How to Become a Pilot
It’s easy to become a pilot, especially in the United States. Now, some people might already know how to become a pilot, or think its common sense as far as what is needed to get your pilot license, or how you get a flying job. But trust me when I say, there are a lot of aviation enthusiasts who don’t even know what the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is or that a person just like you can get a pilot license.
I have been a Commercial Pilot, CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) for many years and have operated a prominent and successful flight school in Chicago Illinois. Now, I am going to give you all the details on how to become a pilot, but first … take a deep breath, sit back and relax.
Imagine- looking up at the sky and seeing a small plane flying over, ever wonder who is flying that or who are those planes carrying. Well – chances are it’s a privately owned airplane which is either rented or owned by a private pilot.
The reality is that, becoming a pilot and getting your pilot license is just like getting you drivers license. If you think that the people flying the big jet airliners have to go to the military first or have to go thought some big government program in order to become a pilot, let me tell you – THAT IS NOT TRUE. In many other countries that is the exact case but NOT in the United States. Actually, the United States has the best infrastructure and legal system setup to promote General and Commercial Aviation, that is why a lot of student pilots come from other countries to get their pilot license in USA.
Now – ill be honest with you, it takes a little more work and dedication to get your pilot license than it is to get your drivers license, but it can be done. So here is what you need to do.
First, you need to find a flight school. Yes, there are schools out there in the business of providing all the things you need to to get you pilot license. These schools provide the books, teacher (CFI – aka the pilot), and of course the PLANE/Aircraft. Really- you couldn’t learn how to become a pilot if you didn’t have a plane. Now also realize that there are many small airports all over the country that generally have flight schools located on the field. You can go to a online flight school directory like FaaFlightSchool.COM to find flight schools or AOPA directory.
It is as simple as finding a school and start taking lessons at your own pace so that you meet all the legal requirements that are required by the FAA to get your pilot license.
In the next posts I will tell you all the information you need to become a pilot and give you my advice on what it should cost you, and how to get the best training. Unfortunately there is such a a thing as bad flight training.
Nice post. You points are right on. I agree you need to a flight school that has both the right mix of instructors and airplanes that suit your needs. Remember, if you don’t ever like or aren’t learning from a CFI, move on and find another school.
Also, dedicate yourself to accomplishing your goal and don’t let up once you start. Statistically speaking, once you start learning how to fly, you need to stay with it until you are done. Any breaks in training are sure to doom you and then you will have not finished your training AND wasted a lot of money.
Here is a website that breaks out the costs of flight training:
http://tinyurl.com/breaking-out-cost-of-flying
Thanks for the nice post,
Jeffrey
http://www.flycrj.com
Hi Guys:
Good points. You want to make sure you research and plan the process out before you start. I have the cost and requirements broken down in detial here
http://learn-to-fly-book.arizona-flight-training-and-instruction.com/
Hope to See you in the Sky
Airfreddy
http://www.arizona-flight-training-and-instruction.com
[...] Become a Pilot – What is Part 61 and Part 141 … Does it Matter? February 3, 2010 Ok … so you are still here and want to Become a Pilot. If you are reading this article first, thats ok but this is a follow up on my first article on how to become a pilot (first article here) . [...]