Earning a private pilot certificate—either as an end in itself or as a first step toward a professional flying career—is the most obvious motivation to begin flight training, though there can be others. Maybe you fly regularly with a friend or family member who is a pilot and your goal is to take some lessons to be more comfortable and be able to be an informed participant. Maybe you’re planning to attend an aviation college and want to get some flight experience—and maybe even a solo—under your belt before going off to school. Maybe you’re pursuing a recreational or sport pilot certificate.

Whatever your end goal is, it’s important to have that discussion with your flight instructor before starting lessons. This helps the instructor tailor a program to meet your needs, provide you with a syllabus and cost/time estimates, and ensure that your goals align with what your instructor can offer. If any of those items don’t match up, discuss it with your instructor. It’s likely a misunderstanding that you can resolve by being upfront and raising your concerns. But if it isn’t resolved, it’s also acceptable to look for a different instructor or flight school that is better aligned with your goals.

You should also have a copy of the syllabus, so you can follow along. Using that as a guide, your instructor will debrief after each lesson and discuss what to expect at your next lesson. That debrief time is valuable and is not intended to be a monologue, or a one-way flow of information. You can (and should!) participate by asking questions and sharing your thoughts on your progress toward your goal(s).

Wherever you are in your aviation journey, AOPA offers resources that will help you make the most of your training.