How young should you be to start taking flying lessons?

Question

I'm thirteen years old and want to start taking flying lessons. I have flown a lot on my simulators and taught myself through that. I want to know at what age should I start taking "lessons" instead of just renting a plane with an instructor for an hour. Also what is an estimated cost for Private-ATP. I also want the opinions of people about getting an aviation degree and how many hours you come out of it at aviation schools(Embry Riddle, UND, Purdue, etc.) Thanks!

Answer 1

There is no age to take lessons.  You must be 15 to get your liscense, though.  I am 14 am am flying... It is awesome.  I highly encourage taking it up.

Answer 2

13 is a great age.

There is no minimum age for receiving flight instruction.

14 is the minimum age for logging solo time in gliders.

16 is the minimum age for being certified as private pilot--glider.

Private to ATP is $30,000+.

Don't get an aviation degree.

Don't get flight training through colleges or aviation academies.

Answer 3

It sounds like you want to go career.  Feel free to rent an hour here and there all you want, but honestly, there's no point really training for your license until you're 17.  If you start now, you will quickly get to the point where you are able to solo, but can't because you're too young.  At 16, you'll be able to solo, but you'll be burning hours until your 17 to finish up.  I recommend waiting until college, or after, to really focus on that.  Until then, concentrate on getting good grades, staying out trouble, etc.

Don't get an aviation degree.  I always recommend going to a state college (lower tuition costs) and getting a degree in an unrelated field, just in case you ever want to get out of aviation (happens a lot... trust me).  As you're going through college, continue taking lessons on the side and building your ratings up.  Aviation is one of those fields where employers only want to see that you have a college degree... any college degree.  They also won't care where you got your ratings...they only want to see that you have them.

Oh, and don't ever pay for your ATP.  Once you get your commercial or CFI tickets, you are a professional.  Professional pilots should not pay for their own training anymore.  The first time you upgrade to captain at an airline, you'll get your ATP (which the airline will pay for).

Answer 4

You can start at any age.... I wouldn't get a aviation degree.

Age restrictions are as followed

Private Pilots-17

commercial pilots 18

ATP-23

Private to ATP anywhere from 30k-50k

Best of luck

Answer 5

You can start taking them at 15 but the actual legal age is 16 just like drivers lic.