If you’re planning your aviation year in advance, don’t just leave it alone

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

Did life get in the way? Was it a financial matter? Was there a shortage of aircraft? Until you figure out what kept you off the plane, you can’t create a mitigation plan. If it was a life matter, was the situation resolved or is there a workaround? For example, if Saturday morning used to be the fly-out breakfast day, but now is junior soccer practice, can you reschedule the flight to a different day or time?

If finances were a concern, do you have the resources to schedule X number of flying hours per month and stick with it?

If there was a shortage of aircraft, have you identified different places to rent them, gotten on the waiting list if the flight school has one for student pilots, reached out to a flying club, or explored the possibility of an aircraft partnership? This might be far-fetched, but if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.

This does not have to be a specific rating or certificate. Just make sure they expand your flying skills. Some examples might be: “This year I will receive my complex endorsement,” “This year I will complete my flight report in a tailwheel aircraft,” “This year I will log 25 hours of cross-country time in my logbook,” or “This year I will at least once practice instrument flying every month.”

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

When you start your aviation career, it is common to want to fly every day, with the intention of becoming an airline pilot within a year. This happens very rarely, but as an aspiring pilot you don’t know what you don’t know.

Learning to fly requires muscle memory and knowledge as well as time to fly. Classes typically take place several times a week for two to three hours each, with approximately 1.0 to 1.5 hours in the air. You also need time between lessons to internalize what you have learned – and above all, money. It’s not uncommon to spend $6,000 or more on a private pilot certificate.

If you rent the aircraft from a flight school, you are likely paying for the rental of an aircraft and the services of a flight instructor. Please remember that you are competing with other students for teachers and planes. The schedule is subject to change, so your flight may be inconsistent.

Your CFI cannot control the weather. If you have the resources to start flying lessons in a particular month, aim for the month with the best VFR weather.

Plan to fly at least twice a week, although three times is better, until you travel alone for the first time. Then reduce it to twice a week if necessary.

As you build cross-country hours toward your Part 61 instrument rating, find another private pilot and share expenses and flying time on cross-country flights. Make a plan to fly X times per month for X hours.

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

If you need a flight review, make a list of areas where your knowledge is inadequate during the ground study. Schedule a personal refresher with the CFI. Pay particular attention to the airspace in your area as it can change. The Class B ground that used to be at 1,900 feet may have dropped to 1,700 feet since your last flight, or an airport’s general traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) may have changed. Study the section carefully and note the changes.

Most flight schools and CFIs are at capacity. So just call to arrange your flight schedule, even if it’s a few months away. For example, if you need a flight review in March, arrange the January/February flight schedule now. These days, most flight schools are so busy that they are fully booked for at least a few weeks. Don’t hesitate, because these weeks can go by quickly.

When you schedule the appointment with the flight school or CFI, be clear about your expectations.

“This is a performance flight.” “This is a repeat flight.” “I would like to resume instrument rating training.” “I would like to receive my complex/high performance recommendation.” “I would like to learn how to use the G1000.” Be specific . Be firm.

It can be very frustrating to arrive at the airport and deal with a CFI who does not have the experience or qualifications for the flight, or to find out that you have been placed on a plane that is not suitable for the experience you are looking for. For example, that you have the round dial of the Cessna 150 even though you wanted the G1000 Cessna 182.

A good pilot doesn’t stop learning after passing the knowledge test. Take part in an aviation knowledge test every week. It can be as simple as taking an aviation organization’s online quiz that pops up in your email or using an app to review topics like airspace and FARs with a swipe of a finger.

Smaller goals help us achieve the big goals. The pilot, who already has a certificate, should focus on completing 10 takeoffs and landings or flying six instrument approaches or recording at least three cross-country flights in the logbook in the 90 days.

Adjust the goals to your needs. For example, you may just want to go out and practice pattern calling or practice flight tracking.

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