Before you decide to get your pilot's licence, it is good to know what you can do with a licence. And whether it is necessary to get one.

Renting a plane

If you have a pilot's licence, you can hire a small plane yourself and act as captain. Which plane you can hire and where depends on the kind of licence you have.

If you have a national licence, for example, you can only rent a plane in the country in which it was issued. If you have a European (EASA) or American (FAA) licence, the possibilities are much broader.

Your class approval, such as microlight (MLA) or single engine piston (SEP) determines which types of aircraft you may fly.

Checkout

Before you can rent a plane, you often have to be "checked out" by an instructor or other pilot designated by the lessor. The lessor wants to make sure you fly well and know the aircraft.

The checkout flight is also meant to explain you everything about the plane and the local conditions. Often a checkout flight is also a requirement for the insurance of the aircraft. If you have not flown the aircraft or type of aircraft for a certain period of time, you will have to be checked out again.

The conditions that flight clubs and lessors impose on this can vary. It may be that you fly at least once every two months. More complex aircraft often require a minimum number of flight hours.

Is it worth it?

Actually, that's the right question, because what do you want to use your pilot's licence for? Suppose you go on holiday and want to fly yourself. You can then also consider booking a flying lesson and fly with an instructor. That saves you a checkout flight. Moreover, you can divide the tasks between you. The instructor has local knowledge and that saves you preparation and stress. You do not need a pilot's licence for this. The only disadvantage is that your company has to sit in the back.

If you stay abroad for a longer period of time and want to fly more often or want to make distant trips, a licence is interesting.

Is it a pilot's licence?

Even then we recommend that you always start with one or more trial lessons. Getting your pilot's licence is tough, it costs a lot of time and money. It is better to look at it per lesson and after 5 lessons decide if you want to continue.