Help with becoming an airline pilot?

Question

I have a few questions about being a commercial pilot (I am 15 years old)

1. I've never flown before, I live in NC, is there any places I can learn to fly?

2. How much would that cost?

3. Should you go to Aviation school, and if so, what schools are good?

4. What are the age requirements?

5. What are the hours needed and licenses you get?

6. What is the price from start to actually becoming a pilot?

7. Should I go to Regular College, and if so, what courses are best?

8. How hard is it to actually become a pilot once you have the hours?

9. What is the income of a commercial pilot?

10. What is the schedule of a commercial pilot (working hours)

If I missed anything, please tell me. I want to know as much as I can about becoming a pilot. Just kind of tell me the routine of becoming a commercial pilot. You can answer some of the questions or all of them. Thanks.

Answer 1

hi

i am 16 years old .i want to become a commercial pilot.now i hve done my matriculation.i will go for eye test.but my eyes is fine.i can see for long distance.alhamdullilah.what is the future of pilots.will this profeession will have great career in future.e.: for the year 2035

Answer 2

1--There are good flight instructors available at several dozen county and municipal airports scattered across NC.  Just do an internet search on "flight instruction in NC" to find something near you.

2--The Private Airman Certificate usually costs about $7,000 to $9,000.  The private requires at least 40 hours overall flight time, but most people require about twice that many hours.  You must be 16 to become a student pilot, and 17 to get the certification.

All the usual commercial certifications will cost you $15,000 to $25,000.  That's for 250 hours flight time and lots of instruction.  When you have those, you can earn money for piloting services, and you may find work in charter, flight instruction, and piloting services (for example, banner towing, pipeline patrol, night freight, &c).  It's a subsistence living, and very spotty work.

Other numbers--think about it this way:

The main thing you need to give your attention to right now is just doing a good job of the tasks that are on your plate today.  You will be old enough to consider the technical details of your training and career development sooner than you think.

Right now, concentrate on being a person of good character and achievement.  Stay out of trouble:  no drugs, no alcohol, no trouble with the law like stealing or assault.  A reputation as a person of good character and social skills will work in your favor.

Take the courses you want to take, and talk it over with your school guidance counselor and your family.  Make sure you do well in mathematics and sciences, and also spend some time on civics and government, and also on geography.  A professional pilot has to have a really good understanding of law and regulations, and has to know where things are around the planet.

At the same time, do well in some physical pursuit.  You can't be a couch potato.  Do okay in Phys Ed, and find a personal sport that will help you develop strength and coordination.  This is important.

Also, read everything you can get your hands on about airplanes and aviation.  The more detailed knowledge you have, the easier it will be for you to learn the things you need to know to pass your aviation tests when the time comes.  Spend time in the library and read all the books and magazines about aviation and related subjects.

If you want to go by way of the military (and that's the most certain way of getting into the flight deck of an airliner), see your Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps recruiter.  You can go to see them any time, even at age 15.  Your recruiter will advise you what college to go to and what to major in to maximize your chances of getting into military flight training.

When you are about 17, find the nearest flight school and go talk to the instructors.  Sign up for an introductory flight, and see what it feels like to fly a real airplane.  Do it that way, and avoid computerized flight simulators like FSX.  The simulators will teach you bad habits and give you a mistaken impression of what it's like to fly a real airplane.  Get some experience in the real thing before you mess with simulators.  This is important.

Get your private pilot certificate as soon as you can.  It will get you a head start on whatever additional training you need, either civilian or military.

Good luck, and have fun!

Answer 3

Crazy answers before me...most of which I'd say are written by people with no real industry knowledge.  

1) yes, find your local airport, I'm sure there are over 100 airports in North Carolina, I learned to fly not so far away in Tennessee.  

2) Find the cheapest and best route.  Don't go to some tech school (ASA academy, Mesa atc) and plop down 70 grand just because they said so.  Learning to fly there is a good as learning to fly at a big name 4 year university which is as good as learning to fly at your local airport...been there done that myself.  

3) Forget aviation school, learn to fly AND get a degree in something not involving flying airplanes that you love.  Learn the word furlough.  If you don't before you get out of school, you will eventually.  Have a fall back degree / plan.  Chances are pretty high your airline will lay you off and you'll be on the street.  Get an education that can feed your family until the industry picks up again.  

4) 18 minimum for a commercial that lets you earn money, 23 for your Airline Transpost which allows you to be a captain on most aircraft while drawing a paycheck.  

5) You want to do it professionally, so there are two ways, part 61 and part 141.  part 61 is 250 for your commercial and I believe 190 for it under 141 training.  Neither of which are enough hours to get hired by anyone for anything.  ATP's need 1,500 minimum.  

6)  price from no flight time to newly minted commercial multi engine pilot...depends on the person and where they learn but bank on 60,000 dollars in flight training.  

7)  Yes!  Get a degree like I said in some fall back.  There isn't a single airline that give a care about you having a degree in Aviation.  They just want a degree.  One the flip side, try getting that degree in aviation to land you the job you need in insurance to pay the bills till the airlines pick back up.              

8)  Not too hard

9) start out at 25 grand, probably hit over 6 figures or near to it 15 - 20 years in...but only if you have a 4 year degree (which is yet again why I'm preaching the degree).

10) 3 to 4 days away from home per week.  Basically, the more senior you are the more pick of the trips you get.  You could get good ones or very bad ones.  You might very well have to sleep in an airport a few days (any NE based Colgan Q400 pilots out there?).  Yes commercial pilots can only fly so many hous a day/week./month/year but that says nothing about shutdown procedures, paperwork and wolfing down ramen during a quick turn.  Toss in all the other things and you might well work a 16 hour work day.

I'm cynical yes, but I wouldn't be if you didn't have 4 people who didn't know a slat from a transponder for every one of me saying oh its such a cakewalk.

Answer 4

1.  your local airports may have a lesson center

2. with gas, THOUSANDS of dollars, over 8 grand

3. yes if you want to get into a good airline

4. if you mean by lessons, 16 to solo 17 to get your liscense

5. you need a minimum of 40 hours for a PPL

6. if you go to aeronautical school almost around $100,000 plus

7. No, theres one in daytona florida

8. depends on how bad you want it

9. depends on your airline and what plane you fly, for 747 100 to 200 thousand dollars a year

10. it depends on what airline and the plane

Go to your local bookstore and look for some piloting books

Answer 5

1) sure go to www.beapilot.com and type in ur zip code at find flight schools

2) about $8,000 just to get ur PPL (Private Pilots License)

3) You MUST go to aviation school to build up a little hours and have a basic idea on how to fly a plane.

4) you can start training for your PPL at 15

5) I think you need at least 120 hours to get PPL, not sure tho, and you need to pass FAA written exam.

6) Well if you want to go to a good school you'll spend about $100,000 (expensive i know)

7) You can go to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, thats where i will go, and you can take Proffesional Pilot course.

8) its not that hard, you will have to start at a lower company first, once u have experience, you can move up to bigger companies and bigger planes.

9) Once you have enough experience (about 5-10 years) you'll get medium of $150,000 per year.

10) You'll work about 10-15 max days in 1 month, there are certain hours you cannot exceed.

NOTE: Buy Flight Simulator, its a game, you can fly planes, and learn instruments, it'll give u some knowledge. Good Luck! :)