1. The training and exams are over, youve been awarded your new pilots licence what next? Here are 10 ideas to help you make the most of your ability to fly! 10 Things to do with your Private Pilots Licence

2. #1 TAKE FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR A RIDE! Chances are your friends and family will be very impressed with you for learning to fly and will be forming a line for the opportunity to fly with you. Its probably the thing youve most been looking forward to, and is one of the first things most private pilots do after gaining their licence. Take those closest to you for a trip theyll never forget, and let them experience the fun youve been experiencing since you started flying.

3. #2 FLY SOMEWHERE FOR LUNCH The $100 burger is well known amongst pilots. Now that you have a licence to fly, you have the ability to fly to a different part of the country just to enjoy lunch. Who cares that you have the added expense of fuel and time youre a pilot and it tastes much better knowing that youve successfully navigated your way to that meal!

4. #3 BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE Its really important to realise that gaining your licence is not the end, but only the start. The key to becoming the best pilot is to put in the hours to gain confidence and new skills. Use your flying time to keep on top of the skills you learnt, and dont be afraid to have extra flights with your instructor to brush up on areas youre not totally confident in, such as grass strips or controlled airspace.

5. #4 TRY A DIFFERENT PLANE Did you spend all of your time learning in the same old plane? Well now its time to spread your wings and find out what different aircraft have to offer. Maybe its time to try out the flying clubs 4 seater, or upgrade to a modern glass cockpit with GPS. The more adventurous may like to take lessons in multi-engine aircraft or tail draggers.

6. #5 LEARN TO FLY AT NIGHT One of the most common things newly qualified pilots do is to add the night rating to their licence, removing the restrictions of sunrise and sunset. Speak to your flying club about lessons at night. The rating can be added in as little as five hours and give you more freedom in your flying.

7. #6 ADD AN INSTRUMENT RATING Ask any pilot what their biggest frustration is and most will tell you its the weather. The basic Private Pilots Licence allows you to fly in visual (good weather) conditions. By adding an instrument rating, you will gain a lot more freedom to fly in many more weather conditions, using the aircrafts instruments to navigate accurately and safely. Although it takes some extra training and cost, it is an invaluable asset for anyone serious about flying.

8. #7 TRAVEL TO ANOTHER COUNTRY OR STATE Often the biggest challenge to a newly qualified pilot is flying away from your comfort zone namely the airport and area which you trained in. The ultimate example of this is to fly to another country or state. This will take you far away from familiar territory, and may include speaking to controllers with different accents. But it also opens opportunities to explore, and the thrill of travelling somewhere using the skills you gained.

9. #8 BUY YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT Part of the fun of flying once you have your licence is to try out all of the gadgets and equipment available to you. Many new pilots first purchase their own headset and a cool pair of shades! Other options are GPS equipment (or an iPad with GPS app) to aid in navigating and flight planning, or a GoPro camera to record videos of your flights.

10. #9 BUY A PLANE! Its easy to gain your licence and then carry on flying the same aircraft from the same club, but this has restrictions and can often be expensive. The ultimate goal for many pilots of to buy their own aircraft which they can use whenever they like, and for as long as they like. This can obviously be very expensive, so many pilots choose to buy a share in a plane based at a nearby airfield, which is cheaper and still offers better availability than most flying school aircraft.

11. #10 BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR Often the best thing to do with all that newly acquired knowledge is to pass it on! Becoming an instructor enables you to do a lot of flying, and to share your passion with those just starting out towards their licence. It is also a great way to build towards a career flying aircraft, as you gain a lot of experience and hours in your log.

12. Take Your Wings and Fly A Journey Through a Private Pilots Licence BUY THE BOOK AVAILABLE NOW FROM THESE RETAILERS: Jason Smart went through the range of emotions when he set out to learn to fly. In this book he takes the reader on a journey through the highs and lows of the process, from early lessons to the first solo, exams, and ultimately gaining his wings.