How easy is it to get a Pilot's license?

Question

How do I get started?

Answer 1

First of all, you can just call your local airport to see if there is a flight school there. Look in the yellow pages under Airports or Aviation. Or you can look on the web site which is an organization of aircraft owners and pilots. There is extensive info available on that site. Or pick up a Flight Training Magazine and look for information on the Be-A-Pilot program... Most Flight Schools have a training introduction program called Discover Flying, and the
Be-A-Pilot program has a coupon for a reduced rate demonstraton flight.
Simply stated, you need 40 hours of training at a minimum in aircraft. There is also a requirement for study in many areas such as Weather, National Airspace System, Communications, Airplane Navigation and Operational Systems. This study is usually done with the help of study programs such as put out by Jeppesen, Gleim or King. You can also get just basic study information from the FAA itself. You have to be 16 years old to Solo an Airplane (that is by yourself) after initial training by your instructor. This generaly takes about 15 to 20 hours. Additional training in Cross Country flying, Navigation and Night Flying generaly follows the Solo period. You are eligible for a FAA license after all of the training is completed and you are 17 years of age. Thats it. Its up to you. Find your local flight school and make a telephone call. Its that simple...But there is a lot of work and study to be done. And it is not cheap....a Private license will cost between 8 and 10 thousand dollars. There are some lesser ratings that have some restrictions on when and where you can fly and in how large an airplane that will take you less time and money...but the effort will be the same..Hope this helps....

Answer 2

If you are in the USA there are two parts to getting a private pilots license.

Ground school...or the book learning part. This is the cheap part of the process and can be completed at any time. Usually you can go through a class at a local aviation school for a few hundred bucks. You have to do X number of classroom hours and pass a four part test to complete this phase.

Then there is Practical training...the Actual Flying Part. Can't remember the exact requirements but it's something like X number of hours with an instructor and you have to pass several different tests including solo cross country flights of various distances. Plus your instructor must sign off on each step of the way and an official FAA instructor/tester has to sign off on you as a minimally proficient pilot.

After that if you want to expand your license, say for twin prop planes or jets or passengers...it's more ground school and practical and certification and round and round till you are flying 747's or Space Shuttles.

Bye the way it's not hard. 6 Muslim Extremists who barely spoke English got certified in less than a year and flew 757's into buildings on 9/11/2001...Dooh!

Answer 3

It's as easy as writing a check! Be prepared to pay out some bucks. Learning to fly is pretty easy once you've been taught the basics, but it takes some practice, and that costs money. Most smaller airports have Flight Schools or a Flight Instructor or two that will get you started. They will explain the different types of licenses you can apply for,..each one has its own criteria. Expect it to take a couple years for a Private Pilot's license (required to take your friends up for a spin).

Answer 4

Not hard at all. Go to your nearest small airport with a flight school, and sign up for a discovery flight. An instructor will take you up and have your hands on the stick in the first hour. From there on, it's all a matter of time and money, and how much of each you're willing to devote to getting the license. The more condensed your time spent studying and flying, the easier it will be for you to master everything that's required for the license. If you spread it out too far, you run the risk of forgetting things along the way and having to repeat flights, tests, etc. all of which will cost you more money. So go to your nearest airfield and talk to the instructors. They're also FAA licensed (CFI), and they're usually a helpful bunch. Take that discovery flight to inspire yourself, and prepare your pocketbook and schedule. Good luck!

Answer 5

It's not beyond anyone of average intelligence, you need to read and write and understand the English language and be able to pass a third class physical as a minimum. anyone with an education level giving them a basic background in math and science will have little trouble with learning the basic curriculum for a private pilots license. Try a local high school or airport for basic private pilots ground school courses to see if it's something that suits you. There is also much training curriculum available on-line that may interest you. From there find an established flight school with good credentials check with your local FAA for references or local EAA chapters. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Its not easy, don't fool yourself. Getting a pilot's license is a serious business, as it should be. Looks like the Feds just stopped a SW pilot from getting on a plane he was going to fly. He was intoxicated, and I don't think he'll be flying for quite a while, if ever.

Answer 7

Because of the incidents that occurred on September 11, 2001. it is very difficult to get a pilot's license or if you go through other channels it will just take longer to get one than it was before 9/11/2001.

Answer 8

My dad got his pilots license. It is not an easy task BUT you have to be dedicated to making it happen. Just go to your nearest flight training center usually at a local small airport.

Answer 9

I have a friend going through the process at the moment. Its not very easy, takes alot of time and is very expensive. If you are dedicated and really want to commit to it go for it. It is the most rewarding and freeing thing you can do for yourself. The knowledge will stay with you forever. Contact local airports and start to inquire about classes. Someone will be able to point you in the right direction in yoru area. Be smart and be safe.

Answer 10

It's better to get you're commercial pilot license even if it costs a fortune because if you join the military, you might never even get to choose what to do, but if you just can't afford to pay you're tuition for your commercial pilot license then just join the military and try you're chance! hope it works! :)