Learning how to fly can be an expensive proposition, and it will take a fair amount of dedication of time and mental energy, so the would-be pilot will need to do some research before committing to the process. It helps to draw up a budget for learning how to fly, as this may dictate how many hours per week or per month a person can afford to take lessons. The student should research the various requirements for obtaining a pilot's license and study accordingly for those requirements and exams. Once he or she has done preliminary research, it will be time to find a plane and an instructor.
Many different models of planes are available for students learning how to fly, and it will be a good idea to research the advantages and disadvantages of the different models to find out which one will suit the student's needs the best. Some planes are larger than others, and some are easier to maneuver than others; some are even quieter than others, so the student should find out which planes are affordable to rent and which ones have the best safety record for student flights before deciding which plane is best for him or her. The student will spend a significant amount of time in this plane when learning how to fly, so this decision should not be made lightly.
Finding an instructor is another important decision to be made when learning how to fly. Many instructors are also working toward a certification, though of a different kind: some might be training to be a commercial pilot, for example, and they need time in the cockpit to earn such a certification. These pilots can be great pilots but poor teachers, and vice versa, so try to meet with the instructor before getting into the plane with him or her to get a feel for the teaching style, level of knowledge and skill, and so on. The student may want to consider more than one instructor, or an instructor who is passionate about teaching as well as flying.
The student pilot will need to spend several hundred hours in the cockpit in order to obtain a pilot's license, so he or she should think about the frequency of the flying schedule. This decision may depend on the student's budget, job, or other commitments, or it may simply depend on his or her ability to focus clearly for hours at a time. It is a wise decision to space out lessons so the pilot has plenty of rest days in between for studying and relaxing.
