Two thousand five hundred feet above the lush landscape of the Adirondack Mountain range in northern Massachusetts, alarms blare in the small aircraft’s cockpit as I go nose-up and stall. But there is nothing to worry about. This is just a part of basic emergency flight maneuver training. Following my instructor’s direction, I prepare to execute the important part: the recovery.
“Let the nose down, there you go, now bring the power back. Get ready to trim,” he said. “Wait, that’s it?” I ask, surprised at how easily the nose corrects, and we resume the climb. “That’s it, kid.” A giddy laugh bursts from me as the tension, induced 10 minutes earlier by my instructor asking if I was ready for my first stall, leaves my body. The rest of the lesson involves a verbal run-down of an emergency field landing, practicing spiral descents to said field, and other standard maneuvers, like gliding (no power) descents.
“The biggest misconception about flying is that you have to be a big strong man to do it,” Peggy Loeffler, a flight instructor at the Great Barrington Airport and seasoned pilot, told me. “A lot of flying actually requires a very light touch,” she said, “so really, between that and the fact there is only so much room in the plane, women are quite well-suited to it.” As a child, Loeffler was desperate to fly—just like her dad—but at the time, she had no female role models in the industry and was told that the highest a woman could rise was to become a stewardess. It turns out, the glass ceiling once rose as high as 5,000 ft. So, Loeffler tabled her dream. That didn’t stick though, and she went on to earn her license in her 40s. She has been flying ever since. Today, she hopes to instill a belief in her students that anyone with the desire to fly can excel as a pilot.
Two years before my first stall, Loeffler walked me to the Piper Archer, parked on the tarmac outside the tiny airport for my intro to flight lesson. Her enthusiasm was apparent and infectious. After a very thorough pre-flight check of the plane’s external and mechanical functions, we took our seats. I was relieved to see that it looked a lot like driver’s ed—two steering wheels, two sets of pedals. I was less relieved when I realized everything was backward. Those steering wheels? Utterly useless on the ground. You steer with your feet. After some clumsy maneuvering down the runway, we lined up and got ready for takeoff. At this point, I knew exactly as much about flying a plane as Loeffler had told me in the last 30 minutes.
“Okay, you’re going to do takeoff,” she said. My heart leaped into my throat as I followed her instructions through our headsets. Parking brake on, flaps lowered three notches, throttle to full power, final system checks—I nervously confirmed each instrument’s position as she read them off—a radio confirmation that sounded like another language, parking brake off, and we were moving. “Time to pull,” she said calmly into her headset over the roar of the propeller. “Pull now!” I do, and the world falls out from under us.
For some, a test flight might be a thrilling bucket list adventure that begins and ends with takeoff and landing. But for others, it can ignite a passion that leads to a lifelong hobby or even a new career. If you or someone you know is curious about learning to fly, here’s what you need to know to get started.
Step 1: Take a Test Flight
This introductory lesson is designed to give you a taste of flying. You’ll sit in the cockpit, follow the instructor’s commands, and get a chance to handle the controls. This experience will help you decide if flying is just a fun idea or a consistent craving you want to satisfy.
Step 2: Choose a Flight School
Selecting the right flight school is crucial. You can check for FAA-approved pilot school locations online, or contact your local FSDO for training providers in your area. Once you know your options, visit the airports, meet the instructors, and talk to current students to get a feel for the environment. Consider factors like convenience, cost, and the aircraft types they use for training. Proximity is important, as a more convenient commute will help you stay consistent with training.
Step 3: Get a Medical Examination
Before you can take your final exam, you need to pass a medical examination to ensure you meet the health and fitness requirements set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This exam includes vision and hearing tests and a review of your medical history. Once you pass, you’ll receive a medical certificate necessary to obtain your pilot license. A list of AMEs in your area can be found here.
Step 4: Obtain a Student Pilot License
Before you can fly solo, you will need your student pilot’s license. Your flight school will help you apply for a student pilot license—they often take care of the entire application and mail you the license. You must be at least 16 years old and fluent in English to qualify.
Step 5: Begin Flight Training
Flight training is divided into ground school and in-flight lessons. Ground school covers the theoretical aspects of flying, including navigation, weather, aerodynamics, and aviation regulations. In-flight lessons focus on practical skills. You’ll need to complete at least 40 hours of flight time, though most students log around 70-80 hours before they feel ready for the exam.
Step 6: Take a Written Test
You must pass the FAA knowledge test once you’ve completed your ground school training. This written exam covers all the theoretical knowledge you’ve learned, and passing it is a prerequisite for taking the practical flight test.
Step 7: Pass the Practical Flight Test
The final hurdle is the check ride, a practical flight test with an FAA examiner. During this test, you’ll demonstrate your ability to handle the aircraft, perform maneuvers, and respond to emergencies. Passing this test earns you your private pilot license.
Additional Class Ratings
Once you have your standard pilot’s license, you can do all sorts of fun things—like getting additional certifications that reduce restrictions on your current license or allow you to fly different aircraft types. For example, earning a Multi-engine or Single-engine Sea (MES or SES) class rating enables you to fly seaplanes and perform takeoffs and landings on water. If you already hold a private pilot’s license, obtaining a seaplane rating is relatively straightforward and involves formal instruction with an authorized seaplane instructor.
The FAA doesn’t mandate a minimum number of instructional hours so that the training can be completed in as few as four hours of dual flight instruction, depending on your skill level. During this training, you’ll expand your aviation knowledge to include hydrodynamics, and you’ll learn to navigate the unique challenges of flying a seaplane—such as managing wind and water conditions, mastering various water taxiing techniques, and performing takeoffs and landings on different types of water surfaces. While no written test is required, you must pass a practical test, which includes an oral exam and a check ride administered by an FAA examiner or a designated pilot examiner.
Ask any pilot why they went into aviation, and they will tell you, in essence, the same thing—flying spoke to more than their scientific, mechanical, or geographic curiosity, it spoke to their soul. Flying is more than a skill—it’s a profound exploration of freedom, independence, self-confidence, and self-discovery. Whether you’re drawn to aviation by curiosity, a bucket list goal, or a deep-seated passion, a test flight is a great place to start.
