Flight School 101: Everything to Know Before Starting Your Pilot Training

So you’re thinking about starting flight school, but you’re not quite sure where to start or what to expect? Where should you go to school? How will you pay for it? What does flight school even mean? We’re here to help! Read on to learn everything you need to know before embarking on your aviation journey.

Committing to Your Aviation Journey: Time and Costs

To kick things off, it's important to understand that flight school is a significant time and money commitment. You will need to spend time completing ground school, flight lessons and your own self-study (more on this later), and you should expect to spend money on tuition, flight hours, equipment, supplies and exams (more on this, too).

So, before starting flight school, make sure you are prepared to make this commitment. Don’t let the price tag scare you, though! Here at AIRO, we have finance partners and resources to support your education and training.

Choosing the Right Flight School: Part 61 vs. Part 141

Now, the first step to starting your aviation journey off strong is choosing a flight school that is right for you. Flight schools may differ in their reputation or accreditation, their fleet of aircraft, the qualifications of their instructors, or the flight training method they follow (Part 61 vs. Part 141).

If you’re looking for a flexible, less-structured route to earning your pilot certifications, consider a Part 61 program. Or, if you’re looking for a more formal, structured program, consider a Part 141 flight school. Though they differ in structure, both types of schools offer the same certifications, follow FAA regulations, and require passing the same knowledge and practical tests.

Decide what you want your flight school experience to look like, considering factors like accreditation, location, facilities and aircraft, and quality of instructors, and research training programs to find the right one for your aviation goals and needs.

Getting Your FAA Medical Certificate

Before beginning flight training, you will also need to pass a medical examination and earn your FAA Medical Certificate, of which there are three types: first class, second class, and third class. Student pilots must hold at least a third class medical certificate, while second and first class medicals are often required for commercial and airline pilots, respectively.

The exam ensures that pilots meet the FAA’s health standards regarding vision, hearing, and overall health, with the first and second class medicals having stricter requirements.

To obtain your medical, first complete an application in MedXPress, then use the FAA’s Designee Locator Search to find an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) in your area and schedule an exam.

The 3 Pillars: Everything to Know About Flight School Structure

Now that you’re medically cleared to begin, there are three main components of flight training that you need to know about: flight school, ground school, and ground instruction. These work together to prepare you for your FAA written knowledge tests and practical tests (or checkrides), which you must pass to earn your licenses and ratings.

Ground School: Theoretical Aviation Knowledge

Ground school is where you learn the theoretical knowledge needed to pass the FAA written knowledge test. You will study a wide range of subjects including aerodynamics, meteorology, navigation and other aviation-related topics. In simpler terms, you will learn how aircraft actually fly, how weather impacts flight, and how to understand your position in the sky as you move from Point A to Point B, along with other essential background knowledge necessary for smart, safe decision-making in the air.

Ground school is most similar to a classroom setting, often with textbook reading, video lessons, and quizzes. While in-person ground school options exist, many pilots today opt for online ground school courses because of their flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Flight School: Hands-On Cockpit Experience

Flight school involves hands-on experience in the cockpit and is likely what you imagine when you think about learning to fly. This is where you will apply the theoretical knowledge you learned in ground school with practical lessons in the aircraft.

You’ll learn how to operate the aircraft and perform the fundamental flight maneuvers (straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents) and tasks associated with operating the aircraft. You will practice things like taking off, landing, navigating, communicating with air traffic control and practicing emergency procedures to ensure you’re prepared for all scenarios.

Flight school is designed for you to log the flight hours required by the FAA to earn your pilot certifications and will help you prepare for the flight evaluation portion of your checkride.

Ground Instruction: One-on-One Mentorship

Ground instruction is where you will receive personalized, one-on-one, or small group training with your instructor outside of the aircraft. It's meant to supplement and reinforce your learning from ground school, and it can vary greatly depending on your school and instructor.

Ground instruction differs from ground school in that these sessions are tailored specifically to meet you where you’re at in your aviation journey. You may spend time with your instructor preparing for upcoming lessons or checkrides and reviewing areas for improvement, having pre-flight briefings where you discuss the plans and goals for that flight, and debriefing after flights to understand what went well, what didn’t, and why.

Mapping Your Future: The FAA Pilot Certification Pathway

As you progress through flight school, you will have the opportunity to earn a number of FAA certifications. The certifications offered differ slightly from school to school, but at AIRO we offer the following licenses and ratings:

• Private Pilot License

• Instrument Rating

• Commercial Pilot License

• Certified Flight Instructor

• Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument

• Multi-Engine Add On

Each certification builds on the one prior and creates a smooth pathway toward your ultimate aviation goals, though the Multi-Engine Add On offers unique flexibility in that it can be incorporated into your curriculum at any point after earning your Private Pilot license.

Start Your Journey at AIRO: Discovery Flights and Enrollment

Now that you know all of the essentials about flight training, it’s time to get started! At AIRO, we offer campus visits and discovery flights for both airplanes and helicopters at our Northwest Arkansas and Kansas City flight schools. This gives you the chance to explore our facilities and aircraft and take to the skies with one of our certified instructors.

Then, once you’re ready, you can book an enrollment session with us and officially begin your aviation journey!

NWA Flight School

Kansas City Flight School