If you love to fly, you’re probably thinking about becoming a pilot. As you daydream about your solo trips and pick out your favorite craft, don’t forget about these three practical concerns.
1. Storage Facilities
Where are you going to put your airplane? You don’t need a professional hangar, but you do need facilities with heavy-duty weather protection. This shelter needs to have inside or outside-hung commercial doors to protect your plane’s delicate interior from storms and snow. Make sure that any windows are properly caulked and that you watch for signs of flooding or rodent infestations.
2. Lessons
You can’t fly your airplane until you receive your pilot’s license, and to do that, you need lessons. Sign up at your local aviation school, where you’ll probably pay a flat fee per lesson. This fee includes the instructor’s fee and the plane rental. When you’re ready to take your test with the Federal Aviation Administration, your instructor helps you to sign up and determine the right day.
3. Fuel
If you own a jet, you use jet fuel to power it, but for most airplanes, Avgas is your best option. Find a reliable supplier near your home and determine a good way to store it. As with all fossil fuels, these substances are highly combustible and toxic, so keep them away from heat sources, pets, and children. Additionally, ensure that you know exactly how much fuel you need for every flight. You don’t want to make an emergency landing in a field because you didn’t check your fuel level carefully enough.
Getting your pilot’s license is the best way to fly on your own. Once you’ve got your FAA certificate, you’re ready to hit the clouds for as long as you want. Don’t forget about these three practical issues once you’ve got your wings, though.
