One of the hardest parts of learning to fly is the first step. Where do you start? It’s not easy to figure out, and it comes with some other questions. How do you find a good instructor? Is there even an airport nearby? Does it matter what airplane you fly?

In my experience, it’s best to just jump in. The AOPA has a very nice flight school directory, or you could always look up ‘aircraft rental’ or ‘flight instruction’ in your yellow pages. Once you’ve found something nearby, check it out. Stop by and ask for a tour, collect their literature, and try to strike up a conversation with another customer or student waiting for a flight. If the FBO also provides ground school classes, ask to sit in on one. Everyone has an opinion in aviation, and it’s always good to hear other viewpoints.

Once you’ve found some FBOs in your area, take a look at the flightline. Are the planes clean? Frequently flown? If you’re in the midwest or other hail-prone areas, are they kept hangared, or tied down outside? All of these factors matter. Cleanliness isn’t really a measure of an aircraft’s mechanical reliability, but it’s a good indicator of how serious the owners are about their company and how they want to be perceived. If the planes are frequently flown, that means they’re probably in good repair and that any mechanical squawks have been promptly dealt with.

Less important is what type of aircraft you learn in. The most common type is probably the Cessna 172, followed by the smaller Cessna 152, with a smattering of other Piper and Beechcraft making up the rest. However, newer types like the Cirrus SR20 and Diamond DA20 are becoming increasingly popular, and are usually equipped with glass cockpits, which can be beneficial to situational awareness but also difficult to learn. Still, the basics of flying apply across all fixed-wing aircraft, and it takes fairly little time to transition among similar small airplanes. After my primary training in the 152, I now prefer the increased upward visibility of low-wing aircraft like the Piper Cherokee.

Figuring out where to fly involves a lot of variables. It’s not easy to do – but once you’ve found a good club and a dedicated instructor, you’ll be on the road to years of enjoying an amazingly rewarding activity.