The Best Private Pilot School is Where You Earn Your Wings

Anyone can qualify to be a private pilot. Even so, learning to fly can be a long road with twists and turns and a few bumps on the way. But once you complete the training and receive your license, you will see that it was worth it in the first place. The best private pilot school is not just where you earn your wings. It's where you make lifetime memories.

Anyone can be a private pilot? Really?

Yes. Even differently abled persons can be private pilots too. You must only be of legal age and have a third-class medical certificate. Most young people with a passion for flying are going for this certification due to its flexibility and affordability.

For some people, a private pilot certificate is a stepping stone to the more career-focused airline pilot qualification. For others, it's the culmination of their dreams to fly as a hobby or to pilot their own private jets in everyday travel.

After you go through the training and get your licensing, you will be able to operate your own aircraft through the country's airspace. It's an accomplishment that most people wouldn't trade for anything.

Sounds exciting!

The experience of learning to fly is even better than flying the plane itself. It can take you under six months to complete the training, or as long as your flexibility allows. The experience is exciting, challenging, and memorable.

But choosing a private pilot school is not just about walking to the one that's closest to where you live. One must carefully weigh the training environment in that school, the planes they have for trainees, and the state of these aircraft.

Learning to fly should be fun and safe. Don't accept anything less.

I want to experience all that. Which private pilot school should I choose?

There are several private pilot schools scattered around Florida. But you must ask yourself a few things before signing up for pilot training at a school. For starters, carefully scrutinize their fee structure and look at things such as aircraft rental rates, fuel process, taxes, insurance, and instructor fees among others. There shouldn't be hidden fees that could surprise you later.

But instructor experience and credentials matter too, right?

Yes. If you learn from the best, you can expect that you will be among the best-qualified to fly. When assessing the right type of private pilot school, please look at the experience and qualifications of instructors they have on board. You can ask questions such as where they learned to fly, how many years they have been with the school, and what success stories they have in pilot training.

The right instructors should also be good communicators and friendly persons. You want to get into the cockpit with someone you get along with. You need to fully trust them when they finally leave the whole plane in your hands.

Quite true.

But there is no reason to worry. The right school should have more than one instructor, so you can switch to a new trainer if things don't work out with the first. Your experience in pilot school depends primarily on the quality and nature of the practical instructions you get. Thus, it's essential to learn from someone who cares and understands you.

Which means I need to interview individual instructors?

For an enjoyable experience in private pilot school, finding the right instructor should be top on your to-do list after you find the right school. It would help if you sit down with individual instructors and have an informal conversation about learning to fly, their background, and overall experiences. Use this face to face session to gauge their personality and attitudes and see if they are something you can fly with.

Trust your gut. But trust the instructor too. Remember that the FAA certifies all private pilot instructors. They have met high standards –the rest is only about your personal preferences. Find someone you can “click” with.

Under the right tutelage, how soon do I get to fly solo?

It could be 6 hours or even take more than 40 hours. It depends on many things, including the number of lessons you attend, and the weather. It would also depend on your learning abilities. Fast learners may get to solo their planes at a swifter pace. For that to happen, you must be getting the A-plus kind of pilot training.

And when you finally get to fly solo, that's not the end of the training. Many things happen after that to polish your skills and introduce you to new things, including advance maneuvers. The period between your solo flight and your licensing is usually a period of rapid growth. You get to perfect your skills and learn what only pilots can know.

Course structures vary too

You might go through the Part 61 or Part 141 of private pilot training, depending on the school and the Federal Aviation Regulations they operate under. Of course, the two types of course structure lead to the same qualification, but the methods of teaching are a little different.

Part 141 pilot training follows a strict syllabus structure. The FAA must approve schools offering this training before teaching begins. The training is fast-paced and carried in professional-like settings. In Part 61, on the other hand, the instructor can customize the syllabus as they see fit.

So, how is the flying experience for beginners?

It gets even more beautiful, the more you learn, and the more you learn, the more confident you get. Being able to finally take a plane up and soar over the landscapes feels truly amazing.

You will discover that flying is a peaceful and relaxing activity. Someone might tell you that flying is scary, but it isn't. It is serenity and freedom.

But perhaps what you will remember for many years to come is your first time on a plane as a student pilot. In that first lesson, you sit next to your instructor and learn how to operate the aircraft. That first take off never fades from memory.

During your early training (before solo flights) you will learn things such as pre-flight inspection, safety, basic maneuvers, and landing. These topics put you on a fast path to becoming a licensed pilot. 

Important: You might want to go to a school with the latest aircraft—they are more technologically advanced and therefore serve as excellent training tools.

Honestly, I am a little nervous about learning to fly. Is it safe?

It's natural to be a little afraid. Flying involves speed and height and a combo of these two can easily be nerve-wracking. But that shouldn't keep you separated from your dreams. As mentioned earlier, once you get into that plane and start learning to fly, you will find out just how easy and calming it can be.

Be sure, however, to train with a school that has a robust maintenance plan for the aircraft they use in training. For safety reasons, before you choose a given school, ask them to show you the logs for their flight maintenance program. Walk away if they don't have a regular maintenance plan provided by experienced professional aircraft mechanics.

Great. Can't wait to start.

Go for it—and if you are looking for the best private pilot school, Sunair Aviation is the right choice. The flight school based in Leesburg, Florida, is home to many expert instructors and runs a maintenance facility that keeps its aircraft in excellent shape. Sunair Aviation has all the exceptional features and personnel discussed in this article.