A Beginner's Guide to Aviation: How to Become a Pilot in the United States

2026 Edition: Completely Revised and Updated

If you have ever had the urge to look up to the sky when you hear an airplane flying over, this book is for you. Some people have the unquenchable desire to kiss the sky, but often the roadmap of getting there is vague to say the very least. This short guide is intended to help clear this up, as well as enlighten those interested in flying to many of the nuances of the craft.

Whether you intend to fly for a career or fly for pleasure, the guide will help walk you through all the various options of licensing, the stepping stones that must be followed to be a viable candidate in the workforce, and what to look for in a flight school and instructor. Furthermore, it goes into what exactly a student pilot can and should expect throughout their journey of flight, all through the eyes of someone who has been there.

This book goes behind the scenes into less traveled territories and explains in plain language the benefits of different routes into the left-seat of an airliner, a marquee job. These include all the different branches of military service, with strengths and weaknesses of each; more traditional routes like flight instructing into a regional airline seat, and even aerial application Wherever you want your future in aviation to take you, this is a great place to start.

Recognized by the Hazy Library & Learning Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This guide has been accepted into the collection of the prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University library, where the Director noted its "familiar voice" makes it "easy to read" for students and beginners alike.