How to Become an Amateur Pilot

If you're wondering how to become an amateur pilot, you might be surprised to find that you only need to be 16 years of age, in good health, and meet specific training requirements. This is the most basic type of pilot's license available, and the minimum license you'll need in order to become an amateur pilot.

To become an amateur pilot, the first step is to be able to understand, speak, and read English. Aircraft control towers, as well as airports, use English to communicate. This is true in most places of the world, even where English isn't the native tongue.

Next, you'll need to find information about a local flight school. You're most likely to find this information from your local general aviation airports. It's likely that you'll have to pay between $3,000 and $4,000 in order to take your flying lessons and to become an amateur pilot.

Prior to enrolling in flight school, you will need to get a medical certificate from your physician. Once you have that, your flight school will include both ground training as well as flight training. Ground training will generally take around three to five weeks, depending on the particular flight school.

There are a number of aids you can used during the learning process. There are study manuals available for purchase that you can use even before you pay for flight lessons. There are even computer-aided programs that will help you study, as well.

Once you've had your ground training, you will have to take a written test provided by the Federal Aviation Administration if you want to become an amateur pilot. At this time, the test is made up of one hundred multiple choice questions.

Once you've passed your FAA test, you need to start logging some flight training hours. Usually, you are required to have 30 to 40 hours of flight time, accompanied by a flight instructor. After this is complete, you must take a solo flight without an instructor on board.

The final step in becoming an amateur pilot is to take a final exam, which is also known as the check ride. During the check ride, an examiner that is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration will observe you, and the examiner will also ask you questions.

Once you've completed all of these steps, you're ready to become an amateur pilot. You will receive a pilot license that lets you pilot an airplane with just a single engine during the day, or at night when visibility is good.