Have you ever dreamt of learning to fly? Perhaps you would like to pursue aviation as a full-time profession, or maybe you'd like to fly for your personal enjoyment. But where can you go to learn to fly? What costs are involved? How long does it take? What are the age limits? It's easy.

When we talk about learning how to fly, we must first look at what is involved in flying. Just like learning to drive a car there are steps in the flying process. Whether you are learning to fly for fun or for a career, the first step is your private pilot certificate; this is your license to fly by yourself, when you want. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A) there are certain requirements that must be met for this certificate.

• Become a student pilot. This is done by beginning your flight lessons.

• Hold a third class medical/student pilot certificate.

• Begin ground school classes.

• Start your flying lessons

• Have 40 hours of flight time, 10 solo and at least 20 dual.
  - At approximately 10 to 15 hours of dual flight instruction, a student pilot can solo (fly by themselves). Before this can take place, the flight instructor will go over many maneuvers and procedures.
  - During the solo period of 10 hours, you must have 5 hours of solo time doing maneuvers on your own and 5 hours of cross country flying. These cross countries consists of approximately 3 flights; two 1 hour flights and one three hour flight with a landing of 150nm from the departure airport. A cross country is a flight that has a landing 50 nautical miles from the departure point.
  - Before you go for your checkride (flight test) you will need a minimum of 40 hours; 10 solo and 20 dual. Included in the dual time there must be 3 hours of night flying with a 100nm X-C, and a minimum of 10 takeoffs and landings.  You will also need 3 hours must be hood time, within your 40 hours of dual . - After you have met the following requirements...

• Passed your private pilot ground school knowledge test (written test) with a score of 70% or better. This test consists of 60 multiple-choice airplane related question, such as...

• 1. Airplanes and Aerodynamics
  2. Airplane systems
  3. Federal Aviation Regulations
  4. Airports and airspace
  5. Airplane performance
  6. Aeromedical factors
  7. Weather
  8. Navigation
  9. Cross-country flying etc.

• Hold at least a third class medical.

• Received 40 hours flight time.
  - 10 solo...5 in maneuvers and 5 cross country.
  - 20 dual, 3.0 night, 3 hood ... It is time for your checkride (flight test)

When you are ready to take flight lessons, visit several flight schools, try to talk to different flight instructors about how they teach and ask question like...

1. How long have they been instructing? Newer instructors are usually more enthusiastic and thorough.
2. What is their availability? Full or part-time?
3. How long does it take for one of their students to solo? To get their license.
4. What does it cost to rent an airplane?
5. Where can you take ground school?
6. What medical examiner do they recommend?
7. What kind of schedule can you make with the airplanes and the instructors?

Costs
Depending on your location in the world, the average cost of flying will be $2500.00 to $3500.00 this should include ground school, flight time, instructor fees, and all necessary misc. flight fees.

HINT: Many flight schools offer blocks of time for a discount price. We have seen up to 20% if paid in advance.

Time
Ground school is usually over a period of approximately 12 weeks.

HINT: You can start flying during ground school; that way you have hands-on-experience as to what you are learning.

Flight Time
If you are a motivated person and fly at least 3 times a week, you can receive your license in about 12 - 15 weeks. However, other circumstances prevent this from always happening, such as weather, availability of the flight instructor, aircraft, work, and personal schedules. You can figure longer if you fly less than 3 times a week. Remember, it is your time and money involved, so fly as much as possible to prevent skill loss, repeat lessons, and bad weather, all of which interfere with you flying career.