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What do nearly 160,000 Americans have in common?
Private pilot licenses, that’s what. As of 2022, about 158,000 people in the United States were licensed to fly airplanes. Several thousand more had licenses for other types of aircraft, like helicopters.
These individuals include people who occasionally fly for pleasure as well as folks who use airplanes as their primary mode of long-distance transportation. Some aren’t easily categorized, like tech entrepreneur Sky Dayton, who also happens to be a private flight evangelist.
Serious hobbyists like Dayton know full well that getting a private pilot’s license is no walk (or flight) in the park. However, it’s within reach for those with the means, the motivation, and the aptitude. Read on to learn how to make it happen for you.
Steps to Get a Pilot’s License
Getting a pilot’s license is much more difficult than getting a driver’s license, but it’s not like becoming an astronaut. These are the steps to follow.
1. Understand What’s Involved in the Process
Approach the process of getting a pilot’s license as you would any big project: by making a detailed plan of attack.
The following steps are the “broad strokes” of that plan. Before you tackle them in order, read over them carefully, conduct additional research using reputable sources like the Federal Aviation Administration’s website, and map out how you’ll approach them.
2. Find a Flight School Nearby
Whether you realize it or not, you probably live within a short drive of a flight school. Many general aviation airports and airfields have flight schools onsite, and with so many of these spread across the U.S., chances are good you won’t have to go too far to find one.
The next step is evaluating your options and choosing the best fit. Every flight school is different, so take the time to select the one that seems best for your learning style.
3. Take Your First Flight and Enroll
Next, take an “admissions flight” with any school you’re seriously considering. This will be your best chance to evaluate the school’s curriculum and get a feel for the instructors before committing real money to the process.
4. Get Your FAA Medical Certificate (Recreational or Professional)
Every pilot, whether recreational or commercial, needs to obtain proper medical certification with the FAA. Fortunately, the medical certification standards are not as strict for private pilots, so you don’t have to be in “Olympic athlete” shape to pass.
5. Begin Your Supervised Flying Lessons
Now begins the fun part! Depending on how quick a study you are, it may also be the longest part of the process. You don’t have to complete a minimum number of supervised flying hours before graduating to solo flight, so it’s all about your comfort and competence behind the controls.
6. Get Your FAA Student Pilot Certificate
Before flying solo, you need to get your FAA student pilot certificate. Apply as soon as you feel ready to take the next step in your training.
7. Pass the Required Exams
Aspiring private pilots must pass a knowledge test and a practical (in-flight) exam. It’s not unlike the process for first-time driver’s license applicants, although the material is just a bit more challenging.
Should You Pursue a Pilot’s License? Benefits and Drawbacks
Now that you know how to get a pilot’s license, it’s time to ask yourself whether you should. These are four important considerations — two in favor, two against — to weigh before enrolling in flight school.
Flying Is Incredibly Fun (For Many of Us)
Flying under your own power can be an amazing experience. For many, it’s a feeling of total freedom, complete with incredible views. It’s a lot more fun than flying commercial, that’s for sure.
But flying isn’t for everyone. That’s why it’s so important to take a test flight or two before you commit to the licensing process. You might find it’s not your cup of tea.
Flying Opens Up the World (Literally)
With your pilot’s license and access to a sturdy aircraft, the world is your oyster. Well, at least anywhere within service range. Take that, traffic.
Getting a Pilot’s License Is a Lot of Work
If you’ve read this far, it will come as no surprise that getting a pilot’s license is a lot of work. Thousands of hours of work, to be a bit more precise about it. Your heart needs to be in it.
It’s an Expensive, Time-Consuming Hobby If Your Heart’s Not in It
It takes a long time to get your pilot’s license, and keeping it is time-consuming as well. Plus, training alone costs thousands of dollars, not including everything else involved. It’s a great hobby if you have the time and the means, but it’s not for everyone.
How to Keep Your Pilot’s License
Once you have your pilot’s license, you have to keep it. Like maintaining other safety certifications, this will take some effort on your part. You’ll need to do four main things on a biennial (two-year) basis.
- Complete Recurrent Training Every Year. Pilot license holders need to complete a process known as “recurrent training” every 12 calendar months. Mark your calendar.
- Practice in Between Training Sessions. Practice makes perfect. Fly as often as you can (or would like to) to keep your skills sharp between recurrent training sessions.
- Pass Your Biennial Flight Review. Every two years, you’ll need to pass a flight review to keep your license. This is a big deal, so don’t blow it off.
- Keep Your Medical Certifications Current. This can feel like a formality, but don’t snooze on it either. Let your love of flying guide you to make healthy life choices.
Head for the Clouds (Or Not)
On the one hand, it’s pretty impressive that nearly 160,000 Americans have a private pilot’s license. On the other, that’s less than 0.5% of the U.S. population. Needless to say, recreational flight is not for everyone.
Before going all the way down the rabbit hole and beginning the expensive, time-consuming process of learning how to fly and obtaining your pilot’s license, take a beat and make sure it’s the right decision. After all, flying is really, really fun, but it’s not like it’s the only hobby around.
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