How to Become a Plane Pilot

Flying is a great activity, and many people wonder how to become a plane pilot. Becoming a private pilot is not as expensive as most people assume. To pass the certification for being a private pilot, single engine land, costs about the same as one semester of tuition at a large state university.

Steps to Becoming a Plane Pilot:

1. Get a medical exam from an aviation medical examiner. This should be done first. If a student pilot can't pass this exam, he won't become a pilot.
   
2. Find a flight school.  Look for the local airport information (usually a smaller airport if you are in a large city) and they should have contact information for the school.
3. Take an introductory flight. Introductory flights are very inexpensive, and introduce the prospective student to the flight school and type of plane to be used as well as an experience flying in a small plane.
4. Select an instructor.  Some flight schools have many instructors. Speak with some of them to get a feel for how you fit with their style.
5. Purchase gear. While there is almost an unlimited variety of equipment a pilot can use, the most basic is the headset. The flight school will also have a student pack to purchase that has books and usually a flight bag.
6. Take lessons. Depending on the type of flight school, a pilots course can be completed with around 40 hours of flight time. Ground lessons will cover all of the basics for flight and happen in a classroom or one-on-one with an instructor.
7. The check ride is the final test. You will fly with a flight examiner to determine your competency.  After the examiner signs off, you are ready to fly.