While most people choose to become a private pilot, there are some other options.

Private Pilot - This gives you the most options. As a private pilot, you will be able to fly anywhere with as many passengers as you wish. It requires a minimum of 40 hours of in-flight training.

Recreational Pilot - This rating has not been very popular. A recreational pilot may fly with one passenger and, without additional training, may fly within 50 miles of his/her base airport. It requires a minimum of 30 hours of in-flight training.

Sport Pilot - This, the newest Pilot type from the FAA, is becoming increasingly popular. It allows you to fly a LSA (light sport aircraft) with a single passenger and there is no limit as to how far you can fly. It requires a minimum of 20 hours of instruction.

For more information on the types of pilot certification, click here.

For information specifically about Sport Pilot training,
visit www.faa-sport-pilot.com.



Note about training hours: The hours mentioned are bare minimums defined by the FAA. It is highly unlikely that a student will complete his/her training and achieve the necessary level of competency in these minimums. Expect a 50%-100% increase in your actual hours of flight training.

Just as with any other business, some flight schools are better than others. And although every instructor (CFI) has the same training, some are better at teaching than others. Whether you elect to work with a school or independent instructor, you do want to make sure that the CFI you end up with is a good teacher - being a good pilot is not enough.

There are two types of flight school. They are referred to as Part 61 and Part 141. If you choose to work with an independent instructor, he might not even work for a flight school at all. The differences in these three options lie in the method of delivery and, perhaps, the type of facilities available. But in any case, you will receive the same training. Flight training requirements are strictly defined by the Federal Aviation Administration.

For more of the information that you will need to make an intelligent selection, click here.

As we noted, there is more to flight training than simply learning to steer the airplane around. You must absorb a lot of conceptual knowledge. None of this material is particularly difficult, but there is a lot of it.

Much of the information you must learn is required in order to pass the FAA written test, properly known as the Knowledge Test. But making a good score is not all there is to it - you must be able to apply this knowledge in the air.

There are a variety of ways to learn your aviation material. It isn't necessary, or even desirable, to complete your ground school training prior to beginning your flight lessons. But it is desirable to get a little head start.

Formal Ground Schools - These are not as popular as they once were, but if you prefer a formal setting where you meet with other students in a classroom, give it some consideration. Formal ground schools are frequently offered by Flight Schools and at local community colleges.

One-on-One - During your flight instruction, your instructor will constantly be helping you with your ground school material. Some instructors are better at this than others. You are the master of your own fate here. If you study hard at home, you will spend less time (and money!) with your instructor.

Study-at-Home - A world of options are available. You flight school or instructor will specify the books you need. Additionally, you can purchase DVDs and audio CDs to help you with your homework.

Online Ground School - There are a number of these available on the internet. Prices as well as quality vary wildly. A good one can be an indespensable source of instruction for you.

For quality online ground instruction, visit:
www.faa-ground-school.com

This online article explains how to save money during your flight training.

The Pilots Almanac - A concise encyclopedia and almanac for everything aviation. Look up terms, learn about certification, study weather theory or navigation. This is an excellent free resource for you.

Gold Seal Online Ground School - A full-featured multimedia ground school. You'll need a fast computer and connection, but this site is the most popular training spot on the internet. It is free, but registration will give you extra content. Don't just focus on the animated lessons. The Library is a fantastic source of information. Get started with your training right now.

Student Pilot Forum - StudentPilot.com hosts the most active online forums for students. This is an excellent place to network with others, as well as to get quick answers to your questions.

Learn the Garmin 430 GPS - For free! This website has an interactive "buttonology" tool that shows you what all the GPS buttons do. Plus, links to free Garmin training videos. Definately worth checking out.