Question: I want to learn to fly, but I don’t know what to look for in a flight school. What are steps to choosing the right one?
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Answer: Picking the right flight school for you should begin with a review of your goals. Are you looking to become a pilot for a career change? Or are you looking for a new hobby or checking off a bucket-list item?
If a new career is your goal, you need to be prepared to become a full-time student for at least two years—that means financially, emotionally, and mentally. Accelerated programs have their applicants in the classroom and cockpit for several hours a day multiple times a week in order to complete the training in minimal time.
Please keep in mind that in addition to acquiring the training you’ll also need to build your experience to become employable. If you wish to learn to fly for personal enrichment, a smaller school, where you will fly two to three times a week, might be better. This path is more relatable to learning a sport or how to play a musical instrument. You’ll progress faster if you study, but you can work in lessons around the rest of your life.
No matter where you go, be wary about paying up front as some schools don’t offer or honor refund policies. Do not put more money down than you can afford to lose. Ask around about the reputation of the school, especially about the quality of the fleet maintenance. If the school has a challenge retaining employees or finding DPEs to fly its aircraft, give it the go-by.
Here are some additional resources from FLYING to help you choose a flight school:
- FLYING’s Flight School Guide and Directory: This is a great place to start. Find the best flight schools by state, and read the research on each option. Search by state, program type, area of study, and more.
- How Much is an Airplane Rental?
- Which Flight Schools Have Airline Partnerships?
- How to Become a Charter Pilot
- How to Become a Corporate Pilot
- How to Become a Military Pilot
- What to Expect Ahead of Your Flight Training
Ask us anything you’ve ever wanted to know about aviation. Our experts in general aviation, flight training, aircraft, avionics, and more may attempt to answer in a future article. Email your questions to editorial@flyingmag.com.
