It was 10 a.m. on a Tuesday at the Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, and I was taking my first flying lesson.

After a brief history of the Be A Pilot program and courses held at Tradewinds Aviation, I was out on the runway. And there I was, facing my future—a Cessna 172 SP Millennium Skyhawk that was going to take me on one of the most exhilarating or terrifying experiences of my life.

It wasn't that I did not trust my flight instructor, Allen Astwood. He was thorough in leading me through the preflight examination of the plane to make sure everything was ready: rivets tightened, gas filled, and every flap, hinge, and wheel in working order. The problem was more one of size. The plane supposedly fit four people, but it was more like an oversized SUV that fit two in front and possibly a bag of groceries (parachutes?) in the back. Although obviously new and one of the more expensive noncommercial planes, it still left very little material between me and the open outdoors, also known as thousands of feet above ground.

Initiated in 1997, the Be A Pilot program was created to spark interest in aviation, due to flagging numbers in the industry. Offering a first lesson for $49, the program is operated by more than 2,000 independently owned flight schools with the goal of educating those looking for a new hobby to people desiring a career in flying for commercial airlines.

"We teach about 125 people a year to fly," says Jim McLaughlin, flight manager at Tradewinds Aviation. The process to become licensed involves hours of class, hands-on instruction and multiple exams, and can take anywhere from one to several years and $7,000 to $10,000, depending on how much time and dedication the student has. However, that isn't the end of it. "When you receive a pilot's license, you are given a license to learn," McLaughlin says. "You never stop learning. You can continue to study for the rest of your life. It's not only about being current but being proficient. Ongoing training is very important."

So there I was, buckled in, shoulder to shoulder with my instructor, and ready to learn. That's when Allen told me I would not only be steering the plane through the runway—harder than it sounds, as it's done with your feet—but also taking us off into the air.

"Seriously?" I turned to him, my eyebrows receding into my hairline.

"Yeah," he said with a relaxed grin. "It'll be fine."

Well, I thought to myself, I'm not the one with seven years of flying experience under my belt, but if he thinks it's a good idea, I guess I can't disagree.

"Um, OK then," I said meekly. I assured myself that I really did want to fly, and after all, if I could scuba dive, surf, kayak, and face malls during the holidays, I could certainly do this.

After pulling back on the yoke (steering console) and gulping hard, all I could see was sky. The sound of wind whipping around the plane was intense, and my stomach lurched for a second. But just as we started soaring toward the coast, my face broke into a huge smile. Now above the clouds, hovering at 9,000 feet, I realized why people become addicted to flying. You are vulnerable and nervous, but more than anything, you are alive.

Traveling roughly 135 miles an hour, it only took 15 minutes to reach Gilroy, where we could check out the coast from Monterey to Santa Cruz and miles beyond.

After finishing a large circle and getting one last glimpse of the ocean, we headed back. I started to become more comfortable with the controls, and was having fun with the headset. I wanted to say "Roger, that" after every time Allen instructed me on what to do. But I withheld my enthusiasm, realizing that to some this isn't a Kodak moment from Top Gun, but everyday life.

Yet it's a great life to live, as Allen attested. Flying since he was 18, it was something he always wanted to do. He started lessons at Reid-Hillview, continuing while being a student at San José State University. He became an instructor once he surpassed 1,000 hours of air experience.

Aside from teaching two lessons several days a week and coaching the San José State Precision Flight Team, Allen says he tries to get up in the air at least once every day. "It's addictive," he says. "Once you go up, you don't want to do anything else. It's the best office I could have."

It also allows time to do things one normally could not do. For starters, pilots can travel to San Francisco in an unheard-of 15 minutes, or even "fly and grab a quick lunch in Napa," Allen says. "It might cost $100 for flight costs, but it's still cool."

Cruising under some cloudbanks, I was still feeling relaxed and utterly thrilled. That is until Allen said I would be landing the plane. I stayed quiet, waiting for the four-letter words to pass. "Really?" I finally uttered into my headset. He smiled at me again. "Don't worry, I'll help you." And just as I was getting used to this!

We approached the landing strip. Allen cut down the propeller speed and used his foot controls to steer the plane left and right until we were centered properly. I steadied the yoke and aimed the plane down, hoping we wouldn't somehow make a surprise appearance on the highway lining the runway's edge.

Fortunately, we didn't. It went smoothly and surprisingly fast. The only problem was that once we hit the ground, all I wanted to do was go back up again. Forget Santa Cruz, let's head to Santa Barbara!

Could this be addictive? Yes. Life affirming? Absolutely. And without a doubt, one of the best ways to spend an hour, learn something new, and at the very least, see a different perspective.

For more information on the Be A Pilot program, visit www.beapilot.com. For more information about Tradewinds Aviation, visit http://www.tradewindsaviation.com or call 408.729.5100.