Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.”

Flying gives us a chance to look at the world from a different perspective. While flying is a fun hobby that almost anyone can do, it takes a good deal of knowledge.

Flying also requires the right attitude. You must be motivated and put your mind to it, and you must work hard to become a successful pilot.  

Becoming a pilot requires passing a medical exam and written exams, along with exam check rides to work your way up. You must be at least 16 years old to fly solo and 17 to carry passengers.

“(Flying) combines everything you ever learned how to do. It’s challenging. It’s not easy,” said Ron Ose, an A300 pilot for United Parcel Service.

Learning to fly takes time and money, but the sensation you get out of it in the end is indescribable. When you fly solo, you can’t compare it to driving by yourself because it is a completely different feeling. You feel like you have the whole sky to yourself.

Flying can teach independence. It teaches how to be alone and away from the rest of society for a couple of hours. Flying gives a sense of freedom — no road signs or speed limits.

Although pilots do have to follow all the rules and regulations established by the Federal Aviation Administration, once you’re out of all air spaces, you’re free to do whatever you want within reason.

There are also many career opportunities in aviation. You can fly commercially for the Air Force, for charter companies, for sightseeing tours, or even flight instruction, plus many more opportunities.

Ose said, “I enjoyed teaching people how to fly when I was younger. I enjoyed serving my country as an Air Force pilot.”

To become a pilot, you must fly 10 hours with a Certified Flight Instructor. After success in that stage, you can solo, which means you can fly on your own.

“I was nervous and apprehensive, but I knew exactly what to do,” said Ose about first soloing.

The next step is to gain at least 40 hours of flight experience and take a written test. After the test, you must fly with an FAA official and perform certain maneuvers.

After these steps, you are now a pilot. To become a higher ranked pilot, you have to go through more hours of flying and tests, but 40 hours is the minimum number of hours to become a pilot.

Right now, companies are hiring pilots like crazy. There are many flight school programs across the country, and they are a great way to learn how to fly. Local airports often offer flight lessons as well.  Ose said, “It’s a great time to get into aviation. There is a shortage of pilots right now.”