How To Become A Pilot
So, What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Pilot?
For starters, you need both a license and a medical certificate. That’s almost always the case, with very few exceptions. Sport pilots, for example, don’t need a medical certificate as a valid driver’s license is an acceptable proof of medical competence.
A pilot license, or certificate, has your personal information such as your name, date of birth, and address. It also features details about your pilot privileges, limitations, and the type of aircraft you fly.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the body that regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the US, one of which is pilot licensing.
Pilot certification encompasses several types of licenses, each having its own set of aeronautical knowledge and flight training requirements.
Here’s a brief overview of pilot licenses in the United States:
Remote Pilot License: Required for flying unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones. This is a great first aviation certificate as its inexpensive and relatively easy to earn. It introduces dealing with the FAA, studying and passing FAA knowledge exams, and the study of aviation in general.
Student Pilot endorsement: While it’s required before you can fly solo, you don’t need a student pilot endorsement to start take flying lessons.
Sport Pilot License: Allows you to fly light sport aircraft (LSA), which are small, low-powered aircraft, as well as balloons, gliders, and gyroplanes.
Recreational Pilot License: Similar to sport, but it gives you access to bigger aircraft and more privileges through instructor endorsement.
Private Pilot Certificate: Lets you fly aircraft for non-commercial purposes, but not for compensation or hire. You will be endorsed as a student pilot while earning your PPC. Unless the proposed MOSAIC rules are adopted, most instructors recommend novice pilots earn their PPC because of the expanded rights to its holders.
Commercial Pilot Certificate: Permits you to get paid for certain operations such as banner towing, photography, and agricultural applications.
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate: Qualifies you to work for the airlines and is the holy grail of pilot licenses!
A medical certificate displays physical details about you, including your weight, height, and eye color. Its purpose is to verify you’re physically and mentally able to pilot an aircraft.
Before you start your flight training, it’s wise to get a medical certificate to ensure you have no health conditions that may prevent you from becoming a pilot.
To become a pilot, you must also complete both ground school and flight school to become eligible for a license.
In ground school, you learn aviation theory, which includes subjects like aerodynamics, meteorology, and navigation.
You may complete your ground training through an approved ground course at a pilot school, lessons with a flight instructor, or a home-study course on your own. The ground school gives you the aeronautical knowledge to operate an aircraft safely and pass the knowledge test for the issuance of a pilot certificate or rating.
Another option to consider for ground training is online ground school. AV8 Prep is a trusted provider offering comprehensive courses taught by a team of certificated flight instructors with over 50,000 combined flight hours. Most of these instructors are Airline Transport Pilots who bring decades of real-world experience to your training.
By enrolling in AV8 Prep, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to pass your FAA exams with confidence. Their courses are designed for flexibility, allowing you to complete your initial training in less than a year. You’ll be on the fast track to becoming a pilot, with opportunities to start earning as a flight instructor while continuing your journey toward higher certifications.
Why Choose AV8 Prep?
Expert Instruction: Learn from a team of experienced pilots who know what it takes to succeed in aviation.
Proven Track Record: AV8 Prep has helped countless aspiring pilots achieve their dreams.
Lifetime Earnings Potential: The accelerated training path ensures you don’t lose years to schooling. Airline pilots can often out-earn doctors due to their earlier career start and long-term earning potential.
After completing the necessary training, you then have to pass an aeronautical knowledge test and a practical test to obtain your pilot license.
A knowledge test is an FAA-designed assessment tool to make sure you have the required aeronautical knowledge. The number of questions for each knowledge test varies depending on the license or rating sought, but they’re all multiple-choice exams. In all tests, the passing score is 70.
In almost all cases, passing the knowledge test is a prerequisite for a practical test (or checkride). The practical test consists of an oral exam and a flight test, which are both administered by an FAA inspector or designated examiner.
Of course, all the aforementioned information relates to civil aviation.
