Your flight training roadmap
Six paths, in plain English. Each one walks you through the questions everyone asks — in order — and links to the guide that answers each one. Read first, book whenever.
Which one sounds like you?
Is this for me?
- Who actually gets a pilot licenseBusy professionals, hobby pilots, career-curious — and the am-I-too-old question.
What does it cost?
- Real cost of a pilot license in NYCInteractive calculator, hidden fees, and where a simulator saves money.
- Cost section of the PPL guideThe same numbers broken down step by step.
What is a first lesson like?
- Our 6-lesson simulator curriculumLesson by lesson: what you fly and what you learn.
- Your first simulator lesson, hour by hourWhat it actually feels like — no experience needed.
Do I need a medical or a student certificate?
- The FAA medical, explainedFirst, second, and third class, BasicMed, and why to see an aviation doctor early.
- Getting your student pilot certificateThe free certificate every student needs before flying alone.
When do I take the written exam?
- The FAA written examWhat's on it, study resources, and why taking it early helps.
- How to pass the private pilot written testA student's study plan that works.
How do I pick a school and instructor?
- Best training airports near NYC10+ airports compared by commute, traffic, and cost.
- Part 61 vs Part 141Both lead to the same license — here's the real difference.
- Choosing the right instructorYour instructor matters more than the school.
What happens at the checkride?
- Checkride preparationThe final exam: a conversation with an examiner, then a flight test.
- The full 9-step timelineEvery milestone from first lesson to license.
Start with these
- Do simulator hours count toward my license?Yes — here's exactly how many, and where.
What is the whole path to the airlines?
- The career roadmap, start to finishAll six stages, timelines, and costs on one page.
- What it really costs and paysTotal cost, the 3–5 year timeline, and starting salaries.
Stage 1: Private Pilot License
- PPL for career pilotsThe same license hobby pilots get — plus how to start it right.
Stage 2: Instrument Rating
- Instrument ratingFly in clouds — required for every professional path. Up to 20 hours can be in our simulator.
Stage 3: Commercial Pilot License
- Commercial licenseThe license that lets you get paid to fly.
Stage 4: Multi-Engine Rating
- Multi-engine ratingRequired for most airline jobs — usually one to two weeks of training.
Stage 5: Flight Instructor (CFI)
- CFI certificateHow most pilots get paid while building airline hours.
Stage 6: Airline Transport Pilot
- ATP requirementsThe 1,500-hour finish line and what airlines look for.
Start with these
- Using the GI Bill for flight trainingWhat the VA funds — and what it requires.
- Converting a foreign pilot licenseFor pilots trained outside the US.
What does the FAA require?
- Instrument rating requirements (FAR 61.65)Hours, prerequisites, and how 20 simulator hours count.
What will it cost?
- Instrument rating cost breakdownWhere a simulator-first approach saves the most.
What happens in the first lesson?
- Your first instrument lessonInstrument scan basics on the G1000 — no instrument experience needed.
What is the training plan?
- The 10-lesson instrument curriculumScan, then approaches, then a mock checkride — lesson by lesson.
- Browse the lesson plansEvery lesson's briefing content, free to read.
How do I move from simulator to airplane?
- Simulator-to-airplane transitionSame G1000 layout — skills transfer directly.
How do I pass the checkride?
- Instrument checkride prepOral plus flight test — and the mock checkride that mirrors it.
- What getting my instrument rating was likeA pilot's honest first-person account.
Start with these
- Make your instrument training more efficientHow to waste fewer hours (and dollars) on the way to the rating.
- Home simulators and instrument trainingWhat practicing at home can and cannot do for you.
How long have you been away?
- The rusty pilot programThree paths depending on time away: refresher, instrument currency, or a complete restart.
What does instrument currency actually require?
- Instrument currency requirementsThe 6-6-HIT rule and what counts in a simulator.
How can I get current here?
- Currency training optionsLocal-airport approach profiles, custom sessions, with an instructor or solo.
- FAA WINGS scenariosEarn FAA safety credit while getting current.
What if my currency has lapsed?
- The Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC)When you need one and how it works.
Can I practice on my own?
- How to log simulator approachesThe logging rules for currency in an FAA-approved simulator.
- Solo instrument currency prepHow to structure an independent practice session.
Start with these
- The FAA WINGS program, explainedFree safety credits that can replace a flight review.
What can my child do at their age?
- Milestones by age8–12 foundations, 13–15 skills, solo at 16, license at 17.
Is this a video game or real training?
- Gaming vs trainingHow an FAA-approved simulator differs from a game — and why it counts.
What about teens who want the license?
- Teen pilot training (16+)Solo at 16, private pilot at 17 — the head-start path.
What do parents need to know?
- Options for parentsSession lengths, watching lessons, and how to start.
- Parent FAQSafety, supervision, and scheduling answers.
Celebrating a birthday?
- Flight simulator birthday partyTwo hours or three, up to eight kids, everyone flies.
- Youth group visitsSchools, scouts, and clubs.
Start with these
- EAA Young Eagles free flights in NYCFree real-airplane flights for kids 8–17.
- Civil Air Patrol for NYC teensA free national program with real aviation exposure.
- Aviation museums around NYCWeekend trips that feed the obsession.
From the blog
- Aviation gift certificatesDigital, delivered instantly, valid a full year.
- Best aviation gifts (our guide)Ideas beyond a lesson, at every budget.
- Flight simulator birthday partyFor kids 8–16.
- Group flight with friendsFly together — friends, dates, colleagues.
- Fear of flying programFor nervous flyers — airline pilots explain what's really happening.
- Pinch-hitter courseFor partners of pilots: land the plane if you ever had to.
Not ready to book?
Get our free NYC flight-training starter guide — what it costs, how long it takes, and how to take your first lesson. One email, no pressure.
When you're ready
No pressure and no membership. A first lesson is two hours in the simulator with an airline pilot — and if you never book, we hope the guides above were useful anyway.
How our pricing works