Learn to Fly - First Flight

Welcome to the fascinating world of flying. Having wings is rewarding. Its a totally different experience and very pleasurable. It opens of avenues of exploring for you. So if you are interested in flying, go ahead and fulfill your dreams. Flying has always been my passion and dream. But I not only dared to dream but make it a reality. If you have made up your mind and are dedicated to learn a new skills, here are the steps for you.

1. Locate a flying school/club near your location. Its not difficult, you a google will turn up some nice flight schools. If you have any friends or referrals that's good too and it made your choices easier.
2. Do some research on the flight school. Its always a good idea of find out the reviews on the flight school. If the flying school/club has lots of budding pilots then ofcourse that gets a higher ranking. What you need to look in a school is, number of aircraft (single engine e.g. Cessna 152/172 etc), students at any point of time, number of instructors (in case you need to work with another one) and of course the maintenance staff.
3. Find our the instructors available in that school. You may get the list of instructors from the website of the school or by reading reviews and other information on net. Finding out a good instructor is equally important as finding out the school. The instructor will instrumental in giving you the wings you always desired.
4. Contact the school and make an appointment with the instructor. The schools always have an intro flight option. Its always important to take that intro flight as after that you will come to know if thats something up your alley.
5. Take the intro flight. I am sure you would love it. I had some nervousness about it and was little shaky after the flight, but I knew it instantly that I want to fly.
6. After the flight talk to the instructor, its important that you guys gel well. Experience counts with the instructors but many times you will find less experienced ones taking extra steps to make it enjoyable for you. Its all about being comfortable. My first instructor was not that experienced in teaching (I think I was first few of his student) however very knowledgeable guy.
7. Get to know about the school.
8. Do the paper work with the school to enroll. Some clubs have membership fees that you need to pay.
9. That's it. You may now fly and enjoy the sky.

Once you enroll and are committed to learn flying. School will ask you to follow some steps like take medical (class 1/2/3 depending upon your need). I would suggest go for Class 1, in case you want to take your passion steps ahead to become commercial pilot.

Secondly you need to go through a background check with TSA (and possibly finger printing if you are a foreign student).

Now you are legal to fly....enjoy.......