phpMyFAQ

To take lessons or become a pilot, you must be 16 years old. To take flying lessons, you'll need to find a flight instructor and sign up for an introductory lesson. You don't
have to have any special licenses to take flying lessons.

Next, your instructor must make sure you have learned to perform certain maneuvers before allowing you to solo. These maneuvers include safe takeoffs and landings. You must use good judgment when flying and be able to keep control of the aircraft.

Before flying solo, you must be familiar with some of the FAA's rules and with the flight characteristics and operational limits of the make and model of the aircraft you
will fly. Your flight instructor will give you some materials to study, and then test your knowledge. If you pass, your instructor will endorse your student pilot's
certificate (license) for solo flight. The endorsement means that your instructor thinks you are competent to make solo flights.

You'll also have to get a medical certificate and a student pilot's certificate (license) to fly solo. You can download a student pilot certificate application at
http://forms.faa.gov/forms/faa8710-1a.pdf.

You must take a medical exam from an FAA designated physician to get a medical certificate.