Getting the license for aircraft is the only major obstacle between an aspiring pilot and the cockpit. The reason the FAA requires a license for aircraft before a pilot may fly is because there are different levels of complexity the higher up one is certified. As an example, a light sport aircraft has much simpler controls than a professional airline commercial jet. Therefore, having a different license for different aircraft is a necessary way of keeping airspace safe from unqualified pilots. After determining eligibility for flight school (and the ability to pay the $7000 required to attend), a student will go through a number of weeks in ground school to learn what is required to operate a plane, and then she will have a flight instructor sit in on her flights. Eventually, a student on her student license will be given the opportunity to fly solo, and if she succeeds at all her written exams and her practical exam, she can be awarded her license for aircraft.