Pilot's Lounge - Getting Started

This section of the site is for pilots in training through Anything's Possible Aviation. If you are interested in learning to fly, please head to our Contact page to see all the available ways of getting in touch with us.

Embarking on the pursuit of a Pilot’s license can be an expensive endeavor. As a courtesy to our students, and prospective pilot’s we have compiled a Library of important documentation and reference materials that will assist you during the course of your studies. They are available for download through the Pilot Lounge Portal. Please contact your flight instructor for the necessary password for access to the Library.

After your first flight and a post-flight debriefing, there are some things you need to think about doing as a future student. They can be accomplished anytime prior to solo, but the sooner the better:

1. Get a student pilot certificate. This can be done at the same time as number 2.

 
2. Get a flight physical. This can only be done by a certificated flight physician (see below)



3. Pick up your study materials and download them. We have a pretty good library for follow up study but you will need at least a couple good reference materials for home study.
   
   You will need the FAA's Rotorcraft Flying Handbook which can be purchased from us.
   
   The second reference which acts as a great sleep aid is the FAA's Federal Aviation Regulations and Airman's Information Manual - or FAR/AIM.



4. Purchase a logbook. You will have to decide how far you are planning to go in aviation to decide how much to spend on a logbook.
   
   Initial students (those starting from scratch) would be well advised to purchase a reference for general aviation such as the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. This covers a great deal of territory other than helicopters, such as weather, airspace, flight planning, etc.

Take the required written test (initial students only). We'd like you to take your written test sometime around halfway through your training. You will find that the test is somewhat difficult and many times will have questions that are not particularly relevant. Unless you have a great deal of time on your hands, I suggest you get a training aid that will allow you to study the questions and the right answers. That's right; the FAA let's us know the questions ahead of time… well, sort of. There are actually over a thousand questions. The FAA will choose 70, covering a range of subjects, for your particular exam. This study method will allow you to get a good score on your test. Training aids are available in books, DVD's, videos, or online.