Have you ever dreamed of being able to fly? Climbing into nothingness can be an extraordinary experience. Flying a plane is a challenging achievement that requires concentration and training. When a plane weighing thousands of pounds lifts into the air and pushes its occupants across the sky it is like defying gravity (Barnard 6). Being able to fly provides a sense of accomplishment that only few have experienced. There are those who say that rising beyond the horizon is like rising above the problems of life. It can lift the spirit and bring extreme pleasure and a sense of freedom to those fortunate enough to be able to fly (Barnard 6). Although some would say that flying is dangerous and expensive, learning to fly a plane can be beneficial in many ways; it can provide a great sense of freedom, it can be a convenient means of transportation, and it can even lead to an interesting career in aviation. Almost anyone can learn to fly. A person can start flying lessons at any age. According to Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations you must train for 20 hours to obtain a sport pilot certificate, 30 hours to obtain a recreational certificate and 40 hours for a private certificate (Student Pilot Resources). This training can be done over a period of time ranging from several months to a year or more. A person must be 16 years old before they can travel alone on an airplane and 17 years old before they can get a pilot's certificate. So it is possible to start learning to fly at a young age, but it is not necessarily effective to learn to fly at a young age. There are also some vision requirements to obtain a pilot's license. AOPA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, reports that “your vision should be at least 20/40 for near and distance vision with or without corrective lenses” (Resources for Student Pilots). So, in general, anyone with reasonable vision can and can start learning to fly