When planning your aviation year ahead, don’t just do it

For pilots looking for a bigger year-end number next time, the start of a new year can be a great time to make a plan. Here are nine ideas to help you add hours to your logbook in 2025.

Did life get in the way? Was it a financial thing? Was there a shortage of planes? Until you identify what’s been keeping you off the plane, you can’t make a plan to mitigate it. If it was a life issue, has the situation been resolved or is there a solution? For example, if Saturday morning was the day for inflight breakfast, but now is junior soccer practice, can you move the flight to another day or time?

If it came down to finances, do you have the resources to budget for X number of flying hours per month and stick with it?

If there was a shortage of airplanes, did you identify different places to rent, get on the waiting list if the flight school has one for student pilots, contact a flying club, or look into the possibility of an airplane partnership? They might be a long shot, but if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.

It doesn’t have to be a specific rating or certificate. Just make sure they add to your set. of aviation skills. Some examples might be: “This year I will get my complex approval,” “This year I will do my flight review in a tailwheel airplane,” “This year I will put 25 hours of cross-country time in my log board’ or ‘This year I will practice instrument flying at least once a month’.

Don’t be afraid to plan that big flight—from Maine to California or anywhere to Oshkosh. Start early for best results.

When you start your flying career, it’s common to want to fly every day with the intention of being an airline pilot in a year. This rarely happens, but as a budding pilot you don’t know what you don’t know.

Learning to fly requires muscle memory and knowledge and time to fly. Lessons are usually several times a week for two to three hours at a time, with about 1.0 to 1.5 hours in the air. It also takes time between lessons to absorb what you’ve learned – and the big one, the money. It is not uncommon to spend $6,000 or more for a private pilot certificate.

You will probably pay for the rental of an airplane and the services of a flight instructor if you rent from a flight school. Please note that you will be competing with other students for instructors and aircraft. The schedule may change, so your flight may be inconsistent.

CFI cannot control the weather. When you get the resources to start flying lessons in a particular month, aim for the one with the best VFR weather.

Plan to fly at least twice a week, although three times is better until your first solo. Then reduce it to twice a week if necessary.

If you are building the flight hours for the instrument rating under Part 61, find another private pilot and share the expenses and flight time for the cross flights. Make a plan to fly X number of times per month for X number of hours.

If there is a knowledge test in the future, commit to studying at least four to five hours a week to prepare. Find a study app that lets you go through questions and answers and provides explanations as to why an answer is correct.

If you need a flight review, when you do your ground study, make a list of the areas where your knowledge is lacking. are weak Schedule a face-to-face refresher with your CFI. Pay close attention to the airspace in your area. because it can change. The Class B floor, which used to be 1,900 feet, may have dropped to 1,700 feet since the last time you flew, or an airport’s Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) may had changed. Study the section carefully and notice the changes.

Most flight schools and CFIs are busy, so go ahead and call to make your schedule, even if it’s a few months away. For example, if you will need a flight review in March, access the January/February schedule now. These days, most flight schools are so busy that they are booked for at least several weeks. Don’t put it off because those weeks can slip away.

When making your appointment with your flight school or CFI, be clear about your expectations.

“This is a skill flight.” “This is a currency flight.” “I want to resume training for the instrument qualification.” “I want to get my complex/high performance approval.” “I want to learn how to use the G1000.” Be specific. Be firm.

It can be very frustrating to arrive at the airport and find yourself paired with a CFI who doesn’t have the experience or qualifications to operate the flight, or to find out you’ve been put on a plane that isn’t suitable for the experience you’re looking for. For example, being put in the round dial of the Cessna 150 when you wanted the G1000 Cessna 182.

A good pilot doesn’t stop studying after passing the knowledge test. Commit to an aviation knowledge review each week. It can be as simple as taking an online test from an aviation organization that appears in your email. or use an app to review topics like airspace and FAR with the swipe of a finger.

Smaller goals help us reach big goals. For the pilot who already has a certificate, focus on making 10 take-offs and landings or flying six instrument approaches in the 90 days or adding at least three cross-country flights to the logbook.

Adjust the goals to meet your needs. For example, you may just want to go out and practice radio calls in the model or take the flight.

Follow these tips and by the end of 2025, you will be impressed with your achievements.