becoming a pilot

becoming a pilot
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becoming a pilot - 2/27/2007 9:42:50 PM

Dave trimmer

Posts: 495
Joined: 10/10/2005
From: Hamilton, ON, CANADA
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i have 2 career choices right now. 1 i want to be a paramedic, i'm in grade 11 and want to do it. I'm mentally prepared for it. but i want a second choice incase something happens. anyways my second choice is to become a pilotanything from flying and teaching others to flying the new airbus, i have 2 concerns though. 1. will i get bored of this hobby(rc planes) and 2 how do i become a pilot for a company like as a personal jet, or flying warbirds.

so where do i start(education), do i go to college university, or flight school and don't worry about education. i started loking but can't find anything.

Thanks for any help, dave trimmer

p.s i think even a bush pilot would be fun.

_____________________________

a minute of perfection was worth the effort. A moment was the most you could ever expect from perfection. - chuck Palahniuk

Post #: 1

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/27/2007 11:27:23 PM

LowFlyBye

Posts: 96
Joined: 9/14/2005
From: Lebanon, TN, USA
Status: offline

Dave-

With regards to flying, you have a long way to go and some lofty dreams there. That being said, if those are truly your dreams then don't let anything stop you...it is a long hard road to the top.

You will need a college degree and around 3,000 hours to get hired by a major air carrier at the current hiring standards. Of that 3,000 hours you will need at least half of that is turbine powered aircraft. How do you get that time? First and formost, get your degree and then live on Mack-N-Cheese and Ramen noodles for the next few years and fly as much as possible. The key is to network with other pilots and find someone who will pay you to fly while you build your time. Never turn down flight time when it is offered unless the flight or the aircraft is unsafe.

It is a long hard road to the major carriers, but it is do-able. Flying a personal jet is a little shorter road but not any easier. Getting to fly a warbird is the dream of most pilots. You will either need to own your own or be one of the lucky ones who knows the right people.

I am one of the lucky ones...

Good Luck!

p.s.- becoming a bush pilot is even harder...if you take the short cut you will never live to see the rewards of the long road

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< Message edited by LowFlyBye -- 2/27/2007 11:28:45 PM >

_____________________________

To most people the sky is the limit. To a pilot the sky is home.

(in reply to Dave trimmer)

Post #: 2

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 12:03:53 AM

yellerchamp

Posts: 201
Joined: 7/3/2004
From: mcleansboro, IL, USA
Status: online

check out enlistment and rotc..........its been awhile some guys here can tell you more accurate about this than I can

(in reply to LowFlyBye)

Post #: 3

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 12:05:45 AM

FLYBOY

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From: Missoula, MT, USA
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Read the above note carefully, it is right on. Also look at Comair Aviation acadamy, or Embry Riddle University or University of North Dakoda. There are many other schools, but those are some of the big ones. Delta airlines ownd Comair and it isn't a university type school, the other two are 4 year programs. There is a good one in Colorado Springs as well. There are schools everywhere.

I went to Comair, they were good. I had a 4 year degree and didn't want another. It was a waste of time. You do want to get that degree, it seems to help. It is not a requirement, and I have a lot of friends flying without it. Some in private jets. Airlines almost always require it, but not 100%. Its how lucky you are in the business to get anywhere, and a lot of hard work. You will want to quit many times, but you have to stick with it. Its not an easy career to get into, and as said, you will starve the first few years, but if you want it bad, there is no better career. Don't let anyone stop you.

_____________________________

Fly it till the wings come off.

(in reply to LowFlyBye)

Post #: 4

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 1:43:28 AM

Ed Toner

Posts: 142
Joined: 2/20/2005
From: , NJ, USA
Status: offline

If you are 16 or 17, check out ROTC, or the Federal Academies.

USMMA Kings Point NY 1953

(in reply to FLYBOY)

Post #: 5

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 1:43:49 AM

Flyer06

Posts: 19
Joined: 1/10/2007
From: Fort Washington, PA, USA
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Dave-
I take flying lessons at a general aviation airport in Blue Bell, PA...I'm 16 and just had my solo...Flight is the most ammmmmmmaaaaazzzzzzzinnnnnnnnnggggggggggg thing everrrrrrrrrr.................u go up and u see EVERYTHINGGGG.........and in winter is the best.....u need 30 or more hours to solo and must be 16 or older....u need to be 18 to get ur license...i fly the Diamond C-1 Eclipse...................if u want to view it go to www.diamondaircraft.com...please consider persuing this.......its such a good thing to save ur money for and look foward to doing every time u go flying....there are many different software programs too that u can use on ur computer.....keep in mind that flying for a company like u.s. airways or something isnt a "really cool" job......u start from the bottom and it takes FOREVERRRR to get to the top and get paid the most.....ur pay would probrably start around 35,000 dollars a year.........i know alot of the info cause my uncle flies for continental....also, u just learn to fly a specific airplane wen u sign up........so the a380 would be hard to come by......

No matter what field in flight u persue???????? it is the most rewarding and exciting thing u will ever do!!!!!!!!!!

Pace

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Post #: 6

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 2:45:35 AM

FLYBOY

Posts: 8687
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From: Missoula, MT, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Flyer06

Dave-
I take flying lessons at a general aviation airport in Blue Bell, PA...I'm 16 and just had my solo...Flight is the most ammmmmmmaaaaazzzzzzzinnnnnnnnnggggggggggg thing everrrrrrrrrr.................u go up and u see EVERYTHINGGGG.........and in winter is the best.....u need 30 or more hours to solo and must be 16 or older....u need to be 18 to get ur license...i fly the Diamond C-1 Eclipse...................if u want to view it go to www.diamondaircraft.com...please consider persuing this.......its such a good thing to save ur money for and look foward to doing every time u go flying....there are many different software programs too that u can use on ur computer.....keep in mind that flying for a company like u.s. airways or something isnt a "really cool" job......u start from the bottom and it takes FOREVERRRR to get to the top and get paid the most.....ur pay would probrably start around 35,000 dollars a year.........i know alot of the info cause my uncle flies for continental....also, u just learn to fly a specific airplane wen u sign up........so the a380 would be hard to come by......

No matter what field in flight u persue???????? it is the most rewarding and exciting thing u will ever do!!!!!!!!!!

Pace

Carefull, you are giving a lot of miss information there. You don't need 30 hours to solo, it depends on the instructor and the student. They all solo when they are ready. I once soloed a guy with 8 and I said I would never do that, but he was very good. Gotta be 17 to get a licence, not 18, that is commercial. Also, stating out, you would never get on with a major at $35 grand a year, you would start with a regional after a couple years of instructing or building time some other way for little pay at below $20 grand a year. I flew with a guy with 14,000 hours who went to work for horizon when they sold our jet for $16,000 a year and he was flying copilot to a 5000 hour captain who was about 23. Its a crappy business some days, but it is the best when things work out. The first few years are tough, but if you keep at it and work hard, you can make it to the captain seat and it seems like it wasn't that long.

_____________________________

Fly it till the wings come off.

(in reply to Flyer06)

Post #: 7

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 2:50:29 AM

LowFlyBye

Posts: 96
Joined: 9/14/2005
From: Lebanon, TN, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: FLYBOY

You do want to get that degree, it seems to help. It is not a requirement, and I have a lot of friends flying without it. Some in private jets. Airlines almost always require it, but not 100%.

Education is never wasted and you will need something to fall back on and maintain a similar income level should you get grounded due to situations beyond your control. Do not forget that as an ATP you have to pass a 1st class medical every 6 months to maintain flying status.

I did not mention the military as some other have stated and that can also a good way to go and can help you get a degree. Keep in mind that you are not guarenteed a flying slot even in the military and you have to serve your agreed time before leaving. It can get you the required flight time faster, but may take longer to serve your term than it would take you to get the time in the civilian world.

There are a number of universities that offer a flight curriculum along with a degree. I have my degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle. That choice allowed me to get a degree while building hours and gaining knowledge of the industry. There are many other universities that offer similar education paths such as: Middle Tennessee State University, Delta State University, University of North Dakota, etc.

Here is a link to just a few of the universities offering degrees in aviation: http://www.aeroinfo.org.in/aviation/universities.html

As many have said, flying is very rewarding and finding a way to get paid to fly is even better.

If you forget everything else remember this...Don't take shortcuts, always be willing to learn, work hard, and don't lose sight of your dream.

Shortcuts in aviation can kill you, after all you are breaking the laws of gravity.

-Low

< Message edited by LowFlyBye -- 2/28/2007 2:52:14 AM >

_____________________________

To most people the sky is the limit. To a pilot the sky is home.

(in reply to FLYBOY)

Post #: 8

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 3:19:25 AM

Dave trimmer

Posts: 495
Joined: 10/10/2005
From: Hamilton, ON, CANADA
Status: offline

Thanks for the help, I do have one concern though. I have taken mostley college courses and plan to go to college To become a paramedic, also I live in canada

_____________________________

a minute of perfection was worth the effort. A moment was the most you could ever expect from perfection. - chuck Palahniuk

(in reply to LowFlyBye)

Post #: 9

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 3:30:15 AM

LowFlyBye

Posts: 96
Joined: 9/14/2005
From: Lebanon, TN, USA
Status: offline

If you are not 100% committed to a proffesional flying career then you will probably never make it to the top...like I said it is a long hard road. I would hope that as a paramedic you would be 100% committed to that career choice as well, especially if you are working on me in an emergency situation. Figure out whcih of your dreams you want to follow and then go for it 100%.

BTW- have you thought about being a flight medic for a the Hospital Wing or something along those lines? You would be able to combine both dreams in that field. Just a thought.

_____________________________

To most people the sky is the limit. To a pilot the sky is home.

(in reply to Dave trimmer)

Post #: 10

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 3:59:05 AM

Dave trimmer

Posts: 495
Joined: 10/10/2005
From: Hamilton, ON, CANADA
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well it's not that i'm not 100% sure but i'm nervous in where a career as a pilot would take me. I don't want to get bored of this hobby, nor do I not want to become something i'm unsure of. I'm scared of the uknown. To be a paramedic i'm 100% there, unless i become a pilot.

and i definatley researched as a flight medic, but the pilots are regular pilots from a independent company

_____________________________

a minute of perfection was worth the effort. A moment was the most you could ever expect from perfection. - chuck Palahniuk

(in reply to LowFlyBye)

Post #: 11

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 4:44:55 PM

FLYBOY

Posts: 8687
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From: Missoula, MT, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave trimmer

well it's not that i'm not 100% sure but i'm nervous in where a career as a pilot would take me. I don't want to get bored of this hobby, nor do I not want to become something i'm unsure of. I'm scared of the uknown. To be a paramedic i'm 100% there, unless i become a pilot.

As stated above, if you are not 110% into the pilot thing, you will not finish. Out of 65 of us that started flight school together in my class, 5 finished and 4 of those are flying now. 2 were layed off for 2 years, and the one not flying was in an accident due to the negligence of a mechanic and will hopefully be back to flying, but it isnt' looking good so far.

As stated, you have to pass a 1st class medical and there are a lot of things that can make that go away. A friend had high blood pressure and BOOM! he was grounded. He sat for almost 2 years trying to deal with that before he could fly. Another friend had a sudden heart condition at 55 that forced him to quit flying becuase he couldn't get his licence.

I am not trying to scare you, just telling you the facts. If you are not all the way into it, you won't make it.

_____________________________

Fly it till the wings come off.

(in reply to Dave trimmer)

Post #: 12

RE: becoming a pilot - 2/28/2007 5:42:27 PM

ual767

Posts: 731
Joined: 12/3/2002
From: Chantilly, VA, USA
Status: offline

Just go out to the local airport flying school and take one lesson. At the end of the flight you will know.

_____________________________

If you never try anything new, you''ll miss out on many of life''s great disappointments

(in reply to FLYBOY)

Post #: 13

RE: becoming a pilot -