There are many different ways for an aviation enthusiast to gain their private pilot license (PPL) and begin the art of flying. The overall path to gaining a PPL stays relatively the same. The first step to flying privately is getting an aviation medical certificate, which ensures the pilot is physically fit to fly an airplane. The student then needs to enroll in a ground school. This teaches the student the basics of flying, which may include aerodynamics, federal aviation regulations (FARs), how to read aviation maps, and radio communication procedures.