Maybe you watched Topgun one too many times, you’ve been talking to a local airman, or you’re just looking to learn something new; whatever the reason, you’ve come to the decision that you’d like to start flying— and pending any major developments in human evolution, you’d like to start flying an aircraft of some kind. With this exciting realization comes dozens of questions: Where do I learn, what should I fly? How much does it cost? How long will it take? All of these just scratch the surface of knowledge you’ll need to learn before earning a license. There is a lot to figure out before you even begin.
What are the best tips for your first flying lesson? Well, in this article, we’ll discuss how to decide the type of license you should first pursue (based on your goals), the kind of aircraft you should learn to fly in, and several other tips to make your transition into aviation a smooth and enjoyable one.!
Every type of aircraft has a different license associated with it, so you can’t get an airplane license and fly a helicopter. As such, the first step is deciding why you want to fly and what you want to fly in.
1. Define Your Goals!
Ask yourself your initial motivation for flying. You don’t have to have a five-year plan, but consider whether or not this is most likely to stay a hobby or become a career.
If you’re planning on joining the military to fly, perhaps a prep school for military aircraft could be useful. If you’re going to want to be flying remote places, then learning in remote environments would be fitting.
If you know for absolute certain that you want to become an airline pilot, then looking at comprehensive programs that take you through all your certificates is most likely the way to go.
However, If you have no idea what your later goals are and you just want to fly now, stopping in at a local instruction center is a great way to start asking questions.
2. Decide the aircraft you’d like to fly!
While you may be picturing just flying an airplane, it’s totally possible to get lessons in lots of different aircraft. Helicopters are popular, though more expensive per lesson. Flying a glider is a cheap way to build up flight hours (no fuel costs), but you’re limited to where and how you can fly.
Many who decide to fly airplanes learn in small, single-engine fixed-wing nose-wheel planes (like a Cessna), though you’re not limited to this.
Say you own a tail-wheel complex airplane with variable prop speed, can you start flying in that with an instructor right away?
Absolutely. However, if you’re just looking to get into the air for a reasonable price and in a safe, stable airplane, flying the ‘stock’ planes that your local instructor has is probably the way to go.
3. Find a local instructor!
Before you go up flying, shop around for the right instruction program for you. Flight instruction can vary from full dedicated flight schools that take on dozens of students at a time, to just a sole pilot with an instructors license that has one or two students they instruct.
In some areas, deciding which way to go will be easy— you may have just one or two to choose from. In other, more congested places, there can be dozens of full-scale instruction centers. If this seems overwhelming, you can rest easy, because, for the most part, flight instructors are safe and professional and will steer students on the right track. There are certainly horror stories of students get ripped off by crooked instructors (having them re-do unnecessary lessons to rack up hours) but these are few and far between.
Finding an instructor you connect with is important, however, because once you start flying, it’s important to stick with the same program until you have your license— this will save you time and money in the long run.
4. Choose the right type of flight school!
There are basically two kinds of flight school to get your initial Private Pilot’s License (PPL)— part 61 and part 141. Both are approved flight schools, and both have pro’s and con’s associated with them.
In short, a part-141 school has gotten approval from the FAA to shorten the hours necessary for a student to fly to gain their license. They are able to do this because they have a highly efficient and strict curriculum that follows FAA guidelines to a ’T’. The best part of these schools is that they have a no-nonsense approach to flight training, teaching each lesson with precision and up-to-date information. The downside to 141 flight training is that it tends to be slightly more expensive (this can even out because of the shorter hour requirements though) and less personal than a part 61 school. Additionally, there is less ‘pleasure-flying’ in this kind of instruction—every minute in the aircraft is part of a structured lesson.
A part-61 flight school is still taught by an FAA certified instructor and the student must eventually meet all FAA standards to receive their license. However, they have more leeway to create a personalized curriculum.
While they require slightly more flight hours, the pros are that a student can decide to take their time with their lessons, have more ‘fun’ with their lessons (such as flying somewhere with the instructor for sightseeing but still counting the flight hour), and it is often a closer relationship between instructor and student. The cons are that lack of a strict schedule can seem unorganized and become frustrating. Costs can quickly rise if lessons need to be repeated that could have been done efficiently at one time.
5. Figure out the costs beforehand!
Going on one flight lesson isn’t going to bankrupt you, but the costs add up by the end of the training, so it’s important to get an accurate estimation of how much it will cost from start to finish. The most typical costs to factor in are:
Aircraft rental fee (you don’t have to pay this if you have your own)- you’ll have to pay this every time you go up flying. Typically prices fall between $150 and $250/hour—depending on what you’re learning in.
Flight time with an instructor– Believe it or not, you spend a lot of time flying alone as a student pilot. During this time, you might not have to pay the instructor who is supervising the flight, depending on your specific situation. However, any hours you’re not alone, you’re flying with your instructor. This typically adds $30-$70/hour on to your flight cost.
Ground time – Before and after each flight, ground time is necessary to brief and debrief. Ground instruction is for learning aircraft characteristics, flight maneuver steps, navigation, and airspace laws. It typically costs around $50/hour
Medical Exam – All student pilots must complete an FAA-approved medical exam before they fly solo. These typically cost $150-$300 depending on the class of exam you choose.
Supplies – Typically, students (and pilots in general) need to purchase charts, navigational tools, manuals, test supplies, and a headset. These costs can quickly add up to $500 and up. There are some options to get by for less, such as renting headsets and buying used manuals
Testing – In order to complete their training and receive a pilot’s license, students must take a written test, an oral board, and a check-flight. The written test can be done at any point in flight training and typically costs $150-$200 to take. The check ride and oral exam are the last steps in flight training. The combined cost of both is in the ballpark of $600. Additionally, the student will still need to pay all normal aircraft rental fees. Because it is a longer flight, the total cost of a test day often breaks $1000.
For a total cost, it’s a good rule of thumb to estimate the following:
Airplane pilots license – around $10,000
Helicopter pilots license – around $15,000
Glider license- around $8000
6. Understand the time commitment
While there is no limit on how long you can be a student pilot, the more streamlined your lessons are, the faster and cheaper getting your license will be. Students typically do best flying 1-2 hours/day, 4-6 days/week. Why only 1-2 hours per day? Each lesson is so packed with new information and maneuvers that any longer tends to get counter-productive.
It’s important for students to only take a couple of days off at a time to stay in the flow of things. The more you live, read, and breathe aviation, the faster the process goes. Sometimes a lesson needs to be repeated, but this is minimized by reducing the time between lessons. Flying just once a week can significantly increase your total costs by the end.
7. Show up with a good attitude
This basically goes for anything in life. You don’t need to show up polite and interested in flight, but you’ll get a lot further if you do. Flight training is complicated, expensive, and time-consuming. Your instructor will do their best to break everything down for you, but the more input you get, the better.
Typically, licensed pilots are around wherever you’re getting instructed, and they’re often happy to take students up for some free flying and exposure to new aircraft. General aviation is a small community with lots of camaraderies, so being enthusiastic will typically open lots of doors. You may meet someone willing to lend you their airplane in the future, fly with you on a long trip, or simply help break down some difficult facet of your instruction.
Showing up with a good attitude helps anywhere, but will make a significant difference in your flight training.
8. Dress comfortably!
It helps to be dressed comfortably for your first lesson. Most aircraft you’re going to learn in are cramped and a little bit awkward to move around in your first few times. Extra tight clothing is going to make this more difficult. If it’s at all chilly, dress warm. It gets colder the higher you go.
Wear regular shoes, not heels or boots. Flying requires all your limbs, and you want to be able to feel the controls beneath your feet.
Polarized sunglasses are hugely helpful. They don’t have to be crazy expensive or ‘for aviation’. Just a comfortable pair of polarized sunglasses.
Other accessories to consider bringing are a watch and a pen.
9. Ask Questions!
When you show up to your first lesson, ask questions. Any good flight instructor should be happy to answer in a clear and concise way about the next steps. Ask the sort of flight training they provide, the specific costs of their training and rentals, and how many students they typically have.
It’s always good to ask if they’re able to continue instructing after your initial private license. Some aircraft are outfitted to continue on past that point.
Ask about any safety concerns you may have— the instructor will more than likely be able to put your mind at ease
10. Understand the safety, and the risk
Flying can be intimidating to lots of people, and rightfully so. It’s important to understand the things that aren’t worth worrying about and the things you should be aware of.
First, if you’re getting your instruction from a school that’s been around a little while, you can be assured your instructors know what they’re doing. It takes many hours of flying and training to become a flight instructor, and they don’t get signed off until they’ve proven themselves multiple times. You may (and should) feel a little uncertain flying at times, but your instructor is always watching and ready to take the controls early on to avoid an incident.
Another common fear is engine or other mechanical failures. While this can and does happen, it is rare and often manageable. You’ll learn quickly what to do in the event of an engine failure, and your instructor knows how to set up for the best possible landing in the event something goes wrong.
Additionally, the aircraft is required to be systematically inspected and maintained on an extremely strict schedule. Part of being a pilot is checking the maintenance records before every flight to ensure everything is up to date.
While the risks are mitigated, it’s important to understand there are risks. If you can stomach that, then the antidote to further concerns is preparation and practice.
11. Enjoy it!
It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Your first flight is easily one of your best. You have little responsibility (its all on your instructor) and it’s an unforgettable feeling the first time you’re manipulating the controls. Ask questions before and after, but while you’re flying, enjoy the sights. If you aren’t sure you’re going to continue with lessons, just ask the instructor where a good scenic spot is and fly overt check it out. Flying is one of the most enjoyable sports there is, and learning to fly is a huge part of the process— so enjoy the training!
Recommended Course!
