Simviation Forums

My mom finally said I am allowed to go and get my pilots licence over the summer!

Don't freak, but its not cheap.

In 2006 I got my private, that is flying for fun for just under $6,500.  That was at rates around $100/hour for a 172SP.  A student who recieved his liscense last summer paid $10,000 for the same certificate.

I would find the hourly rate of their training aircraft, multiply it by 40 (minimum number of hours required for p.p.l.)  The next step in training is earning an instrument rating, which is a minimum of another 40 hours.  After that it is 250 hours (someone correct me if I'm wrong) for Commercial Certificate.  That means you can get paid to fly, but not to "fly for hire" like a charter pilot.  However It is possible to get a flying job like right seat regional airline or medevac.  One of my co-workers had 600 hours I believe to get a right seat job flying a King Air.  The next requirement would be CFI, which could help build time.  After that it is Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, which is 1200 hours.  You should also take into account that not everyone is ready to recieve their certificate at the minimum number of hours and many people take longer.

If you plan on going for it, go all out, don't spread out your training.  I recieved my certificate in 6 months, and that was with me flying 2-3 days a week before school.  In that June I didn't do much flying because of work and bad weather, and it felt like starting over when I started flying again!  To ensure I didn't spread out too much I took out a loan to pay for it (which I just paid off btw!)

Weather is another consideration, if you are in Buffalo, you might go 3 weeks of unsuitable weather for flying in the winter.  Here Fall is nice, winter is mild and even better, spring is spotty with storms, and summer is miserable with heat.

Minimum time for a multi-engine rating is 10 hours of instruction.  Most companies prefer as much multi engine time as possible.

If you want more info, I would take a trip and go talk to one of their flight instructors

That's great news! But don't expect to bang out the PPASEL in a summer, even if you are free to fly every day, and have the money. Especially with the weather in your area, as was pointed out.

Part of becoming a pilot is learning to deal with delays and disappointment.

Well said.

I forgot to mention the possibility of joining a flying club.  I know its more realistic here in the air capitol with Cessna, Beech, and Boeing/spirit all having employee clubs, but you might want to find a collegiate flying club.  I know a college as large as Kansas State has a sizable flying club and even the meager in comparison Wichita State used to own a 172 up till about 2003.  It works by you paying into the club usually, then paying for annual dues, and after that the aircraft can be rented for basically the cost of flying them.  I know that Beechcraft employees can rent an A36 bonanza for $90/hour, which is a STEAL!  But once again, it may not be realistic if there isn't one near you.

About the instrament rating:  Do it.  It makes you  a much better pilot.

As rotty mentioned, there are plenty of great jobs other than airlines.  Corporate and charter gigs can be hit an miss in terms of the possibility of job satisfaction(as can airlines), but I've seen some great positions for corporate pilots.  Industries like construction, auto sales, doctors, and franchises all have the need for pilots on staff usually and it can also pay quite well.  I would not only be open to the idea of flying in something other than airlines, but also to occupations other than flying in the aviation arena.  There is plenty out there in terms of research, business, and maintinance.  

Yes, duh...I also forgot!

And as if this was not enough literature, AOPA has plenty online about getting started.

One more thing (maybe) from me:  Make sure to have fun.  If you aren't having fun while learning to fly, somethings wrong!  Sure there will be flights you don't want to remember, but you should be excited before each flight and the goods will almost definately outweigh the bads.  Ask your instructor to take in some airplane "culture" and fly into a pancake breakfast or go get a tour of the air traffic control tower.  One thing me and my instructor didn't get to do was visit the altitude chamber at the FAA HQ in Oklahoma City.  I don't know how common my experience of flying to fly-ins, or getting a beer an BBQ after a flight, but it was certainly positive (I think I had the benefit of having a enthusiastic CFI "fresh" out of a flight program in Salina).

Once again, I don't know anything about the airport you intend to train at, but if its a semi-busy non-controlled field I would recommend just hanging out and chatting with other people in the FBO if they aren't busy.  Try to get to know some employees or regular customers, it could pay off just in helpful information.  Just don't become the customer everyone tries  to avoid because of excessive long-windedness (it is a business, and they have stuff to do).  It could also pay off in future employment opportunities.  Since I worked at the FBO I trained at, I was there alot (fly in the morning, go to the university, then come back to the airport to work untill 10pm) and I had many opportunities to learn than other students.  I got some free instruction in a Cessna 421, Aero Commander 500B along with some "fun-time" in a gordeous Piper Cub, Hughes 500 helicopter, a short ride in a citation and even did some aerobatics in a Stearman PT17.  I got to see first hand the types of icing - clear, rime, and mixed, I watched countless mistakes and successes of other students, and gained alot of knowledge about the aviation business.

wheau!  That was more than I had intended to write.  Ok, I'm stalling, I need to get back to writing psychology term papers now

Just a suggestion, but military is always an option to get everything taken care of without paying.
You might be thinking when I say military, front line army, marines, iraq, war, and etc. but im speaking of like the Air Force and etc.

Also I know some aeronatical colleges you could attend,
I found this at a college fair in April and im very interested in this school,
http://www.erau.edu/db/degrees/ap_program/

People graduate there and fly for airliners such as Delta, American, and United.

These were just my suggestions, but im sure the tips above me are more into detail.

...I got help once asking about airliners, they said when you start you get paid CRAP money and its hard to get routes and etc. but after a while when you rank up and everything it gets better. If your planning on paying for it, I know its alot of money.

Thats why im interested in the Navy and Air Force. In college hopefully I can go to their ROTC, then become an officer, and try and get my pilots license. Although my eyes are 20/400 right now  :o I dont see that happening so im more towards the Navy so I can work on a vessel.

When I asked Embry Riddle (link above) about eye requirements they told me 20/20 no exceptions but allowing contacts and glasses. So thats my biggest choice right now and although its expensive school-$54,000 a year including flying they have Air Force and Army ROTC which you can get big scholarships from.

Although that was just what I knew from my head  ::), you should be thinking about college to...its not to soon, im only a freshman

[quote]Just a suggestion, but military is always an option to get everything taken care of without paying.
You might be thinking when I say military, front line army, marines, iraq, war, and etc. but im speaking of like the Air Force and etc.

Also I know some aeronatical colleges you could attend,
I found this at a college fair in April and im very interested in this school,
http://www.erau.edu/db/degrees/ap_program/

People graduate there and fly for airliners such as Delta, American, and United.

These were just my suggestions, but im sure the tips above me are more into detail.

...I got help once asking about airliners, they said when you start you get paid CRAP money and its hard to get routes and etc. but after a while when you rank up and everything it gets better. If your planning on paying for it, I know its alot of money.

Thats why im interested in the Navy and Air Force. In college hopefully I can go to their ROTC, then become an officer, and try and get my pilots license. Although my eyes are 20/400 right now

Don't rule out a big university. I've spent a lot of time flying out of KOSU. The Ohio State University bases their flight training there. I've gotten friendly with countless graduates, as they spend a stint there as instructors... with their instrument/multi-engine/commercial credentials.. AND  degrees in aeronautic engineering   8-)

A small university might work, too... there are community colleges with good flight programs.
Beware, though, of putting all your academic eggs in one basket... a degree of some kind is basically required for airline employment, but it doesn't have to be aviation-related. You would be wise to major in something completely different. Could be some time before you get the flying job you want, and you could lose it unexpectedly. Many airline pilots nowadays also have a second vocation, to fill in the gaps when they are not on duty (regs limit the number of hours flown per month)... or when they are furloughed.

Regarding university flight programs in general: I have heard that

[quote]Awhile back I was thinking of going to ERAU but my mom and I found it was toooooooooo expensive.

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