What are the requirements for a pilots license?

Question

Im 14. Im a junior in high school and I want to become an airplane pilot for commercial airplanes. I really dont know much about what it takes to be an airplane pilot. So here are some of the questions I have, At what age can I start getting ready for my license? What is the best school in the country? In how many years can I become an airplane pilot for any airline? Is this expensive? Do I need to go to college? And what classes can I get in high school?

Answer 1

Ok...  I am 13 and want to become a pilot.  The best thing is to buy Microsoft Flight Simulator X for $30.  I learned my basics from ther like how to start it up...  the altimeter... stall speeds... flaps settings.... and I bought a joystick for $30 and just learned to fly!

Now I don't want to go through the military so this is what I am doing

-Get 4 year college degree in Auernatical Science at Embry Riddle (preffered by airline for degree)  When I graduate... they give me a commercial liscence

-Get a first class medical ( really easy just like checkup)

-Now airlines want lots of hours  start off  so work for a regional airline for 5-10 years to get them

-Get a regional airline job for 5-10 years

-Work at Continental airlines

--------Your Questions----------

----At what age can I start getting ready for my license?----

You can fly an airplane at any age.  As long as you are the co-pilot.  The age to actually take control of the aircraft and get a students liscence is at the age of 16.  You can fly solo or by yourself at 17.  At 18 you can get an ATP's (Airline Transport Pilot) liscence this is what you need to fly for the big airlines like United, Delta... ect.  Regional airlines require an Commercial Liscence

----What is the best school in the country?----

The top two are Embry Riddle erau.com and North Dakota University.

---- In how many years can I become an airplane pilot for any airline?----

-High School Graduate 18

-4 Year college at 18-22

-Training and getting hours 22-24

-Regional Airline 24-30

-Commercial Airline 30-65

----Is this expensive?----

Not as much as you think.  Once everything is said and done it is around $150,000

-$100,000 for college without scholarship

-$50,000 for training ( Commercial airlines require 1000 hours in multi engine aircraft which can be expensive so I reccomend going into a Regional Airline which takes 0-50 multi engine hours (ME)  I would reccomend training with somebody who is going in your same career course to split the cost

----Do I need to go to college?----

No,  but if you are faced with 100 people who are wanting to be in a 25 person opening... they will look for an education first.  They all reccomend it.

----And what classes can I get in high school?----

I would reccomend taking classes on interviewing skills because the best interview gets the best job.  End it with..."  You may find better inteerviews than mine, but nobody will work harder than me"

Hope that this helps.  I found all this information over A four month period.  Try www.airlinepilotcentral.com  You can select an airline and see if they are hiring, their fleet, pay scale, and hiring minimuns.

Answer 2

really, all you need is a good head on your shoulders and be in good health. the rest is up to you. here is some info straight from the horse's mouth.

http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates...

just make sure you go to a good school. Commair comes to mind. and like everyone else is telling you, flight simulator works wonders.

oh and you can get your pilot's license at 16 i think.

Answer 3

I took flying lessons and earned a private pilot's license in less than 6 months. I did it just for fun, but I learned enough to know it's NOT cheap and takes several THOUSAND hours to get to the commercial pilot level. Some universities have programs for flight training. Some places do nothing BUT flight training, like Embry-Riddle (I think it's in Florida).

You have to be at least 16 years old to be able to "solo" (fly without anyone else in the plane with you), even though you can probably start taking flying lessons right now at your local airport (if there's a flight school there -- I learned to fly at the Birmingham International Airport, on the general aviation side).

Your best bet is to talk to your high school career counselor or whoever gives guidance on career choices.

You can always join the air force and learn all you need for free.

Answer 4

Start NOW by getting involved on at least some level. You cannot solo in power planes until you're 16 and cannot be licensed as a private pilot until 17, a commercial pilot at 18, and airline pilot at 23, but you can start taking flight training and ground school lessons now.

If you have an interest in gliders you are allowed to solo at age 14, and I highly recommend gliding for initial flight training. For one, its a bit cheaper, and second it will help you develop excellent time-speed-distance judgement  as well as an intimate knowledge of weather, aerodynamics and aircraft performance that will help you immensely in all types of flying later on. It's also a great sport to be involved in and every soaring club in the country welcomes "junior members:. See http://www.ssa.org/

I also suggest that you join an organization such as the EAA (http://www.eaa.org) or the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). They're very inexpensive to join, they welcome junior members, and there are lots of friendly people to mentor and guide you, and you'll make contacts that can be all-important further on down the road. When looking for a flying job. who you know is often as important as qualifications and experience.

Another suggestion is that you read these books. The investment is well worth it:

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Pilot...

http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Guide-Succe...

Answer 5

first off, get the microsoft flight simulator, this is a very good too , it will give you a great head start on the process, you will need ground school ( military is free ) and actual flight time with a trainer, and solo time after you get the expierence you need to know what to do, there are ground control aircraft  flight controllers you will talk to and they will tell you which heading to be on, it is a lot of schooling, but you can do it, you do not have to go to college to get a private license but for commercial aviation i would suggest you do