So you want to be a pilot. Wherever you are in your flight training, Western North Carolina offers the best aviation instruction.

Selecting A Flight Training Program

Start by asking around. If you know someone who flies, ask for his or her opinion about flight schools.

Visit your local general aviation airport. Talk to pilots and personnel of the fixed-base operators there. Don't be shy. People who fly usually LOVE to talk about it.

Pick of a copy of an aviation publication and page through the ads. AOPA offers six free issues of its Flight Training magazine. (Call 1-800-USA-AOPA and request a free subscription.)

As you start gathering information on flight school options, you'll notice that two basic categories of schools keep coming up: Part 61 and Part 141. These names refer to the parts of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) under which the schools operate. While both types of school cover essentially the same material in their training programs, the manner in which they are structured differs.

Schools certified under Part 141 must adhere to an FAA-approved syllabus that specifies the order in which specific skills must be taught.

Part 61 schools ultimately cover the same FAA-approved curriculum, but are more free to adjust the order of topics according to specific factors like the student's schedule or weather conditions.

One other difference is that Part 141 schools have a lower minimum flight time required to earn a private certificate (35 hours instead of the otherwise standard 40). But since the national average for students earning a private license is around 60 to 75 hours, this difference is generally not a significant one.

The Instructor

More important than the category of school you chose is the instructor you decide to work with, so be sure to speak to the instructor(s) at any school you are considering.

Start by asking about his or her aviation background, qualifications, and experience.

Check references and talk to former students.

One of the best ways to evaluate an instructor is to take what is known as an introductory flight, offered by most flight schools and many flying clubs.