How old do you have to be to learn how to fly an airplane?

Question

I live in the U.S. and I want to fly a plane.

Answer 1

once again, aviophage is just ded WRONG!

You can log time with a CFI(  Flight Instructor)at any age. The hours DO count towards your certificate. If they didn't you could not solo on on 16th b'day

I personally know of many that did.

If you think you can prove me wrong, supply the applicable regulation.

Regarding.....:  "HS graduates are 50 times as likely to pass the written test as are non-HS graduates."

Bologna, I have had many (over 100) ground school students pass (on the first try) that were not of the age to graduate High School.)

Answer 2

I am 16 and most of my class mates and I have already started flying. so I think 16-17 is a good age to start.

Answer 3

18 is a good age. I sure it is 16 in many places but some people have their little kids (under 10) learnging.  

Answer 4

To take Flying lessons in the United States you can be any age. Many students are as young as 12, how ever you can not solo until you are 16 and can not receive your license after the appropriate testing and lessons until the age of 17.

Many parents teach their children to fly. Just because you can't fly alone is not a reason to hold back from taking lessons. I started when I was 15 and enjoy flying with people and sharing the gift of flight more than doing solo work.

Good luck and god speed!

Answer 5

Any age.  16 to solo.  17 to get your license.

Answer 6

You can take flying lessons at any age, but you have to be aware that the hours cannot count toward your total flight experience and certifications until you are a legal Student Pilot, and for that you must be 16 and pass the 3rd Class Medical Certificate examination.

When you are 16, you can apply for the Student Pilot Certificate (which includes the 3rd Class Medical), which allows a flight instructor to endorse you for solo flight as a student pilot when you are ready.

When you are 17, you can apply for the Private Airman Certificate, which is the correct name for what people call the private pilot's license.

Bear in mind that any flying you do before you are a legal student pilot does not count toward your certificates, and so in a sense is wasted time and money.  It is best for a number of reasons to wait until you are 17 or 18, and can do all your training fairly rapidly.

Also consider the content of the Private Pilot Written examination. There is some fairly complex math and information seeking involved in passing the written, and it will be foreign territory to most people who are not at least high school graduates.  HS graduates are 50 times as likely to pass the written test as are non-HS graduates.

Take all these things into consideration.  It is best to be at least 18.

Good luck, and have fun!

Dear Cherokee:  The burden of proof is on the accuser.  If you think I am wrong, then YOU produce the applicable regs and statistics.  Have you sent students to pass the written any time lately?  You don't seem to know very much about it.  I am sorry you are jealous of me, but that gives you no right to be rude.  What have you flown besides a Cherokee 140?

To clear up a point:  Serious students can and should log their hours before becoming student pilots.  They cannot count those hours toward any certificate, from the private airman through the ATP.  There is no number of hours required for the solo flight--only a CFI's personal endorsement.  That's how the occasional kid gets to solo on his/her 16th birthday.  It can be done, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it.

Answer 7

16 to solo, 17 to get a private pilots license