| No
matter what your ultimate goal in aviation is - be it recreational
flying or a more advanced training program - you must start by
getting a private pilot's license. (Word to the wise: technically,
pilots hold "certificates," not licenses, to fly, although hardly
anyone except the FAA calls them that.) This private license allows
a pilot to fly a single-engine airplane under visual flight rules
(VFR), meaning visibility of at least three miles, as well as at
night. A private pilot may carry passengers but may not be paid for
doing so, although the pilot can share operating expenses with the
passengers.
Once
you have earned a private license, you can work toward other
certificates: a commercial certificate allows you to be paid for
your flying, a flight instructor certificate enables you to teach
others, and an airline transport certificate permits you to fly an
airliner. You can also add various ratings that allow you pilot
multi-engine airplanes, navigate using instruments in bad weather,
and fly different aircraft like seaplanes, gliders, helicopters, and
balloons. But before you even think about doing that fun stuff, you
must get your basic private license.
The
prerequisites for a pilot's license are simple enough that almost
anyone can earn one:
- Medical examination. You must pass the basic medical
exam that all applicants are required to undergo, certifying
that you meet the medical standards for safely operating an
aircraft. This medical exam is important so you may want to
consider it first.
- Language. All applicants for the private license have
to be able to read, speak, and understand English (the
international language of aviation).
- Age. The FAA says you must be at least 16 years old
to fly solo with a student pilot certificate, and 17 years old
to get a pilot's license. There is no upper age limit, provided
that you are healthy enough to pass the basic medical exam
discussed above.
- Time. A private license
requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, with most
student pilots logging closer to 60-80 hours before their final
check ride, as well as extra time for study on the ground in
preparation for an FAA written test. The length of your training depends in
part on whether you want to study full- or part-time. Intensive
full-time programs can be completed in as few as two weeks or a
month, while a part-time student typically takes between four
and six months of flying several times a week.
- Money. Flying is certainly not restricted to the fabulously wealthy-you
can learn to fly on a budget - it nevertheless is not an
inexpensive endeavor. If you train part-time at a local airport,
for example, plan on investing in the range of $3,000 to $5,000,
with costs varying widely by region. It is a good idea to
consider whether you have the funds to start toward and reach
your goal within a reasonable time period. Keep in mind that you
do not need to pay for all of your flight training up front.
Most training programs let you pay as you go, although you might
get a price break by paying for a block of lessons in advance.
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