What To Expect
Flight training is one of the most rewarding things you can pursue. Here is an honest look at what the journey looks like from day one to your final certificate.
Ground School
Before you ever leave the ground, you will spend time learning the fundamentals of aerodynamics, weather, navigation, regulations, and aircraft systems. Ground school can be completed online at your own pace or in person with your instructor. This knowledge forms the foundation of your entire training.
Flight Training
Once in the cockpit, your instructor will guide you through every maneuver hands-on. Early flights focus on basic aircraft control, takeoffs, and landings. As you progress, you will tackle cross-country navigation, emergency procedures, and more advanced maneuvers. You will gradually take on more responsibility until you are flying solo.
Solo Flight
One of the most memorable milestones in aviation training is your first solo flight. Your instructor will sign you off when they are confident in your abilities, and you will take the aircraft up alone for the first time. It is a challenging and rewarding experience that every pilot remembers.
Checkrides & Certificates
Each certificate or rating ends with an FAA checkride - an oral exam and flight evaluation with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). Your instructor will prepare you thoroughly before you ever schedule the checkride. Passing means you have earned your certificate and are held to the FAA's standards.
Building Your Career
After earning your certificates, you begin building flight hours and experience. At Valor, our Zero to Hero and Instrument to CFII programs are structured so that you come out the other side with everything you need to begin a professional aviation career, including the hours and ratings airlines and operators look for.
A Few Honest Things to Know
It Takes Time
Flight training is not a weekend course. Most students train several days a week and still take months to complete each certificate. Consistency is the biggest factor in your progress.
Weather Affects Your Schedule
Flights get cancelled due to weather. This is normal and part of aviation. Build flexibility into your schedule and do not get discouraged when days get pushed back.
Ground Knowledge Matters
Many students underestimate how much studying is involved outside of the cockpit. The more you put into ground school, the smoother your flight training will go.
It Is Worth Every Minute
There is no feeling quite like earning your wings. Every early morning, every cancelled flight, and every hard lesson leads to one of the most fulfilling accomplishments of your life.