The fascination with flying is nothing new. Since the ancient Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus where each donned a pair of home made wings to fly away from Crete we have had a love affair with flying. I don't know about you but the idea of putting on a set of wings held together by wax doesn't get me excited. In today's world almost anyone can become a pilot and learn to fly, in this article we will take a closer look at what is required. The basic requirements one must have prior to being able to hold a PPL or Private Pilot License is that you be 17 years of age although you may start flying earlier. The only restriction here is that you must be 16 before flying solo. There is also no specific educational requirement as the practice of piloting is based more on practical skills. The first stage on the way to getting your PPL is the General Progress Flying Test or GFTP. This usually takes about 35 hours at which point you may take other people with you in a limited area. Next, you must complete around 20 hours of cross country navigation. To receive your PPL you must have a minimum of 40 hours flying time, three theory exams, and pass a flight test. In contrast a CPL (Commercial Pilot License), takes 150 hours, four theory exams, and two flight tests. If you have designs to be a pilot another thing you need is patience. Obtaining a pilot license is not something that can be done in a matter of weeks. It takes about eighteen months to receive a PPL and at least two years for a commercial license. Another thing you should know upfront is the cost. The cost for PPL training can be from $8-$10,000 depending on how long it takes you to learn. A CPL will cost you more like $40,000. Generally, if at all possible you should treat learning to fly like you would obtaining a college degree. What I mean is that you should make it a priority and do it fulltime. This will make it much easier for you to learn and also give you much more flexibility on when you are able to fly, remember if the weather is bad you can't fly. If you are seeking to go further and get your CPL with the hopes of getting hired by a commercial airline you should be sure to include Mathematics, Physics, and English in your studies as these are the main areas of concern to the airlines. Learning to fly is a rewarding endeavor so get out there and do it.
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