RIGHT NOW is the perfect time to get your private pilots license.

There are a few people in this world who are enthralled with aviation. They can sit at an airport for most, if not all, of the day and watch aircraft after aircraft take-off and land. They'll usually be the ones you see looking at the sky at the first sound of an airplane. They are aviation people and I have to confess I'm one of them. If you identify with this, you're probably either a pilot or really would like to be one.

The Basic Requirements

If you're dreaming of becoming a private pilot, take the time to find out what is required before you go too far. Obviously, you're going to need to make sure you have the very basics. You'll need to be 17 years old before you can actually have a pilots certificate. You'll also need to be able to speak, read, write and understand English. Lastly on the list of basics, you'll want to make sure you can pass a third class aviation physical. It's not that tough, but there are some people who can't pass. You'll want to know that before you get too deep into your flying lessons.

Finding a Flight School

The first step in the process of earning your private pilot license is to find a some flights schools in your area. Take your time to go in, look around, meet the instructors and take a look at the aircraft. Don't be too freaked out about flying in a plane built in 1975 as that's not too uncommon. Of course, the newer the plane, the more features you'll have. But, new doesn't always mean safe.

Your Certified Flight Instructor

Once you've found a look for an instructor who you can trust and seems to match your personality type. You're going to be spending a lot of hours together in very closer quarters, so you want to make sure you enjoy each others company. You'll also want a flight instructor who actually enjoys teaching people to fly. Unfortunately, a good chunk of CFI's are only there to get the hours they need and then move on to one of the regional airlines. They don't always make the best instructors. Of course, sometimes they do, so don't let that be your only deciding factor.

Ground School

There is a great debate that goes on among student and instructors over ground school. Some believe you should finish up your ground school and take your written exam before starting your flight training. The theory is, you'll have the knowledge you need for every step in the process and can focus on the flight portion of your training. Other believe it's best to keep your ground school training a step or two ahead of your flight training, so you learn the theory and then reinforce it with the actual flight time. Either way, you have to get it done, so do what you need to make it fit into your schedule.

Flight Time - What's Required

If you're attending a part 61 flight school, you'll need to complete 40 hours of flight training before you can take your practical exam or checkride. Of that time, 20 hours must be dual instruction with a certified flight instructor and 10 hours of solo time. You'll also need to have some other time requirements met, such as night flight, instrument time and cross-country flights. These will all come together as your CFI instructs.

Passing Your Checkride or Practical Exam

The last hurdle to getting your private pilot license is your checkride or practical exam. This will include a oral exam as well as an evaluation of your flying ability. The oral portion will typically take 2 or more hours of time. It will include a good dialog with your examiner about all areas of knowledge you're expected to have. It can be quite stressful, but a wonderful learning experience at the same time.

Your actual flight exam will be spent going over the practical test standards or PTS which you should have reviewed several times with your CFI. Remember, your examiner is NOT trying to trip you up or see if he or she can fail you. They're there to make sure you're going to be safe sharing the sky with them and the other pilots in the world. This is also a wonderful opportunity to learn from this experience.

You're a Pilot Now

Having passed all these exams, your examiner will reach out his hand to congratulate you as a new pilot. He'll then issue a temporary certificate while you wait for the FAA to issue the real deal to you. It will be one of those moments in your life you won't soon forget. Congratulations pilot!

The Next Step

One of the most important things you can do as a licensed private pilot is continue your education and move on to your instrument flight training. FAA statistics prove you're a much safer pilot once you've obtained your instrument rating. If you're current CFI isn't rated to instruction in instrument flight, ask for a recommendation. They'll know your learning style and can probably team you up with the perfect instructor for you.