If you want to sign your child up for aviation school, you may be wondering which school is the best one to select. There are many characteristics you should consider. To help you decide, take a look at these tips.

1. Look for an aviation school that works with kids.

You don't necessarily need a school that has experience with kids or teens. However, a bit of previous work with kids can help. If the facility doesn't normally accept children, contact an instructor and see if you can schedule a meet and greet. That allows you and your child to see if the instructor is a good match before you sign up for lessons.

2. Choose a school with simulators.

If you want your child to get his or her first flying experiences while on the ground, you may want to look for an aviation program that offers simulators. These devices can help your child learn the basics of flying, but they can give you the peace of mind that absolutely nothing can go wrong.

3. Consider balloons or gliders.

There is no minimum age for taking aviation lessons or flying alongside of an instructor. However, in order to fly alone, your child must be at least 16 years old. If your child is almost 16, he or she may want to start lessons and then, take the first solo flight on his or her 16th birthday.

However, if your child is under 16, you may want to take another approach so he or she can fly on his or her own as soon as possible. To this end, consider looking for an aviation school that also offers lessons in flying hot air balloons or gliders. Children can fly these things alone when they are just 14 years of age.

4. Look for a link between aviation learning and school.

Once you find an aviation school, you may want to find ways to link the flight training to your child's education. For example, you can link aviation to studies in map reading, technology, and mechanics. You can even do math-related plane-based problems.

Ideally, you want a school that integrates these learning elements, but you may even want to use your child's passion for aviation as a leverage to encourage more excitement about certain school subjects.

5. Choose a school with flexible schedules.

Aviation training involves classroom time and hands-on flying. You need a course that has classes outside of school hours. Additionally, you may want some flexibility with flying lessons in case your child has to work or study.

For more information, visit sites like http://aviation.parkland.edu/.