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So You Want to Be a Pilot?

  • mattiasrperalta
  • Jun 22, 2025
  • 3 min read

When someone asks, “How do I become a pilot?”—there isn’t just one answer. In fact, that question is usually answered with another one:

“What kind of pilot do you want to be?”

Are you interested in flying just for fun? Or do you want to turn it into a career—maybe as an airline pilot or private charter pilot?

Whatever your goal is, the path always starts the same way:👉 Earning your Private Pilot Certificate.

Where I'm Starting

As for me, I’m still figuring things out. I’m not old enough to solo yet, but I already know one thing for sure: I want to be in the air.

To help myself—and maybe help you too—I did some research and found a great guide on becoming a Private Pilot from EAA.

Here’s a quick summary of the basic steps:

✈️ Step 1: Are You Eligible?

To begin training for your Private Pilot Certificate, you must:

  • Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English

  • Be at least 16 years old to solo (14 for gliders)

  • Be at least 17 years old to earn your certificate (16 for gliders)

✈️ Step 2: Take a Free Intro Flight

If you haven’t flown before, find your local EAA chapter and schedule a free introductory flight. It’s a great way to experience the joy of aviation for the first time.

I’m a member of EAA Chapter 1570 at Doña Ana Airport (KDNA) in Santa Teresa, NM. I definitely recommend following them and joining if you’re local!

✈️ Step 3: Join an EAA Chapter

Being part of an EAA chapter gives you access to:

  • A community of aviation enthusiasts

  • Mentorship and guidance

  • Scholarships and resources

✈️ Step 4: Plan Your Finances

Learning to fly costs money—but there are options:

  • Apply for EAA scholarships

  • Look for other national and local scholarships (I'll post more info on this soon)

  • Consider joining a flying club to help lower training costs

✈️ Step 5: Choose a Flight School or Instructor

You can either:

  • Attend a formal flight school

    In the El Paso/Santa Teresa area, we have Red Arrow Flight Academy based at KDNA. They’ve been around for over 12 years and that’s where I’ll be doing my training.

  • Work with an independent instructor

Both paths are valid. The most important thing is finding someone you trust and feel comfortable learning from.

✈️ Step 6: Paperwork & Medical Exam

Before you solo, you'll need:

  • A Student Pilot Certificate (your school or instructor can help with this)

  • A medical certificate from an FAA-approved doctor

Pro Tip: If you take any medications or have medical conditions, talk to someone before scheduling your exam. Denials can be hard to reverse.

✈️ Step 7: Start Studying & Flying

Flight training includes two key parts:

  • Ground school – You can learn in-person, online, or through self-study.

    Before buying a course, talk to your instructor or school to make sure it meets their requirements. It could save you time and money.

  • Flight training – You’ll probably take the controls during your very first lesson!

✈️ Step 8: Pass the Written Test

After completing ground school, you'll need to:

  • Get an endorsement from your instructor

  • Schedule and take the FAA Written Knowledge Test at an approved testing center

✈️ Step 9: Your First Solo Flight

One of the most exciting milestones! Once your instructor feels you're ready, you'll:

  • Fly solo in the pattern (close to the airport)

  • Do three takeoffs and landings on your own

Trust me—you’ll never forget your first solo!

✈️ Step 10: Build Experience

After soloing, you’ll continue to build skills with and without your instructor:

  • Cross-country flights

  • Night flying

  • Emergency procedures

  • Advanced maneuvers

🕒 While the legal minimum is 35–40 flight hours, most students take closer to 60–80 hours to feel fully ready.

✈️ Step 11: The Checkride (Final Exam)

Once you're ready, it's time for your checkride with an FAA examiner. It includes:

  • An oral exam to test your knowledge

  • A flight test to demonstrate your skills

Pass both—and you’ll officially be a Private Pilot! 🎉

Final Thoughts

I’m still early in my journey, but I’m excited to share what I’ve learned. Whether your dream is weekend flying or a full-time flying career, it all starts with one small step.

If you're like me and can’t wait to get in the air—go for it.I’ll be documenting my progress right here as I go.


Let me know if you'd like to see images, video clips, or more detailed guides for each step. I’m happy to share as I keep learning!

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