This event will be your one stop resource for meeting Flight Instructors, Flight Schools, Colleges, learning about Aviation Careers, and most importantly to network with the people who have such a passion for General Aviation.

Earning Your Wings

In many ways learning to fly is a lot like getting your driver's license. The difference is that you'll be taught by an FAA Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) in an airplane, instead of a drivers' ed teacher in a car. You'll likely also use one of the more than 3,500 flight schools in the United States. Many people are surprised to find out that you actually start flying the airplane on the very first lesson.

Like driving, you'll have to learn flying's "rules of the road." This is part of "ground school" which you'll do by studying with a small group in a classroom, or one–on–one with your instructor, or at home with a number of computer–based or DVD–based training courses. When you're ready, you'll take a computerized exam to confirm that you've learned those rules of the road.

You'll also need to get your "learner's permit" for aviation called a student pilot certificate. Depending upon the type of pilot's license you're pursuing, you may need to have either a current automobile driver's license to prove that you're medically fit, or undergo a brief medical exam that simply requires you to be in good health. Prior to starting your flight training, you'll need to prove your U.S. citizenship or for non-U.S. citizens, submit to TSA a flight training request as required by the TSA alien flight training / citizenship validation rule.

Sport, Recreational or Private Pilot?

Choices – There are three types of pilot's licenses (they're really called certificates) that you can earn when you first start flying: Private, Recreational or Sport.

Private Pilot – Almost all pilots in the United States earn a traditional Private Pilot license. It's what most people think of when we say that someone has their "private." It has the fewest limitations and, with additional training, can be upgraded to include more advanced capabilities such as flying in bad weather, flying an airplane with more two or more engines, or flying professionally. Of the three options, it takes the most effort and money to earn, but provides the most flexibility and potential for growth.

Recreational Pilot – The Recreational Pilot certificate is a more limited form of the private certificate. It's a great way to earn your wings if you'll be flying close to your home airport during the daytime with no more than one passenger. It requires less effort and money to earn than the private; however, most people who start down this path eventually go on to earn the private certificate anyway. If you become a recreational pilot, additional training and experience will allow you to easily upgrade to a private pilot certificate.

Sport Pilot – The Sport Pilot certificate was introduced in 2004. It's perfect for people who want to get back to—or want to start with—the basics of flying. Sport aircraft are smaller, lighter, less-complex, one or two–seat airplanes, and have no need to fly at night or carry more than one passenger. Sport pilots can only fly a special limited class of aircraft known as Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). Light Sport Aircraft are popular around the world and are now being introduced and sold in the United States. Because of their newness, not every flight school will have Light Sport Aircraft available. Once you become a sport pilot, with additional training, experience and a Third-Class Medical certificate, you can easily upgrade to a higher level of pilot certificate.