You can start to learn to fly from about the age of 15, you must be able to speak, read and understand English, which is the recognised Air Traffic language throughout the World. You must pass a medical examination which is conducted by an authorised medical examiner and don’t worry if you wear glasses as it does not stop you from learning to fly.
In Ireland, training is only available from an IAA approved Flight Training Organisation or a Registered Training Facility, which must adhere to the Joint Aviation Regulations syllabus for the Private Pilot Licence. At present you need to fly a minimum of 45 hours during the course of training, 20 of which must be flown solo and including cross-country flying.
Becoming a qualified Private Pilot involves both theory and practice - learning about Air Law, Human Performance, Meteorology, Navigation, and the Theory of Flight, allied to some 45 hours of practical flying.
A Private Pilots Licence entitles you to fly a single engine aeroplane, on your own or with passengers, provided you are not making a profit. The licence issued in Ireland is European (JAA) compliant and can be used in every European country and most other countries throughout the world.
But before you take a training course you had better try the Introductory Flying Lesson which is your first step towards becoming a pilot. Book your Introductory Flying Lesson for an introductory flight. This flight can be 30 minutes or 60 minutes long. Your instructor will take you out to the aircraft and show you around it, showing you the pre-flight checks as you go. You will then take off and your instructor will give you a chance to fly. On your return, if you are interested, your instructor will give you more information about the Private Pilots Licence and you will have an opportunity to ask questions about any part of the course you are not sure about. The Introductory Flying Lesson will cost you about 150 euro per 30 minutes depends on the school, but it’ll give you a feeling for flying  in general and you’ll have some fun too. The good new is if you didn’t like it you can stop all this flying idea right at the first step. But if you overcome your fears you can continue learning.
You’ll be given all information about how the aircraft handles at different speeds, turns, climbs, descends and stalls. This typically takes between 6 and 10 hours. When your instructor is happy with your handling you will be brought into the circuit which consists of practising take-offs and landings. You will also be taught emergency drills such as engine failures, instrument failures etc. When you are comfortable with all these manoevers you will be sent on your first solo. This will include one take-off and one landing. After 5 hours of solo circuits you will begin to learn cross country navigation. You will be taught how to navigate from the air, how to divert, and this usually involves visiting other airfields. You reach the required standard you will be sent on a solo cross country, like the circuits, you will need 5 hours solo cross country before you can proceed to the next stage. To qualify for your Private Pilots Licence, you are required to do a long solo cross country with stops at two airports and one leg of more than 100 Nautical Miles.  The final step of your flight training is Instrument Work which involves 5 hours of flight with  reference to instruments only. Once everything is complete you are ready for your flight test which will test you on every segment of your flight training.
Once the Private Pilots Licence has been achieved, many private pilots continue to aim for extra ratings e.g. Instruments, Night Flying, Instructor or indeed to go on and study for a Commercial Licence with the aim of flying with the commercial airlines as a full time career. Do you think it is impossible? Try to contact schools below and find out all you need to know about aircrafts.

Atlantic Flight Training
Cork Airport, Co Cork
Tel: 021-488 8737
Email: info@atlanticair.ie
www.atlanticair.ie

Pilot Training College of Ireland Ltd.
Main Terminal, Waterford Airport,
Killowen, Waterford
Tel: 051-876706
Email: info@pilottraining.ie
www.pilottraining.ie

Sligo Light Aviation Club
Sligo Airport, Strandhill,
Co. Sligo
Tel: 087-747-8946
Email sligoflyingclub@eircom.net
www.sligoflyingclub.com

National Flight Centre
Weston Airport
Leixlip
Co. Kildare
Tel: 01-628 2930
Email: info@nationalflightcentre.com
www.nfc.ie

Helicopter?! Why not?

Private helicopter flying is easy enough to organise too. A once in a life time chance to have a head spinning 20 min flight in one of these amazingly manoeuvrable machines including the chance to take the controls yourself. This is an opportunity not to be missed.
People learn to fly helicopters for all sorts of reasons. Some have a yearning to fly for a living, many do it to increase mobility in their business and social lives whilst others simply wish to satisfy a burning ambition. Whatever your reason for taking up the challenge you are sure to gain a real sense of achievement once you have mastered the sophisticated art of flying a helicopter.
There are a number of training schools around the country which are either approved by or registered with the Irish Aviation Authority to train student pilots for the JAA Private Pilot’s Licence.
As a result of their complexity, helicopters are more expensive to operate than comparably sized aeroplanes. One trial lesson will cost you about 250 euro per 30 minutes. But there is one nice moment about payment for the flying lessons you pay as you go. 
Like with the aircrafts pilots of the helicopters are required to be licensed by the Joint Aviation Authorities before they can fly in command of any aircraft away from a recognised training course.
The Private Pilot's Licence is also the entry-level qualification, which allows you to fly yourself and your friends or colleagues for purely private purposes. Flying "for hire or reward" (even in kind) is expressly forbidden, which means you cannot charge for your services.
The Joint Aviation Authorities approved flying course stipulates a minimum of 45 hours, gained both under instruction and solo (a current fixed wing PPL entitles you to a 10% (maximum of 10 hours) dispensation on that). Ground exams in related subjects and an aviation medical must also be taken, and the entire package is available in all Registered Training Facility.
Unlike a driving licence, once the Private Pilot's Licence is attained it is important to remain in practice as the regulations call for a minimum of 2 hours flying for each helicopter type or group of types per year plus an annual proficiency test with an examiner. Additionally, to enable you to carry passengers you must have completed at least one flight within the preceding 90 days.
The Private Pilot's Licences for helicopter are different from one each other and are valid only for the type or group of helicopter types stipulated on the licence; if you want to fly a different type you must undertake a conversion course, which normally involves 5 flying hours.
Both Private Pilot's Licences for aircrafts and for helicopters allow you to go ahead with your sky career and to take course for commercial flying to work for world flight companies. 
But firstly you have to be ready to spend about 60.000 – 80.000 euro on your education.
Prices vary considerably from school to school as does the content of the individual package and the support available to the student. Amongst the specialist knowledge available is advice upon entry requirements, medical complications, employment prospects, approved schools, safety considerations, routes to the professional licence, sponsorship and course funding. So good luck with your education!

Colm King
First Flight
Cargo Building 1
Dublin Airport.
Co. Dublin
Tel: 01 8080088
email : info@firstflight.ie

Premier Helicopters Limited
Bond Road
East Wall
Dublin 3
Tel: 01 8772630
Email: info@premierhelicopters.ie
www.premierhelicopters.ie
 

You can also try paragliding, parachuting or balloon flights. So adrenalin promised and a lot of fun and memories for you, your family, friends. It could be as a preset to your friend on its birthday also. But you have always to remember you are at risk to be harmed, so before you do it you better take a life insurance.

UCC Paragliding Club
Physical Education Office, UCC
Email: katherine.cronin@ucc.ie
www.ucc.ie/students/socs/para/

The Irish Parachute Club
Clonbullogue
Edenderry
Co. Offaly
Tel:1850 260 600
www.skydive.ie
Irish Balloon Flights
80 Cypress Grove Road
Templeogue
Dublin 6W 
Tel:  01 406 4777
Email: flights@balloons.ie
www.balloons.ie