Any person may begin taking flying lessons at any age. However, the Club recommends that aspiring pilots obtain a third class medical certificate sooner rather than later when starting flight training as to ensure that the student pilot has no disqualifying medical conditions. A third class medical can be obtained from any doctor who has been qualified as an Aviation Medical Examiner. The Club or your instructor can provide you with the names and contact information for local physicians who are also AMEs.

Once the student obtains his or her third class medical certificate, the student is automatically issued a student pilot certificate by the AME. When your instructor determines that you are ready to solo or to take your first cross-country flights, your instructor will endorse your student pilot certificate. The properly endorsed student pilot certificate serves as your first pilot’s license.

A person of any age can begin taking lessons and logging flight time toward their desired pilot’s certificate. However, in order to solo (i.e., fly without a flight instructor on board the aircraft) a student pilot must be at least 16 years of age, and most hold at least a third class medical certificate. Student pilots are not permitted to carry passengers with them, are restricted regarding when and where they may fly, and may not fly without the prior knowledge and permission of their flight instructor.

The FAA has three levels of the basic pilot’s certificate: the sport pilot certificate, the recreational pilot certificate, and the private pilot certificate. The sport pilot certificate and recreational pilot certificate require less training than the private pilot certificate, but are much more restrictive in terms of where and when the pilots may fly and what kinds of aircraft the pilot may fly. The Club recommends that any beginning pilot plan on working towards their private pilot’s certificate.

Once the private pilot’s certificate is earned, pilots may add ratings to their certificate, such as the instrument rating, multi-engine rating or complex aircraft rating, which permits them to fly faster and more complex aircraft. Private pilots may also go on to earn their commercial license.

To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must:

• Be at least 17 years of age;

• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language;

• Have a logbook endorsement certifying that the person has the required aeronautical knowledge and is prepared to take the written exam;

• Have taken and passed the written aeronautical knowledge exam;

• Have a logbook endorsement certifying that the person has the required flight proficiency (i.e., that the person is ready to take the practical test); and,

• Take and pass the required oral and practical (flying) exam.

Before taking the practical test, a student pilot must have logged a minimum of at least 40 hours of flight time, including at least 20 hours of dual instruction. However, most beginning pilots require slightly more than 40 hours of flight time to become proficient.

Visit http://www.aopa.org/letsgoflying/ and http://flighttraining.aopa.org/learntofly/ for more information about learning to fly. These websites are sponsored by the Aircraft Owners and Pilot’s Association (AOPA), which offers many excellent resources for beginning pilots, including a free six month membership in AOPA and subscription to the Flight Training magazine.