by vn_aviator on Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:34 am
Hi mdoan,
First, you need to go to your nearest local airport and find a flight school and ask for a demo flight. It's about an hour flight and cost about $100 bucks. If you like it and you are up for the challenge (and a few grands), then you would want to visit a few schools to find the best deal. Also, you would want to get an instructor that is commited to teaching and getting you that license. Alot of instructors just want to fly alot of hours so they can log the hours for free and in the mean time, looking for flying jobs elsewhere. As soon as they find another job, they are gone leaving you with another instructor who knows nothing about your capability. So you have to put out a few more dollars to fly with the new guy until he's comfortable and let you continue where you left off with the previous guy. So choose the right instructor and the right school is important. Afterall, it's your money. You get to choose who you want to hire.
In order to get a private license, you need to take ground school (could be at home or at a flight school). You then need to pass the FAA written test. You will need at least 40 hours of flight instruction. After 40 hours, if the instructor finds you competent to take the checkride, he will sign you off for the checkride. Most people have around 50 hours before they take the checkride so be prepared to have enough money for 50 hours of flight instruction.
Good luck and feel free to ask any questions you might have in the future.
We are here to help each others.
Andy
Coming together is a beginning,
staying together is progress,
and working together is success.
-Henry Ford-
