I want to become a pilot, but how??

Question

okay sooo yea i kno i need to get a certificate but i rather take a college that has everything to become a pilot. i kno embry riddle is a great one but its pretty far from where i live. i live in nyc and idk if theres any colleges around here that hav that pilot thingy.

can u list like some colleges near my home?

should i become a pilot? i really want to become one sooo bad but i'm scared of the economy and the major competitions.

i read that going to the military is a great option..

thing is i dont want to go

and will it be too much money to become a pilot??? i mean lets say if i go to college and get some financial aid for everything, can that woork???

and another question--- if i were to go somewhere away from home..how do i get my food?? lol it sounds awkward but yea i want to kno....

Answer 1

having heard this question a lot on other pilot forums, the most given answer to future american pilots is to:

- Stay away from the pilot factories like embry-riddle, perdue etc.

- Get your flight training at a local FBO (fixed based operator) this is basically a small flight school that is not associated with any kind of university, look around, ask around and see if you find a good one. They are usually cheaper and you can do things at your own pace

- Get a degree in something else than aviation. Basically get a 4-year degree in another interest of yours. To get hired by the airlines you will need a 4-year degree, but there are no positive aspects of having that 4-year in an aviation related field. Get it in something you like, and have that as your fall-back position if flying doesn't work out

- After you have your commercial pilots license the road kind of splits into different paths. Some people buy hours, others get their flight instructor licenses and work as a flight instructor for a year or two to build the hours needed for the airlines you want to apply for

Answer 2

I would highly recommend looking into LeTourneau University in Texas. I recently graduated from the school and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, their flight program has an job placement rate of 98-99% within the first six months of graduation. In my case, I was offered a good job eight months before I graduated. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Mostly, what it takes is money.  You don't need a college education, although it will help on your resume (electrical or mechanical engineering would be good choices).  To get a private certificate will cost about $7000; an instrument rating $7000 more, and then you have to get a commercial rating and build up enough time to be interesting to a potential employer.  By the time you get your Air Transport rating, needed for piloting passenger jet aircraft, you will have spent over $100,000 -- but probably earned some of that giving instruction.  Go talk to a fixed base operator at your local airport for more info.

Answer 4

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 13.  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.

As you approach the appropriate age and life experience to begin considering a career, questions like how to arrange to get your meals when you are away from home will become apparent to you.  That question makes it clear that you are still very young, and have all these things ahead of you.

Good luck, and have fun!

Answer 5

Most cities will have their own small airport, or Fixed Base Operator (FBO), check to see if your town has one. They will usually offer flight instruction.

It will usually cost 10,000 to get a private pilot certifgate, but don't be afriad, imagine paying a car payment every month and that's how much you'll spend.

You don't need to go into the airliner career, you can just be a private pilot (like having a driver's license) and just fly in a small plane around the country for fun.

Don't go in the military, although they have the BEST flight training, you MUST commit 12 years of your life and be paid up to $40k per year, starting at $12k.

Most medium to large airports have cafes located on site, and if not, a coursey car ride will usually get you in town with several restaurants aviaible.

Answer 6

Use the internet and check out the EAA web site, AOPA web site and search "learn to fly". There are many aviation schools in NY state. Get the yellow pages out.

To be honest you will need time, desire and MONEY. Go to the local airport and ask for the FBO (fixed base operator). Find out who offers flight instruction. Most will offer a intro flight of about 20-30 min for a nominal fee (about half of normal cost). I don't flight instruct full time any more and fly for the airlines. As far as student loans and all I doubt you will get it unless you do go to a college with an aviation program. That is 4 years and when you get out you might have your single/multi commercial instrument and 300 hours. That is not enough to get a job really doing anything. To get a job you need about 1500 hours and preferable a ATP (airline transport pilot rating).  If you just want to be a private pilot save about $6,000 and learn to fly at a local airport. From start to finish should be less than 6 months. I recommend you plan on doing it in min time (less than three months is best) by flying often, which takes the funds at hand. Spreading out training over a long period is wasteful and not productive. You just relearn what you forgot.

You sound young high school? I say you don't have to go to college to get a pilots license but if you want a career in aviation you will need a degree, not necessarily a "pilot degree". There are no pilot degrees. You can get a degree in aviation science but what could you do with that as a stand alone degree? I suggest going to college and getting a degree in something that you can use in or out of aviation, accounting, business, engineering or science degree. My degree is a masters in engineering. I got my college first than got my pilot ratings. I have 9 FAA ratings including flight instructor instrument and multi as well as Airline Transport and (4) type ratings, including B757/767. It was a long process that took decades. Being young it sounds like you want it all now. You have to get your private pilot rating first. I have to mention the military. If you have perfect vision and meet all the other requirements, want to serve, apply to the military if you can stand the commitment. I would not join the military unless I had some desire to make it a career, which is a fine choice. Other wise you need a private pilots license first and than build hours. Once you have the licence than it cost money to rent and build those hours to qualify for advanced ratings (if you want to go on to fly for a living).

It is cheap to buy books and read. You can even study for the written test which is multi choice. To take the test you will need an endorsement from and instructor (CFI cert flight instructor) or certificate from an approved course, which can be on-line. The test if passed will be valid for two years. Still study the work on aerodynamics, navigation and FAR's. Buy a copy of the AIM/FAR (airman's info manual and Federal aviation regulations). Of course you can't learn to fly by reading alone but you should start to read about aviation. There are many books about HOW TO BECOME A PILOT. Being a pilot is wonderful but its a challenge and it will take effort and time. The MIN time to learn and log is 40 hours, approx half with a flight instructor. I would not start on a FLIGHT INSTRUCTION PROGRAM until you can see it through in a short period (less than 6 months, 3 months is better). If you fly once and than don't fly for weeks or months again until you have time or money you are wasting you time. You need to fly several times a week until you take your check ride. Other wise you just keep re learning the same things. However I highly suggest taking an INTRO FLIGHT as I suggested above. This will get the mind thinking and give you some thing solid experience. You can try several flight schools and their intro flights (which are discounted). One its fun and good experience, but two it allows you to see what school or instructor you like best. Just go into the school (FBO) and talk to instructors. They may pressure you to fly but tell them you don't have money, but do save for INTRO flights. They use to be $20 but now I am sure they are 2 or 3 times that. If they still spend the time to talk to you than great. If they blow you off than don't use them when you start lessons. I have about 2000 hours of dual instruction GIVEN. Find an instructor you like and interview many of them, even at the same school.

This is way tougher than getting a car driver license but the satisfaction, joy and freedom are well worth it. This is not something that you casually do. You have to put your heart and soul into it. If you have a passion for it, every bit will be a joy even if its a challenge.

Answer 7

There's a lot of questions here.  Many of which will be answered as you progress towards this career.  Here's my 2 cents.

You don't have to go the military route.  I didn't (due to my vision).

I strongly recommend against going to a place like Embry Riddle.  They are overpriced, plus you'll wind up with a worthless degree.  Go to a local, cheap, state school and major in your second career choice.  It's tough to make it as an airline pilot, and many decide to do other things later in life.  Having a degree in something else will help you if you ever get into that situation.  It will also help you when you get furloughed and realize that no other airlines are hiring pilots (it will happen).  Do your flight training at a local flight school/FBO.  Airlines don't care where you did your training, what college you went to or what your major is in.

Becoming a pilot is very expensive.  It will be years before you will feel like you can pay your bills.  However, we all go through it.  Save money and work your butt off.

As for food, well, you're on your own.  Some pilots pack food for a few days.  Others go to whatever restaurants are near the hotel they are staying at.

Finally, you have to be willing to be mobile.  This is a tough career.  It's easier if you're willing to move.  I suggest doing this for a while until you pick a spot to settle down in.  The world's a big place.  Why limit yourself to only living where you are now?