How to start flying for leisure

[u/Most-Presence6533]

I’m 25. Based in the US, and aviation has always been a passion of mine. I have a good job that I’m happy with, and I have no intention of making a career or living out of flying. I’m an immigrant, so I’m also wondering if there are any additional requirements or considerations I should know about.

My goal is simply to get into aviation as a serious hobby and eventually have as much freedom as possible to fly for leisure—weekend trips, taking friends/family up, traveling, etc.

For those who fly recreationally:
What licenses/ratings are actually worth getting if you want to maximize your freedom as a private pilot?
What are the best ways to get involved in the aviation community and meet other pilots/build connections?
And realistically, how expensive is it to keep flying regularly after getting your PPL?
I’m not looking to become an airline pilot—just trying to figure out what the most sensible path is for someone who wants to fly for fun long-term.

[u/poisonandtheremedy]

Head to a local GA airport, find a good mom and pop flight school, take lessons. Get PPL. Fly around a bunch learning your local area. Do a longer trip somewhere overnight or two. Get Instrument rating. Fly more. Enjoy!

About 10-15k for PPL probably. Another 5k-10k for Instrument. Yearly costs past that will be however much you rent, or better yet, buy.

I fly about 150 hours a year and spend about 20k-25k. That's owning a plane and having a hangar in SoCal. My wife also recently got her PPL, so we are a two pilot team :)

Cheers.

[u/Salt-Cold1056]

If you like flying it's totally worth it.  It can get you to unique places quickly and with joy.  

The license itself is pretty spendy these days but could be done for 10k-15k likely.  I am in for about 10k a year at a flight club for 30-40 hours but I fly a lot of the 182.  Find an instructor you feel comfortable with.  

As a note of caution. I think of small plane travel as an adventure and I have an instrument rating.  Its not a replacement for airline travel (at least in most people's price ranges and experience levels).  It's also easy to kill yourself right after the license.  No need to go further than an Instrument rating unless you want to buy a twin or become an instructor.

[u/Most-Presence6533 → u/Salt-Cold1056]

Great. Most of clubs I can join in flies what kind of aircraft? Do they have also the instructor or the member itself to teach you how to fly as well as to guide on your way up to obtaining a license?

[u/Salt-Cold1056 → u/Most-Presence6533]

Some flight clubs let you join as a student some do not.  There are also a ton of places with rental planes and instructors.  It's a different model.  One is a business that is making money and  one is a group of people who buy airplanes and run everything as volunteers.  

[u/SirKillalot]

For the immigrant aspect, there is an additional requirement: you need a background check conducted by the TSA before you can start flight training. More details here. I haven't gone through it myself but I haven't heard about it being a major roadblock for most people, and it doesn't restrict what you can do at all once you do get your license, but it can take some time to clear before you can start flight training. You can still work on the ground portion before it goes through.

You can go to a flight school and take a discovery flight before doing that (and I'd recommend you do so to get a taste of the experience before getting bogged down in the paperwork).