How to Become a Student Pilot: Part 1 of the How to Become a Pilot Series With Jason Miller
Part 1 of the series: how to pick a flight school, which medical to get and how to start.
Every pilot starts as a student. In Episode 310, the first part of the How to Become a Pilot series, flight instructor Jason Miller of The Finer Points walks Justin through how to get started.
They cover how to pick a flight school, whether you should get a first-class medical before you begin, and much more.
- 01How to pick a flight school
- 02Whether to get a first-class medical before you start
- 03What the student pilot stage looks like
- 04Where the series goes next: private pilot, then instrument
Picking a flight school
Jason and Justin talk through how to choose where to train. Our How to Become a Pilot guide adds the questions to ask when you visit a school and take a discovery flight.
First-class medical or not?
One of the big questions in the episode: should a new student get a first-class medical? Airline pilots need one, so anyone aiming for that career learns early, before spending much on training, whether they can hold it.
What comes next
Part 2 of the series covers earning your private pilot certificate, and Part 3 covers the instrument rating.
Jason Miller
Jason Miller is a flight instructor, the founder of Learn the Finer Points and the creator of the Ground School app.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a student pilot?
Choose a flight school, take a discovery flight, get an FAA medical and apply for a free student pilot certificate with your instructor’s help. Jason Miller covers how to choose a school in Episode 310.
Should I get a first-class medical as a student pilot?
It’s one of the questions Jason Miller and Justin tackle in Episode 310. If you plan to fly for an airline, a first-class medical early on tells you whether you can hold one before you invest heavily in training.
