How to Become a Pilot

The first step in becoming a pilot is finding the right school and the right program for you. Learn and compare all available training plans offered by your prospective flight schools. Make the choice that best fits your aviation goals. Find out why UNDAF is the right choice for you.

Schedule a facilities tour and discovery flight to see if the prospective flight school is the right choice for you. While not a requirement, a discovery flight will allow you to see firsthand the school you will be attending, the aircraft, and the quality of instruction that you will receive as a student there.

What is an FAA Medical? All pilots regardless of certificate type must meet certain medical requirements to fly. If you chose to pursue aviation as a professional career, you will be held to a higher medical standard from the FAA. This is why we recommend a First Class Medical for all students. Students will need to fill out the application at FAA MedXpress, find an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) using the AME Locator and make an appointment.

The cost of flight training can be daunting. Make sure you are financially prepared to start your flight training to avoid any interruptions in training.

Your flight instructor or a representative from your chosen flight school will help you apply for your Student Pilot Certificate in the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA).

Start training with your flight instructor. Your training will help you obtain the knowledge and the skills to become a Private Pilot.

The FAA requires you to pass their Private Pilot Knowledge Exam. This is to ensure that your knowledge is to the FAA's standard. Most students use a commercially available test prep software and Private Pilot ground school classes to help prepare for this test. A student must have an endorsement from a flight instructor to be eligible to take this test.

The last step in earning a Private Pilot Certificate is to take the practical exam, or check ride as it is commonly called. This is dependent on the type of school you have chosen. Part 61 schools must use a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) or an FAA representative for the exam. A Part 141 school with examining authority, such as UNDAF, can use in-house Check Airmen to conduct the exam. The exam consists of an oral portion and a flight portion. Upon successful complete of this exam, you will be awarded a Private Pilot Certificate.