Learn to Fly in Miami: An Overview of Flight School Requirements

For as long as man has been able to look up to the sky and see the birds in motion, we have dreamed of being able to fly. Although it took centuries to achieve, many people now take flying for granted. For those that still look up and long to navigate the skies, Miami flight training can help achieve that goal.

Basic Physical

While there are no prior educational or experience pre-requisites necessary to begin flight training, there is a basic health requirement. You don’t have to be in Olympian shape or have reflexes like the bionic man to learn to fly in Miami, but if you want to become certified as a private pilot you will have to pass a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical exam. For most flight school candidates this doesn’t present an overwhelming problem, since the doctor will basically be looking at general health. However, if you have a known heart condition, high blood-pressure, diabetes, or vision problems which can’t be corrected then this might put a dent in your plans. If there is any question about whether or not you’ll qualify, it may be best to undergo the FAA examination before you begin flight training to avoid a disappointing outcome in the future.

Choosing a Certificate

Traditionally, most people interested in learning to fly train with an eye towards getting their Private Pilot Certificate, which allows license holders to flight most of the common aircraft types in any open air airspace. For anyone interested in moving beyond small personal aircraft and training to be a commercial aircraft pilot, the Private Pilot Certificate is a necessary first step, but South Florida flight schools do have a couple of other options open to those who are strictly interested in limited range, private aircraft for personal use.

A Recreational Pilot Certificate is available for people who wish to be able to fly themselves and one passenger for recreational daytime flights of 50 nautical miles or less, and don’t mind being limited to the smaller two and four seater aircraft. In exchange for these restrictions, students can expect to spend considerably less time achieving the license. Also available is the Sport Pilot Certificate, which further restricts license holders to flight with Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) with low stalling speeds and a two-seater maximum capacity. What makes this license particularly attractive to some is the candidate’s ability to waive the FAA medical exam and self-certify health as long as they hold a valid Driver’s License.

Minimum Flight Hours

Although each license type has its own minimum of required flight hours, flight instructors laughingly tell students not to go by the numbers. In fact, very few flight students ever complete their training at the flight hour minimums. For example, while the minimum mandated flight hours required for a Private Pilot Certificate is 40 hours, the average number of flight hours completed by students training for the license at Miami flight schools is around 55-66 hours. This has nothing to do with student aptitude or learning ability, it’s simply that conscientious students and instructors find that the amount of skill and experience to become a safe certified flyer typically requires going a little beyond the minimum, and most are happy to spend a little more time in the sky. After all, that’s what they came for.


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