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My grandfather loved flying. When he was just eighteen, he saved up enough money, found a guy who had an airplane in his barn, bought it and flew it back to his dad’s farm. It is interesting to note that during that inaugural flight, it was his FIRST solo flight and not only that but he tried to loop the airplane too. When he was at the top of the loop, dust fell into the carburetor and choked the life out of the airplane and my grandfather made his first deadstick landing. At the time, my grandfather only had maybe five hours of flight instruction in his—well–”logbook,” before he went and bought that airplane. Times were a lot more simpler then. There was no FAA, no medical requirement, no nothing. If you could basically find an airplane, you could fly it.

He told me that he had a lot of good memories from that airplane until he eventually bought a Piper Cub and that is all he flew for the next 20 years. It was in that Super Cub that I had my first general aviation flight as well and was day my love for flying began.

It is interesting to me that my grandfather never had dreams of flying for the airlines or the military or anything other than the freedom and adventure that comes along with flying an airplane from a grass strip. It was just HIS hobby and he loved it. He flew where he wanted and when he wanted on just a few instruments.

Which brings me to the reason for this week’s post. Learning to fly isn’t as complicated as you think and anyone with the will and resources can learn how. If you’re interested in flying as a hobby, then be prepared for a lot of excitement, adventures, and learning opportunities.

Here’s how to do it successfully:

Ground School Is The First Step

Now flying has gotten a bit more involved since my grandfather learned to fly. Before you can turn an interest in flying into a hobby, you’ll have to learn a bunch of “ground school” things first. It is not complicated but I it is interesting. The “ground school” portion of flying is very important and I guarantee that you will love flying more than you ever thought once you are done with your course. You will learn the most current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, airplane aerodynamics, weather, cross-country planning and much, MUCH more.

There are two ways you can get your Private Pilot ground school completed:

1. Attend a ground school class that is approved by the FAA at either a community college or your local flight school
2. Use a home-study course

Here are a two books that I recommend:

ASA Private Pilot Test Prep Book

This is one of the best books ever for new pilots. It’s format, pictures and explanations are the best in the industry. You definitely can’t go wrong with this book if you are a first time pilot.

Jeppesen Private Pilot Manual

I believe you pay for what you get. The “Jeppesen Private Pilot Manual” and all their other training material have long been the industry standard for aviation educations and this book should be a primary source for initial study and review on your journey to becoming a private pilot.

 Of course there are many more manuals available, but these are the two that I have used and still have.

Click here for great prices on Pilot Supplies and Books!

Pilot Age Requirements

Next, find out what the minimum age requirements are for the type of license (or certificate) you want. A Student Pilot license, for example, will require you to be at least 16 years old, while a Private Pilot licenserequires you to be at least 17 year old unless you plan to fly a gyroplane and at least 16 if you’re flying as a recreational pilot or flying an ultralight aircraft. Currently there is no age limiting requirement. I meet a pilot once that was 90 years old…and still flying! As long as you can pass the medical exam, you are good to fly.

Discovery Flights

Discovery Flight are terrific introductions to flying and still relatively inexpensive consider what you would think that you would pay for it. You can head to any airport flight school and typically they will offer Discovery Flights. Or if you like to do your research online, visit PilotJourney.com to help you find a school and buy a Discovery Flight. Remember to go with a friend. It makes the experience a thousand times more fun!

Be Prepared To Spend on Your Flying Education

Flying isn’t cheap. You’ll need to pay for flying lessons and aircraft rentals if you don’t have your own airplane. And you will also have to pay for an instructor.

I knew one student that went out and bought his own airplane to learn in. He had the money to do it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Having your own plane can get very expensive with maintenance, repairs, storing, and insurance.

The flight school airplanes are typically well maintained and safe, so just stick with them. If you are ever concerned about the maintenance or the safety of an airplane, go to another school.

Keep Learning About Flying

The hours you spend training and honing your flying skills are designed to keep you proficient and safe. The more you fly, the better pilot you’ll become. Eventually you get to the point where you don’t even think about flying but you just do. I know that most the time my mind is thinking ahead to the next two things that have to be done and my movements on the controls appear to be automatic. I don’t even think about them. It is probably similar to driving a car. When you drive, you don’t think about what you are doing, you just do it and flying an airplane is the same thing after awhile. But don’t just stop there. Keep yourself challenged and informed of the latest news. Go online, read articles, take classes, join email subscriptions like PilotWorkShops.com that provide free flying tips, join forums and learn everything you can. You can even join aviation clubs such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Women in Aviation, to name a few.

If there are seminars or conventions that you feel can expand your knowledge in flying, it might be worth your time to attend. Seminars offer valuable topics on flying that you can learn. Talk to people with a similar hobby and if there’s a profession in the field who’s willing to share his expertise with you, take advantage of the opportunity.

Being a Pilot and Volunteering

If you don’t have a lot of money to pay for flying there are ways to get your flying paid for and provide a service to the community as well. There is a  volunteer program called Civil Air Patrol(CAP), which is a civilian auxilary of the United States Air Force that provides many benefits to the community and young people. They maintain an airplane that is used for search-and-rescue (SAR) and help young adults develop the skills needed for their futures in aviation. One of the benefits of being in the CAP is that you can fly their planes at no charge or very low cost plus impact the lives of these young adults. In essence you get to fly and you get to help people.

Well I hope you are excited about the possibilities of finally following that dream of learning how to fly! There are not many things like it! And just so you know, once you do get your certificate, only 10% of the population in the United States know how to fly. It is a terrific accomplishement. So follow the links above and go learn to fly!

To Your Flying Success…

Jeffrey

 “Don’t be a show-off. Never be too proud to turn back. There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots.” – E. Hamilton Lee, 1949, Airmail Service

P.S. I came across this blog post, “17 Signs that Your Airplane Preservation Hobby May Be Impacting Your Home and Family Life…” Cracked me up! Need to chuckle? Read this post by Ryan Keough.

Related Topics: Don’t be surprised if one day you want to make your “hobby,” your career. If you think you might someday do that, read the article, “Flying as a Career: What to Expect and What Your Choices Are“

Jeffrey is a captain at a regional airline and flies the CRJ200, CRJ700, and the CRJ900. He has over 4000 hrs of flying experience in many different airplanes and is a Gold Seal flight instructor to his credit. He has recently written “The CRJ200 Quicknote Study Guide” that simplifies the systems of the CRJ200 into a easy-to-understand, downloadable eBook. Click here to get your copy today!

Related posts:

• Flying as a Career: What to Expect and What Your Choices Are
• Flight Simulators: A Great Way To Learn and Experience Flying
• Fund Your Flying, Train, Get the Airline Job
• 6 Ways You Can Save Money While Getting Your Private Pilot Certificate
• How To Fund Your Flying and Get Your Ratings Fast