Remember, you're in control. You could have your private pilots license in less than a year.  Visit Be A Pilot for your Discovery Flight Certificate good for one $69.95 flight then call and schedule your first lesson.  After you complete the Discovery Flight all you will have to do is decide with your instructor which days are available to fly and schedule the lessons accordingly.  There is no obligation to sign up or put money down, however putting money on account, of course there are incentives to do so if you choose.   

By the way, did we mention that there are over 5,300 airports open to general aviation pilots?

So where do you want to go today?

First there are some basic requirements you must meet in order to fly solo.
You must...

1. Be at least 16 years old.
2. Speak English.
3. Pass a basic medical exam.

That's all. If you meet these requirements...
...you can fly!

Private pilot training consists of flight lessons and ground instruction, both of which are taught right here at Harford Air by FAA certified flight instructors. Ground instruction is about the rules and regulations, flight planning, navigation, radio procedures and even weather conditions.
During your first flight lesson, you will actually fly the airplane and learn basic flight maneuvers, like climbs and descents, turns and level flight. Sound complicated? It's not. Just remember what the philosopher said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."
Private pilots come from all walks of life and every level of education. You don't have to be a John Glenn or Chuck Yeager to become a pilot, just a regular person.

In fact, did you know that right here in Harford County there are over 500 private and commercial pilots?

First of all, you don't have to own an airplane to continue flying.  Our training aircraft are available for rent to solo students and licensed pilots alike.  Rent can be as little as $119 per hour including fuel. That's cheaper than renting a jet ski or boat, or a lift ticket at a ski resort!  Instructor rates for private pilot training are $42 per hour. Imagine learning to fly for as little as $161 per hour!

Based on national averages, most students take 60-75 hours to obtain their airmans certificate with costs totaling around $7,500 including books, medical, and FAA testing fees. These costs can be "paid as you go" or in advance to receive discounts. Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted.

Safety comes first in the general aviation industry. In fact, safety is the foundation of flight training. Our training aircraft are engineered and built to rigid federal standards and are inspected on a regular basis by an FAA licensed mechanic.

Also new technology, like GPS (Global Positioning System), makes navigation safer than ever. Innovations in weather tracking radar and radio communications, combined with the world's most sophisticated and safest airspace system, make today's general aviation aircraft one of the safest vehicles ever invented.

Whether you train under Part 141 or Part 61, you'll learn the same things and take the same FAA tests. The only real difference will be the order in which you learn things. Part 141 schools must use a structured curriculum that teaches skills in a specific order. If you fly every day, this curriculum ensures the effective, efficient use of your training time. Part 61 schools are not bound to a structured curriculum (many Part 141 schools also train under Part 61); they can rearrange the order in which you learn things to suit your schedule.  We at Harford Air Services find this benefits those who can only fly on weekends and evenings best.

You and your instructor will be spending a lot of time together in a small classroom, so chose a CFI that matches your personality. Different people learn differently, and different instructors teach differently, and when student and CFI differences clash, your training will probably not go well. If you can't understand a prospective CFI's answers to your questions, and the CFI can't reword answers so you do understand, you will likely have similar problems in training. If the two of you can communicate clearly, take an introductory flight lesson to see how you get along in the airplane. In the end, only time will validate your CFI selection. But if your CFI isn't working out, don't be afraid to change.

http://www.aopa.org/

No. Actually it is better to have some flying lessons before taking ground school, as it helps to clarify some information in class.

You'll be flying on your first lesson, with your CFI's help, of course. With each lesson, your CFI will be helping less, until you won't need any help at all. When you reach this point, you will make your first solo flight, an important milestone in every pilot's training. After you solo, you and your CFI will work on such things as flying cross-country. And when you're ready, you'll make several solo cross-country flights. When you have demonstrated your ability to consistently demonstrate all of the FAA-required skills, your instructor will recommend you for the FAA checkride.

While most lessons are based on a 1-hour in-flight, we schedule 2 hours because there's more to it than just flying. There are pre- and post-flight discussions, where you and your certified flight instructor (CFI) talk about what you're going to do, how you did, what you did well, what needs work, and what you'll do on your next lesson.

The FAA check ride is broken down into two parts, an oral quiz, where the examiner will ask about things you learned in ground school, and the flight test, where you will demonstrate your ability to perform the skills you have learned in an aircraft. Don't be intimidated. The examiner isn't out to fail you. He or she just wants to ensure, just as your instructor did, that you are a safe pilot.

Sure, and there are lots of interesting places to fly to!  Imagine, you can fly to the beach or the mountains for the day.