So you’ve scheduled your demo flight or maybe you’ve already joined the waitlist to get started?
What’s next?
🛫 New Student Starter Guide
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How to Get Ready for Flight Training at Aces High Aviation
Before you jump into lessons, here are a few key steps to help you start off strong and make the most of your training.
1. 🗓️ Schedule a Free Intro Meeting with Sam
Before you begin flight training, we invite you to schedule a completely free 30–60 minute meeting with Sam, the owner of Aces High Aviation.
This is your chance to sit down one-on-one, get familiar with how we operate, and have all your questions answered — no pressure, no rush.
What we’ll cover in the meeting:
- How Aces High operates and what makes us different and the genuinely reviewed highest rated school in Long Beach / local area.
- What a typical lesson looks like from start to finish
- Setting realistic expectations around cost, timeframes, and progress
- What to expect as you move through each stage of training
- What’s required from you to be successful
- Info on written exams, FAA medicals, insurance, and more
- A complete tour of the aircraft and training facility
- Time to ask any and all questions — we’ll make sure you feel fully informed
Most students choose to do this meeting before booking a demo flight, but it’s not required.
Our goal is simple: to help you feel confident, comfortable, and excited about your training path — and to build a flight plan that works for you.
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Schedule your meeting here → Click to Schedule → Select “Schedule a meeting” on the contact form
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2. đź“‹ Join the Waitlist
(Please check for current wait times if any)
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If you haven’t already, make sure you’ve added yourself to our waitlist:
👉 Join the Waitlist
- No deposit required
- No contracts or obligations
- You can still call us anytime to schedule an orientation, which is required before beginning flight lessons
3. 👨‍⚕️ Get Your FAA Medical Certificate
To fly solo, you’ll need an FAA medical exam.
- For most students, a Third Class Medical is all that’s required
- If you plan to fly commercially in the future, we recommend getting a First Class Medical
- Fill out the questionnaire carefully at https://medxpress.faa.gov/medxpress/
- We recommend Dr. Hertzog: 2925 Palo Verde Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 799-2020
- Alternatively you can find a certified AME near you:
đź”— flightphysical.com/search
✔️ Try to get this done early in your training — ideally before you’re too many lessons in.
4. 📚 Start Your Ground School Course
You don’t need to finish ground school before flying — but starting it early helps a ton.
We recommend:
King Schools Private Pilot Online Ground School & Test Prep
They provide us a wonderful discount: instead of $299 it’s $229 — call (858) 576-6239 and mention Aces High Aviation.
👉 King Schools Ground School
Other solid options:
✏️ You should be consistently scoring 85–90% on practice tests before taking the real FAA written exam.
Practice exams available here:
👉 Free FAA Written Practice
5. 📝 Schedule Your FAA Written Exam
Once you’re ready:
- Take the FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) Written Exam – ~$175
- You’ll need to create an account and have your FTN (FAA Tracking Number) ready
- Find a test center here:
👉 faa.psiexams.com
6. đź§° Get Your Materials
We carry everything you’ll need in our in-house pilot shop.
Start by picking up two essential books from us:
- Airplane Flying Handbook
- Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
Read both cover to cover. These aren’t just reference books — they lay the foundation for everything you’ll be learning in the air and on the ground.
7. 📖 Read the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH)
Start getting familiar with the aircraft you’ll be flying:
- Cessna 152 II
- Cessna 172 NAV II
- Cessna 172 G1000
You can find the correct POH under our resources page:
👉 aceshighaviation.com/resources
It’s wordy — but 100% worth reading!
8. 📡 Start Listening to Live Air Traffic Control
Learning the radios early makes everything easier.
- Tune in to KLGB Tower at liveatc.net
- You’ll start getting used to the phrasing and flow of real communications
- Don’t understand a word? Google it!