Learn To Fly

"Pursue your Dream"

Basic Information, Universities and Flight Schools, Links,

Pilot Career Books and "motivational" P-51 fly-by audio (98 KB)

The Cessna 152 - a great flight training airplane

Step right in! You CAN fly!

Basic Information

Military Flight Training:
If you qualify (both physically and academically), learning to fly in the military is an excellent, and probably the best option. The advantages are:

Excellent quality training. The military will invest over a million dollars in training you to be a pilot.
Rapid progression to complex and / or jet equipment.
It's free, and you will be paid an Officer's salary the entire time.
Airlines tend to look favorably on military-trained pilots.
The camaraderie among fellow Officers and pilots.

A significant commitment of years to the military. Now typically nine years after attaining your wings.
Deployments overseas, on board ship or to land-based locations that may not appeal to you or that take you away from your family for many months at a time.
In times of war, the possibility of increase in physical risk
Generally, you need a four-year college degree before being trained as a pilot

Civilian Flight Training:

The pilot licenses:

Student Pilot License (Required to 'solo', or fly by yourself)

Usually issued as a combined "Student Pilot License / Third Class Medical Certificate" by an Aviation Medical Examiner. This is a fairly simple medical exam. A new medical is required every 36 months for those under 40 years old, every 24 months if over 40.
Flight instruction can be received at any age, but to solo an airplane, you must be 16 years old.
Gliders and balloons can be soloed at age 14.
The back of the certificate and the Student Pilot's logbook is signed by a Certified Flight Instructor ("CFI") to allow you to solo, and later, to take solo cross-country flights.
No minimum hours are specified, but details of training required are spelled out in Federal Aviation Regulations ("FARs") 61.81 thru 61.95.
Passengers may NEVER be carried by a Student Pilot.

Private Pilot License (the license to fly passengers)

Minimum age - 17
Allows carrying of passengers in relatively good weather - Visual Flight Rules ("VFR") both day and night.
Third Class medical required.
Specified flight training, solo and solo cross-country experience, a "Knowledge Test" and written recommendation from a CFI is required prior to taking the Practical Test (an Oral and Flight Test) from a Designated Pilot Examiner.
Either of two possible sets of rules can be used to get your Private Pilot's License: either FAR Part 141 - at an "FAA Approved" Flight school, or FAR Part 61
FAR 61 Minimum flight experience (full list is in FAR 61.109)
- 40 hours total flight time
- 20 hours dual instruction ('dual' is flight time with an instructor)
- 3 hours night, including 10 night takeoffs and landings and a 100 nautical mile night flight.
- 10 hours solo, of which 5 hours is solo cross-country, including one 150 nautical mile cross-country solo flight.
FAR Part 141 allows some ground simulator time to be applied toward the license and has different requirements.

Commercial Pilot License

Minimum age: 18
Allows you to earn money for flying.
A Second Class Medical is required. Renewal required every 12 months (for Commercial privileges).
Minimum hours under FAR 61.129 : 250 hours.
FAR 141 generally requires fewer hours.
Another Knowledge Test and Practical Test is required.

Instrument Rating

Allows flying in weather 'less-than VFR' or in 'Instrument conditions', such as in the clouds.
Rating goes onto a Private or Commercial license.
Minimum hours under FAR 61.65:
- 50 hours cross-country time as Pilot in Command.
- 40 hours of simulated instrument time under the 'hood' - which is flying with an instructor while you wear a 'view-limiting device' allowing you to only see the instruments.
FAR 141 generally requires fewer hours.
Another Knowledge Test and Practical Test is required.

Multi-engine Rating

Certified Flight Instructor

Airline Transport Pilot

Minimum of 1,500 flight hours.
Required license to be a Captain for an airline.
NOT required to be a Copilot / First Officer for an airline.
Minimum for most airlines is: Commercial, Multi-engine, Instrument.
A First Class Medical is required. Renewal required every 6 months (for ATP privileges).
Another Knowledge Test and Practical Test is required.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	Aerospace Programs
Florida Institute of Technology	School of Aeronautics
Middle Tennessee State University	Aerospace Programs
Parks College of Engineering and Aviation	Aerospace Programs
University of Memphis	Commercial Aviation
University of North Dakota	Aerospace Programs

Instrument Pilots: Instrument Procedures Handbook Excellent, color online book [FREE] from the FAA
Jet-Jobs.com Airline Career Specialists
Learn to fly.com Cessna Aircraft Company's Learn-to-Fly site
Los Angeles Flight Training
P-51 fly-by audio (98 KB)
Private 2 ATP - Everything you need to know, to go from Private 2 ATP!
Student and Private Pilot books

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