How and when to start pilot training?

Question

I'm 15 years old and live in Florida and wanted to know where to go to start training if I can at my age although I know a guy in my AFJROTC class that has his already.

what I want to know is...

~ a good LESS EXPENSIVE way to get my pilots license ?

~ what age can I start ?

~ where do I go to get it ?

Answer 1

A cheap way to do pilot training= Air Force. Thats about it anymore. Pilot training is really an investment. If you want to fly you just have to love the sky. There are some good schools out there and there are some not so good schools. Do your research on places especially in Florida. Embery-Riddle is the big name there also Airline Transport Professionals is based out of Jacksonville. Their main hub anyway. There is always the college route too where you find a university that dose flight training and gets you your degree in something aviation related. Flight training anymore from nothing at all through your commercial licence will run you 40 grand anymore. You can find a little bit cheaper out there.

As for what age you can start. You can start your training at anytime but you can not get your private pilot licence until your 17 years old. So starting when your 16 can be a good idea. Take a ground school course and see if your really into it then take your written test and start flight traning about 6 months until your 17th birthday.

You can find a discovery flight out there anywhere really. You will go up with an instructor useually the cost is around 60 to 100 bucks. You get to control the plane, takeoff and do some turns and decents, climbs and maybe one or two manuvers. Its a great way to see if this is for you. Good luck to you on finding something. I didn't start flying until I was 20 years old and I had always wished I had gotten my private at a younger age.

Good websites:

www.beapilot.org

www.jetcareers.com

www.atp.com

Good luck!

Answer 2

you need to be 12th+ with science

2-3 more yrs for you

cheap way is air force but you have to meet fitness etc

also private license (PPL) is quite cheap compared CPL (commercial pilot license) is less flying hrs

Answer 3

You must be 16 years old to solo an airplane and 17 before you can get a private pilot certificate.  You may start your training whenever you want, but you can't solo until you're 16.

"Less expensive" is a pretty relative term.  EVERYTHING in aviation is expensive!  The "less expensive" way to get through training is to do it quickly.  Find a time when you can dedicate yourself to studying and flying.  If you plan on flying at least 3-4 times a week, you'll spend less time in the air reviewing the maneuvers than if you only fly once every week or two.  Do a lot of "armchair flying" - quiz yourself on what you learned the last lesson.  Visualize the maneuvers that you learned and keep reviewing the procedures.  Memorize the items your instructor tells you to (speeds, procedures, memory items).  The more often you can fly and the more time you spend preparing for your next lesson on your own, the less it will end up costing you for your private pilot certificate.

If you are really concerned with doing this the most cost-effective way, I'd recommend waiting until you are almost 17 years old.  That way, you can dedicate yourself to the training and earn your certificate in a few months.  You *CAN* start right now, but if you stretch out your training over 1-2 years, it *WILL* cost you more.

Where to get it?  Florida probably has more choices than anywhere else in the world!  Your local airport more than likely  has a flight school.  Visit different schools, check out the planes, talk to the instructors.  Finding an instructor who works well with you and your personality is the most important part of effective flight training.

<edit>I gave you a more "traditional" answer to your question.  If you are really serious about this, take Ben Dere's answer to heart (below).  Those are some great suggestions for more creative ways of lessening the expense/financing the training.

Answer 4

You can start NOW (I started at 13). The best, least expensive method is to start in gliders, which is also what I did. In fact, the Air Force Academy has had a glider training program for about the last 50 years, and before WWII almost all German Luftwaffe pilots received their initial training in gliders. The skills learned makes for very competent pilots.

In gliders you can solo at age 14 and get your license at 16 (as opposed to 16 and 17 for powered planes), and the flight experience will count toward other ratings.  Most glider clubs have a "junior member" program and welcome young people into the sport. There are several glider operations in Florida, so go here and check it out:  http://www.ssa.org/sport/wheretofly.asp

The other thing you can do is become a menber of the Civil Air Patrol. They also recruit junior members and there are opportunities to get free or reduced-rate flight time because the CAP is funded by the Air Force and they also offer college scholarships. Go here for more info: http://www.cap.gov/visitors/about/our_pr...

Another avenue is to become a member of the EAA. THey have a good program for young adults, scholarships are available, and you'll meet lots of great people who will help you reach your goals.

Summary: Join the SSA, CAP and EAA and GET INVOLVED. It will be money and time very well spent. Have fun and good luck!