Here at High Tide Aviation, we know that many people dream of flight–we certainly do, which is why we went into this industry in the first place. While many people share this dream, fewer actually take the necessary steps to learn to fly aircraft. If you have your heart set on the skies, keep reading to find out what you need to do in order to learn to fly.
- Find a Flight School. If you want to learn to fly, you’ll first need to find a flight school. There are a number of institutions that offer flight training, from your local airport to dedicated training academies to aviation colleges. When choosing your flight school, it makes sense to start with those in your local area, but make sure to also check out the instructors’ qualifications before you make your final selection.
- Pass the Medical Exam. The second step you’ll need to take in order to learn to fly is to pass at least a third-class medical exam administered by an FAA Medical Examiner. Specific requirements for qualification include having at least 20/40 vision for both near and far away objects with or without corrective lenses and being able to perceive colors necessary for flight tasks. Having a disability will not necessarily disqualify you from flight training–for instance, there are many pilots who continue to fly after losing an eye, and many others who use prosthetics or have other limitations.
- Complete the Training. All that’s left is to complete the necessary flight training. The FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time in order to qualify for a private pilot certificate, with at least 20 hours of flight with your instructor and at least ten hours of solo flight.