Congratulations! You’ve already taken the first step to becoming the pilot: you’ve DECIDED to become a pilot! You may now be wondering where on earth you go from here. Fear not! This guide is going to help you get started in your flight training journey. Whether you want to fly for fun or you’re looking for a new career, make sure you do these steps BEFORE you start officially flight training.

Step 1: Obtain an FAA Medical

The first step before beginning flight training is to obtain an FAA medical. There are 3 classes of FAA medicals: First Class, Second Class, and Third Class. How long the medical is valid for depends on your age. Reference the chart below for how long a medical is valid for.

A Third Class Medical (Class III) is the minimum required to begin training, however, if you plan to seek a career in aviation, it would be wise to apply for a First Class Medical (Class I) to ensure you qualify for it. The medical isn’t officially required until you conduct your first solo flight, but it’s a very wise idea to make sure you qualify for a medical before you start training. Imagine spending thousands of dollars in training, achieving a commercial pilot certificate, then discovering you don’t qualify for a First Class Medical. It has happened! Don’t let it happen to you. Get your medical BEFORE you start training! If there are any hiccups, you have time to address the issues before you spend money on flying.

AOPA has a great article on medicals here: https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/presolo/special/pilots-guide-to-medical-certification

Step 2: Ensure You Meet TSA Requirements

After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, the Transportation Safety Administration created the Flight Training Security Program. This program was designed for the TSA to verify people who are engaging in flight training in the United States are eligible to receive flight training. Flight Instructors are required to verify student’s eligibility before flight training can begin. If you’re a United States citizen, this won’t be a concern to you. Make sure you have your original birth certificate or a valid passport when you begin training. If you are NOT a U.S. citizen and wish to do flight training in the United States, it’s important to make sure you are eligible beforehand. We highly recommend Non-U.S. Citizens read this article from AOPA on what is required in order to begin training:

https://www.aopa.org/advocacy/pilots/alien-flight-training-program/aliens-and-non-us-citizens-seeking-flight-training

Step 3: Sign Up For Ground School

This step isn’t required, but HIGHLY recommended. In order to obtain your private pilot certificate, you need to pass a written knowledge test, meet the required flight time needed for the certificate, then finally pass an oral and flight test (commonly called a checkride). The written knowledge test can be studied for and taken before you even step foot in a plane! Coming in to flight training with a solid foundation and understanding of certain regulations, airspace, and aerodynamics reduces the amount of time you would have taken to talk about it while in a plane, and gives you more time to actually learn to FLY the plane.

So where/how do I study for this written test? I’m glad you asked. I WISH I could recommend the official Fly with Clayton Private Pilot Ground School… but unfortunately that hasn’t come to fruition yet. However, here is a list of highly recommended ground schools that contain all the required material and study tools to help you prepare for an pass the written knowledge test.

Disclaimer: I am not paid by ANY of these ground schools! These are simply some of the most recommended ground schools online currently.

Gold Seal Private Pilot Course - ($299 lifetime or $229/$60 yearly renewal)

Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course - ($299 lifetime)

Pilot Institute Private Pilot Course - ($249 lifetime)

Flight Insight Private Pilot Course - ($229 lifetime)

Come to your first lesson with a passed written knowledge test, and your instructor will be extatic!

Step 4: Choose a Good Flight School (61 vs 141)

While it is possible to utilize a personal private instructor, most people choose to train with a flight school. You’re going to be giving this school a LOT of money, so it is important to pick a school that you can trust and is going to fit your needs!

There are two types of flight schools: Part 61 and Part 141. The difference between the two types of schools has to do with the structure of the training and time requirements.

Part 61 is the perfect type of school for people who want to train at their own pace. Maybe you have a full time job or you’rea in school full time and need to get creative with how and when you train. Part 61 schools are probably your best bet. Most of the time, Part 61 schools do not have a set schedule and allow students to schedule lessons at their own leisure. The time requirements for Part 61 are a hair higher than Part 141, but the appeal for most students is the flexibility with scheduling.

Part 141 is a more structured form of training. Think of this like your typical school structure: set class times and structured flight times. Part 141 schools are better for the student who’s ready to drop everything and focus 100% on flight training. The flight time requirements are a little lower than Part 61, but the drawback is the schedule structure that doesn’t allow for much flexibility.

Part 61 and Part 141 each have their own pros and cons, so it’s absolutely important for you to decide which is going to fit your needs. When choosing a flight school, be sure to do research! Call the school, ask for a tour, ask what their maintenance is like, talk to current students, read Reddit articles, read Facebook post, read Google Reviews. Do anything and everything to learn everything you can about the school. Remember, you’re giving them a LOT of money. Make sure your money is well spent!

Step 5: Plan Financially

It’s no secret that flight training is NOT cheap. However, don’t let that deter you from considering getting your pilot certificate. There are multiple options to help fund or finance flight training. The key is to plan ahead of time and to have contingency plans.

Depending on the school you choose, different schools have different methods of paying for training. Most schools offer a pay as you go model, where you pay after each lesson. Some schools offer financing if that’s an option you’d like to consider as well. What we STRONGLY encourage is to not pay a large lump-sum amount up front if possible. There have been multiple horror stories (some recent) of people who put up their entire life savings as upfront payments for flight training just for the school to close up and file for bankruptcy one month later. It’s not worth the risk.

There are also many opportunities for grants and scholarships in aviation. Organizations like the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and other nonprofits are commonly offering scholarships to eligible students. Take the time to research these scholarships and even call the flight school you’ve chosen and ask them for any recommendations they might have. They’re usually happy to help!

step 6: Schedule a Discovery Flight!

It’s finally that time. You’ve done the prep work, you got your ducks all lined up, and it’s now time to get in the plane and fly! Discovery Flights are how most flight schools start the flight training. It’s an introduction to small aircraft that most people have never experienced before. The discovery flight is important because a potential student can quickly learn if training in a small plane is not for them. Unfortunately I have seen this happen where someone really wanted to be a pilot, but after their first flight during a discovery flight they quickly learned this is not what they want to do. Discovery flights are a quick, no commitment, introduction into aviation. When you’re ready to take that leap, call up your flight school and get that discovery flight scheduled!

Conclusion

Flight training can seem like a daunting and expensive expedition, but don’t be discouraged. It can also be the most enjoyable and awarding experience you ever encounter. Be prepared, study hard, and get ready for your horizons to expand (literally).

Here’s to blue skies ahead!

What to do BEFORE you start Flight Training