Vishvas Vasuki wrote:
But, either website does not mention anything about checking out pilots
before renting out aircraft for ambitious flights. Is it a common thing?

oh that's not what I meant. All I meant was that if you train and graduate
at some operation A, and then wants to fly with another operation B, said
operation B will want to check you out first; that's very common; actually
I don't know of any operation which will hand over the keys without any
kind of checkout, no matter how impressive your credentials might be;
the time required for said check out will depend on your experience,
the local policy, the type of aircraft, etc.

The point I was trying to make is that you want to plan ahead and take
into consideration the kind of flying you'll want to do when you graduate
with your private certificate; availability of aircrafts for more
ambitious flights, possibilities to undertake more advanced training
(instrument, commercial, etc.)

Note that flying can also be quite a time intensive activity; I have
been a graduate student for a few years, I don't recall having much
free time :-)

all the best in both endeavor,

--Sylvain