Hundreds of flight schools across the nation present young
men and women with the opportunity to change their lives. When
choosing a flight school, location is usually top priority. There
are flight schools in almost every state in the union so no one
has to go very far out of their way to find one. Acceptance into
aviation school is generally not an issue as there are standard
requirements which vary little from school to school.
Most requirements have more to do with obtaining a Private Pilot
Certificate than getting into flight schools. In order to acquire
a certificate you must:
• Be at least 17 years old at the time you finish training
and testing.
• Be able to read, write and speak English fluently.
• Obtain a student pilot certificate first (to do so you
must be 16 years old).
• Pass the private pilot knowledge test with a score of
70% or better.
• Obtain at least a third-class medical certificate.
To receive a medical certificate, flight schools require an examination
be performed by an FAA approved doctor. For anyone under the age
of forty a third-class certificate is valid for three years. It
is valid for two years for those forty and above. Medical certificates
may be issued to those with physical handicaps. Of course, it
depends on the handicap and there may be operating restrictions.
|