becoming a pilot???

[lilgirltep 0]

This is the best place I could think of to come for advice, so here it is: I am about to graduate from college with a four year degree in biology with minors in chemistry, forensic science, and now environmental science and every field I have thought about going into bores me. I haven't exactly exhausted all opportunities but nothing is getting my attention.

However, my first skydive was in October of '03 and I have never looked at the sky the same. I am not trying to get ahead of myself and say I only want to be a certain type of pilot, I just know that I want to fly planes. But since then I have always had a fascination for flying and truly feel this is something I am passionate about. I know now that I would like to make a career as a pilot. Its finding out where to start that is the problem. I have found some useful info online, but I know there are pilots here that can help steer me in the right direction. So if you have any advice I would love to hear it!!!

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

[Phillbo 11]

Get your General Aviation license and go from there.

[squirrel 0]

well, if you loved skydiving, you might like the type of "aircraft" i fly. and, 20k and its all paid for, and i keep it in my garage.

my buddies are ex military, jets. the aviation world is tough, one had to re-enlist, the other flys nights at fed-ex. good luck

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[mx757 4]

I would start by getting your private pilot rating. the local airports that rent airplanes called FBO's (fixed Based operator) can give you the information
the FAA says you need 40 hours of which 20 must be dual flight time with the Instructor. but truth is you'll need closer to 50 to 60 hours unless your loaded with money and get all these hours at one time...

You can do it like I did schedule out an hour of dual with the flight Instructor and get hours logged in your log book and then when you have extra funds say next week go log another hour or two of flight time... if your really loaded with $$ a rich daddy or student loan you can borrow $5000 or so it would cost you to get your private pilots rating and from there work on your Instrument and other ratings... like Multi engine or Commercial or CFI

edited for spelling.

[Derekbox 0]

Start by talking to a few pilots. ;)

[squirrel 0]

there is a new classification...called "light sport pilot" you are limited to certain types of planes, day flying, and certain airspace...but the one of FAAs goals was to make it more finacially realistic for some people to fly. then, you can always continue onwards and upwards.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[davedlg 0]

If you want to go for it as a career, either go into the military or be prepared to dish out a whole lot of money to get your ratings then spend years making next to nothing.

But I gotta say, getting my private pilot was one of the more fun things I ever did. Now I'm working on my instrument and it's great fun and challenging.

I'd say go take a few lessons and see how you like it. Once you get your private pilots license and have been in the scene for a little while, decide if it is what you really want to do. Then, dive in headfirst and get your instrument, commercial and multi engine ratings....

[eUrNiCc 0]

I asked the same question in a thread a few months ago & got some really good responses.

CLICKY!

Egad, A BASE life defiles a bad age.

[lilgirltep 0]

I found the website http://www.atpflightschool.com/index.html and was considering doing a fast track (with student loans) and completing their Private Pilot Program, Airline Career Pilot Program, Regional Jet Standards Certification Program all together- well in order I mean. But I dont know if this is ridiculous. Sounds like some are a bit negative about finding jobs and getting paid, but if its difficult in only interests me more....

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

[dbattman 0]

If you're a resident of Georgia look here.

http://www.gaaviationtech.edu

I know another guy who went off to flight school up in Marietta and was flying RJs after about 650 hours with an advanced jet course.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

These people have helped some of my friends:
http://womeninaviation.com/

[1969912 0]

Quote

I found the website http://www.atpflightschool.com/index.html and was considering doing a fast track (with student loans) and completing their Private Pilot Program, Airline Career Pilot Program, Regional Jet Standards Certification Program all together- well in order I mean. But I dont know if this is ridiculous. Sounds like some are a bit negative about finding jobs and getting paid, but if its difficult in only interests me more....

If you go the military route, you will need to attend Officers Candidate School (or whatever each branch callls it). Upun graduation you will be commissioned as a junior level officer (1st Lt. in USAF). At some point before/during OCS you will be able to tell them you want to go to pilot training (used to be UPT in USAF) after being commissioned. If you pass the flight physical, do well in OCS, etc., you MAY be selected for UPT. Whether you are selected or not depends not only on your qualifications, OCS performance, etc., but also on the needs of the (USAF/whatever branch) at the time. If there are 100 UPT slots open to OCS grads when you graduate OCS, and 500 UPT wish-listers, the "top" 100 OCS grads will get the slots. The catch is that by entering OCS you are committing to a certain period of duty as an officer after graduation whether or not you get a pilot slot. So, if you go to OCS, work like hell for for a pilot slot, but be prepared for a period (4-6 yrs.??) as an non-flying officer if you don't get the slot. Be sure you can pass a Class 1 flight physical before committing to anything.



As far as private training is concerned, do a lot of research. Just like in the military, there are a lot of people who want to be pilots. You could spend $30,000 or whatever to meet the minimum FAA requirements to fly a regional jet, but there will be tons of other people competing with you for jobs. Plan on some number of years flying turboprop commuter planes (nothing wrong with that) for really shitty pay. REALLY shitty.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[flygrrrl95 0]

I got my private pilot's license in high school and was considering flying for a career. I decided against it for several reasons, but it wouldn't have been impossible by any means. I got as far as instrument and commercial ground school. Now I just fly for fun whenever I have money left over from skydiving (HA HA HA).

There are several tracks you can take to get there if you really want it. Military, 4 year degree (including ratings), schools that just get your your ratings (but at a rapid pace), down to your local FBO.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has a message board like this where you can get some good info, so join that group and start reading everything you can. I think you can even access a lot of good info on their website if you're not a member.

There are several books about becoming a professional pilot and how to get there, how to get jobs, what kinds of jobs are available, etc. so check out your local bookstore or library. They have a lot of good resources.

As for job prospects, many of the other posters are correct, you may end up finding it difficult to get a good paying job for quite a while. However, if it's really something you are passionate about and don't have a lot of expenses (old student debt), it will probably be a sacrifice you can deal with. I have a friend who started by flying skydivers (after he got his commercial) and from there went on to fly humanitarian aid missions in Darfur/Sudan, then flew in the Carribean, and is now flying in Greece.

There are lots of options, you just have to be willing to work hard and keep your eyes open for good opportunities.

GOOD LUCK!!! DON"T GIVE UP IF IT'S WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO!!!!! (Be realistic, but don't let the pessimists discourage you too much)

blue skies,
flygrrrl95

[ffejdraga 0]

Quote

As for job prospects, many of the other posters are correct, you may end up finding it difficult to get a good paying job for quite a while. However, if it's really something you are passionate about and don't have a lot of expenses (old student debt), it will probably be a sacrifice you can deal with....

...There are lots of options, you just have to be willing to work hard and keep your eyes open for good opportunities.

This is especially true these days.
I watch it closely.

Here are all the factors at play, and for anybody considering being a pilot for a career, this is what you can expect over the next couple of years:

Regional Airlines all over are hiring at a very good rate.
Major Airlines, are hiring, but not at the frantic pace Regionals are.
Air travel is up, more people traveling to more destinations more often.

When the Regionals are hiring, they will typically take people from flight schools, but the pay at the Regionals is slightly higher than the pay at some flight schools, plus the added benefit of flying a jet around.

So lets talk for example about a flight school such as Pan Am or ATP. Students go through the program, and then become the best candidate to turn around and teach at that same program, because it is all fresh, and they did it just months ago. They will stay there till the regionals hire them, and most likely not one minute longer. When I was going through ATP, you graduated (not officially...you just had all your ratings) and if you wanted to make 1k a month, working 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week, you need about 6 months to have anywhere between 650-1000TT, 90% of which is Multi, and you were off to the regionals, where you would start making $12-15 per hour. You could probably make more in a department store, and not have 50-70 people's lives in your hands. But I digress.

This is route many dudes took, because now, they are most likely moving up to captain in the same RJ, and they most likely have 2000 something hours now.

Ok back to Pan AM. Now, Pan Am has this same phenomenon going on. However, Pan Am's number one client are two Chinese Airlines, who send over cadres of Chinese students to train here, and as soon as they finish with their multi commercial and turbine stuff, go right back to China where they will immediately sit right seat in a 747 or some such heavy airliner, hopefully next to some very experienced captain.
So, the final point on this is that since most of the students take off to China, and do not turn around here to teach, Pan Am, almost always, is hiring instructors. There are other schools out here in the aviation training mecca of Phoenix that are having the same problem.

Now, couple that with the fact that most of the guys who came back from the Viet Nam war as decorated pilots, who took on jobs right away as Airline Captains, are quickly approaching the mandatory 60 retirement age. They forecast that the peak of this retirement will happen in 2009, but it is already showing signs. So more airlines, Major Airlines (Southwest, USAirways, United, NW, etc) wiil continue to need more pilots as 2009 gets closer.

When the Majors hire, they will take from various flying jobs, but most of it will be the regionals. It is like one of those puzzles with one missing square...
So in 2009, if you have some flying sense, and a few hours, you will be likely to pick up work.

So if the majors and regionals take everyone they can get, part 135 operations (cargo, on demand, charter, etc.) will also be hiring, although some of those jobs are much more of the "who you know" types of jobs. But there are lots of those around. And the good thing, is they tend to start at about 35-40k, usually multiengine airplanes, and often turbine.

So, my advice to anyone who wants to do this, is start now, and by the time you have 1000 hours or less, (hopefully 2 years if you work hard at it) there will be plenty of jobs out there.

It is a tough road at first, and for me, I am hopefully now just coming out of the curve of poverty....maybe.
But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

any of you who want more info from me, feel free to pm anytime.

jeff D-16906