) Cockpit |
| class schedule, control your attitude during flight time | | | | Procedures Trainers (CPT) for practicing drills and |
| and challenge your mind by everyday involvement. Be | | | | checks, or Full Flight Simulators (FFS). |
| prepared, time is not the only thing you need to invest. | | | | Student Housing |
| Step 2 - Cost | | | | A flight training school needs to have student housing |
| In addition to time, money is another investment | | | | options. Student housing is cheaper than off-campus |
| students have to evaluate. The cost to attain a Pilot | | | | housing. You will be living with fellow flight students and |
| License can vary greatly from person to person. A | | | | that's a good way to learn. Check the local market for |
| minimum of 35 hours of flight time is required to | | | | real estate listings and prices for off-campus housing, |
| receive a license (40 if flying part 61), but some | | | | too. |
| students may need up to 70 hours of flight training. | | | | Aircraft Fleet |
| The total cost for flight training and equipment will | | | | Are the planes new? If not, how old are they? How |
| range from $4,000 to over $7,000. Flight training is | | | | big is their fleet? Are the planes properly maintained |
| expensive and financing may be tough. Don't give up | | | | and do you have access to the maintenance logs? A |
| – there are many options available. Read our blog | | | | training plane should be serviced after every 100 hours |
| on financing for flight school training to get started. | | | | of flight time. It doesn't have to be new but it does |
| Step 3 - Find the Right Flight Training School | | | | have to well-maintained. |
| Location is an important thing to consider when you | | | | Step 4 - Physical Exam |
| are looking for a flight training school. What state the | | | | Your actual ability to fly should match your dream of |
| school is in and what the weather is like is critical for | | | | being a pilot. It it suggested to get a physical |
| your getting your commercial pilot license. In addition to | | | | examination as soon as you realize that flight training is |
| location, there are other important factors to consider: | | | | what you want to do. To find a doctor in your area, |
| Qualifications | | | | consider this resource link. |
| Check the reputation of the flight training school you | | | | Step 5 - Education is Power |
| are considering. You can do this through the local FAA | | | | Don't limit yourself to just your studies in your |
| Flight Standards District Office, the Aircraft Owners | | | | handbook. The more you know, the safer a pilot you |
| and Pilots Association, National Air Transportation | | | | will be. There are plenty of resources on aviation |
| Association, the Better Business Bureau or Chamber | | | | career such as FAA, aviationcareerguide, pilotjourney, |
| of Commerce. | | | | and apla |
| Often times, the best information – however - is | | | | Find the source you like and refer to it to get industry |
| word-of-mouth. After your formal tour of the facility | | | | news and updates. |
| ask some of the attending students what they think | | | | |