Flight school can be a daunting task, but there are things you can do to better prepare yourself. Some tips on how to prepare for flight school might include networking with pilots or learning flight controls. These among other tips are a good starting place for starting flight school on the right foot.
Practice flying
Perhaps the most obvious tip, this is also the hardest to do. When we say practice flight, we do not mean to tell you to jump into a set of wings and take off. You should start off with some flight simulators and videos to teach you the basics of flight. There are some amazing flight simulators on the market that can teach you a lot about how the controls for many different planes and helicopters function. It is important to note that it will not be the same as an actual flight; however, when it comes up in class, you will have some experience to fall back on. You should also try to find a way to join a flight as a ride-along to watch an actual pilot.
Learn the basics
There are many different parts to flying that take a while to understand. To give yourself a leg up, it can be good to learn a few of the basics that a pilot uses all the time. These will help you whether you are in helicopter or plane lessons. The first thing that can be good to know is the phonetic alphabet. This is a type of speech that allows for clear communication even in loud places, such as flight. It also becomes important for any pilot to know how to read the weather. Simply knowing the temperature and wind will not be enough for an actual flight. However, weather is not an easy topic to study, so knowing some of the basics before flight school will help lessons go much smoother.
Study the technical aspects
Both planes and helicopters are very technical machines that utilize very specific laws of physics and aerodynamics to fly. The science behind wing shape, lift, and pressure can be hard to grasp, so getting a head start will not hurt. Learning the theories behind flight can greatly help when it comes to flight school. Simple rules about landing gear or proper landing procedures are also a good thing to read up on before starting flight school. Of course, you don’t need to go overboard, as flight school is the best place for learning this kind of thing. Just getting familiar with the terminology will help you keep up with lessons.
These tips on how to prepare for flight school should help you settle in nicely. It is also a good idea to approach flight school like any other line of education. Prepare yourself for a school social life and a regular college experience along with the special focus of a flight school.