• Airplane
• Rotorcraft
• Glider
• Powered-lift
• Lighter-then-air

Then you have classes within each category which are:

• Single-Engine Land
• Single-Engine Sea
• Multi-Engine Land
• Multi-Engine Sea
• Helicopter
• Gyroplane
• Airship
• Free balloon

Then within each class you have your licenses which are:

• Private Pilot
• Commercial Pilot
• Flight Instructor
• Flight Instructor Instrument
• Air Transport Pilot

Then to add to it there is ratings that you can add to your licenses like:

• Instrument Rating
• High Performance
• Complex Ratings

So there are a lot of licenses out there for you to work on. To try and keep things somewhat simple we’ll try to just focus on the single engine land and the licenses therein because that is where most people start.

So once you get a license what can you do with it? I’ll see what I can list for you there’s aerobatics, civil air patrol, flight instructor, airline pilot, test pilot, charter pilot, air photographer, pipeline patrol, air ambulance, disaster relief, corporate flying, crop dusting, military, coast guard, as well as many others.

With a private pilot license you’re pretty limited in what you can do, you have to start somewhere and the Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t want you getting in over your head. So flying with friends and family is pretty much what you are limited to for private pilot. But don’t let that slow you down, fly, earning hours, advance and you will soon be flying what you’ve always dreamed of,  and while your waiting introducing your friends to the world of flying, get them excited and you probably will have a flying buddy for the rest of your life.

So go learn and advance towards your goal always keeping as your number one goal of being the safest pilot you can. Remember you can’t stop and pull over to ask for help or taking your time evaluating the situation. Being a pilot demands a lot but, by the time you get through all of your training you should be prepared for anything your flights may throw at you.