I want to be a helo pilot......?

Question

i'm in the military but don't wanna take that route cause im a family man, or will be, i'm only 19 and i'm about to start a mechanical engineering degree, i've researched flight schools and toured them before and it's too expensive. are there any loop holes? i work on the flight line as an age mechanic, maybe there's a way i could work for a helo school an get a deal on flight training?

Answer 1

You don't want to be a helicopter pilot. You've already put too many obsticals up, too expensive, don't like the military etc. Gotta want it man.

Answer 2

There are many possible ways to be a helicopter pilot, but unfortunately there are never any shortcuts, loop holes, or special deals. You can train as a civilian, but it is incredibly expensive. You can train in the military, but you will have to make a service commitment to them. Either way is difficult, and there are many hurdles to overcome. What you need to do is take some time and investigate each option carefully to find out which one is best for you.

If it were me, I would first strongly recommend finishing a college degree. It will be beneficial to you no matter what you do. Next, since you are already serving your country, why not get flight training in the military too? You don't have to stay in forever, and your military experience can covert to civilian pilot certificates when you get out. I'm not exactly sure, but I think the commitment for a pilot is something like 5-8 years. When you finish you will have lots of experience and still be under 30 years old. That will leave plenty of time for a family.

If you don't do flight training while you are in the military, you could still benefit from your service by using the GI Bill to help finance civilian training when you get out. This would be kind of a middle path for you to consider.

One last thing I will mention, an aviation career can take its toll on your family life even as a civilian. I have seen this happen with many of my friends. You can definitely have a great family life as a pilot, you just need to plan ahead for it. If you can finish your training and first few years of experience prior to getting married and having children, that will give you the best chance of preventing problems.

Do your homework, explore all options, get information from multiple resources, and then dedicate yourself fully to the path you choose and let no hurdle stand in your way. Then you will succeed brilliantly.

Good luck!