The number 1 way to ensure your success in becoming a pilot is by properly managing your time & money
And the easiest way to properly manage your time & money is by doing ground school before it's too late and ACTUALLY understanding the material
5 years ago I saw NO ONE mentoring unsuspecting students on the traps in flight training that was costing them $1000s.
This is why I created the Part Time Pilot Online Ground School.
The ground school was created with these ideas at the heart of our mission statement:
- Mentoring students from start to finish
- Providing content that saves time & money & provides a deep understanding
How does Part Time Pilot compare to other Online Ground Schools?
I went to the website of each of the Top 8 Online Ground Schools and gathered ALL the relevant information a student pilot like you needs to make an informed decision.
Then, I lined up all 8 and compared them in a single table so that you could easily decide which one is best for you!
How International Students can get a Private Pilot License in the US
For any international students out there I decided to do a bit of research. Now, I am no expert and was not an international student so if you are one and have had different experiences please let me know! Below we discuss how international students can get a private pilot license in the US:
In order to start your training you first need to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements that are required of all student pilots. We went over these in lesson 1 of this section (age, read/write/speak English, medical, etc.). Then, you will want to choose a flight school or flying club that you wish to receive training here in the states. You will want to do this early in the process because they will need to be involved throughout. Not only that but they can help you along the way. So use the tips in this course to determine a good flight school for you. Once you have chosen one you will need to notify them of your plans. Tell them your situation and tell them that you intend to train with them. They will need to be registered to train international pilots with the government and will need your Visa information. Therefore you need a valid Visa.
The next big step is to get US Transport Security Administration (TSA) Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) Approval. Do this before traveling to the united states because the process can take over a month. You cannot start your flight training until you receive this approval (however you can start ground lessons and you can use an online ground school like Part Time Pilot you just need to be in the states to take the FAA Written so make sure you don't go through ground school too soon and end up losing all the knowledge before taking the written test). If you stay in the US with a B1/B2 Visa or a student M1 Visa you can NOT work at the same time in the US but you can ask your flight school to work in exchange for a discount... worth a shot. You must have a valid Visa to be accepted (a handful of schools also accept F1 Visas).
Create an account at the AFSP website with a valid email address and apply online providing your passport and Visa information. Then, wait for the flight school to acknowledge your request to train with them. Pay all your fees and get your preliminary approval. But be cognizant that this "preliminary approval" does not mean you are fully approved and can start training. All that it means is that the AFSP has received your application and fees. Finally, you will be required to submit your fingerprints.
Once all that is accomplished, you simply wait for the decision from the AFSP and once you obtain it you may start training!