Learning To Fly: How To Become A Pilot

For many people it is a dream to learn to fly, whether they are pursuing a career as a commercial airline pilot or they simply want to take the controls of a light aircraft every once in a while. Getting a licence takes a lot of time and money but it can also be extremely rewarding a fulfil a life-long dream.

If you are interested in learning to fly then you may have already heard about the Private Pilot’s Licence for Aeroplanes, known as the PPL(A). This is the standard sort of pilot’s licence that is required by anyone who wants to fly aeroplanes. Here we take a look at what you can do to get your PPL(A) including assessing whether being a pilot is right for you and the steps that you need to take to make it happen.

Book in a trial flight

The first step in anyone’s journey in learning to fly should be to book in a trial flight with an experienced and qualified flying instructor. There are flying lessons for beginners available all across the UK, so there is usually no need to travel far in order to get started. Some people are a little nervous about doing this, so here’s what to expect:

Before any trial flight, you will have a chat with the flying instructor who will explain what is going to happen – you will typically sit in the left seat of the cockpit with the instructor in the right seat. Discovery flights, like those offered by Nationwide Aviation, are a very similar experience, but you are usually the one flying the plane, so it can be a good way to understand if you enjoy being in the cockpit. It’s worth letting the instructor know your end goals – some people taking a trial flight are just doing it as a one-off experience, so it can make a difference to your flight.

Get the right equipment

One of the most important pieces of equipment any pilot needs is a quality headset for protection from noise and clear communication. Aviation headsets from specialist brands are widely trusted by pilots for their exceptional noise cancellation performance. For those ready to take flying lessons, this online David Clark headset range can be a good starting point to browse, as they offer high-quality noise-cancelling features at a reasonable price. You may also want to consider buying suitable sunglasses to protect your eyes from the often blinding sunlight that you encounter at high altitudes.

What it is like in the pilot seat

Sitting in the aircraft you will notice some similarities with driving a car. The dashboard sits in front of you (known as an instrument panel), and there is either a smaller steering wheel (known as a yoke) or a control stick.

There are also foot pedals which are used to control the rudder, as well as a brake pedal. There is no equivalent to a gas pedal, however, as throttle is generally controlled with a push-pull knob or a lever. Once you have got acquainted with the controls, the instructor will take you through a number of checks to ensure that the plane is ready to fly. Of course, in your first flight the instructor will be checking all of this for you, it’s just good to start learning as soon as possible.

The instructor will also deal with the business of taking off. Once you are airborne you may be invited to take the controls for the first time which is very thrilling.

Which licence is right for you?

Now that you have experienced flying for the first time, it is worth thinking about what kind of licence you want to get. There are various different options, however it is most common to get a pilot’s licence from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Getting a pilot’s licence through this body not only allows you to fly anywhere in Europe but is also recognised around the world from the USA and Africa to the Middle East and Australia.

However, while this is the most well-respected licence it can also be the most onerous to achieve. There are other options such as a Light Aircraft Pilot’s Licence (LAPL), which is ideally suited to leisure pilots.

Getting the hours

The minimum flight training that is required to achieve an EASA licence is 45 hours, and for a LAPL licence you need 30 hours. It should, of course, be noted that you can start with an LAPL to see how you are getting on, and then upgrade to a more comprehensive licence later on.

Remember that these are the minimum number of hours required, and you may need more depending on your skill level.

A grounding in the knowledge

While you are carrying out your practical experience you also need to get a good understanding of the theory and technical knowledge. It is a good idea to read through the relevant textbooks, and take pilot theory training courses to get up to speed.