| There are nine basic types of pilots: student, sport, | | | | All student flying must take place near a "home" |
| recreational, private, instrument rated, commercial, | | | | airport. If your instructor approves, you can make a trip |
| certified flight instructor, airline transport, and designated | | | | to another airport and back, but a student pilot may |
| pilot examiner. You can progress through these | | | | never carry passengers.To advance your rating to |
| different levels of skill by attaining higher ratings.This | | | | that of a sport, recreational, or private pilot, you must |
| rating system designates what type of planes you can | | | | be 17 years old. Recreational pilots fly solely for fun |
| fly, if you can carry passengers, and what type of | | | | and must remain within 58 miles of their home airport |
| weather you?re allowed to fly in. There is even a | | | | unless they have explicit instructor |
| rating you must achieve before you can be hired as a | | | | approval.Recreational and sport pilots can only carry |
| pilot. Also, every pilot must have a current certificate of | | | | one passenger and are not allowed to fly through |
| good health from a physician approved by the FAA | | | | airspace where communication with an air traffic |
| before they can fly.Flight training begins with the | | | | controller is required, though recreational pilots can gain |
| student pilot certification. To gain this and subsequent | | | | approval for airspace. From this point, many pilots |
| certifications (also called your pilot?s license), you must | | | | proceed to the less restricted rating of private pilot. For |
| pass a written test, an oral test, ground school, and a | | | | more information on the more advanced levels of flight |
| flight test. Student pilots begin by taking flights with a | | | | training, contact a flight school and talk with a flight |
| certified flying instructor. After you achieve a mastery | | | | instructor. |
| of a set of basic skills, you will be permitted to fly solo. | | | | |