Another... I Want To Be A Pilot Options

[pson57]

Here goes another I want to be a pilot thread. I have done my best to do some research reading the pinned threads, and others, so I could gain some knowledge. (I couldn't find the rules that one thread recommended to read though?, that could be a problem.) Anyways, I live in the Northeast Suburs of Minneapolis/ St. Paul and am 16 years old. The closest airport to me is the Lake Elmo Airport, 21D.

I have, like many other, always dreamed of becoming a commercial pilot. My grandpa was a pilot for PSA for many years and I have many of his manuals for 727's, etc. I have always loved planes because of that and flying (as a passenger) and being at the airport is something I enjoy doing.

Of course, I need some help setting up a general idea of a guideline to my future. Seems to me like I may have a few options (Anything I saw in this post has the possibility of being wrong and please correct me.) I do not want to go the military route off the start.. So I need to get my private pilots license. I can either take flight classes, or at a college near-by they offer a class that "Helps you to get FAA certified"? If that ended up working I would have to wait until I am out of highschool obviously, and I'm only a softmore. Also, is it true that the younger you start the better is a good general rule?

Realistically I'm lost on what I need to do. I talked to my mom about flight school in general and she said if I need to/ should look into getting my private pilots license soon then we can look into it. If you need to throw out everything I said, I started to ramble, it's okay. I guess this is more of a question of not my long term timeline, but what I need to do now to get started.

IN A NUT SHELL, What should be my first real step to becoming a commercial Pilot, flight school and working on gaining my Private Pilots's License?

I spend a lot of time reading different forums and have a general idea of how how tough and risky it can become a pilot, and stay a pilot. I feel like I'm not quite able so get what I want to ask out on here, but i'm trying.

Thanks in advance for all who help me out here.

Matt Peterson

[pson57]

Let me try to rephrase after thinking it over somewhat. I want to become a commercial pilot someday.. Should my first real step right now be to work at getting my Private Pilots License?

[glnflwrs]

Hi Matt,
Welcome to the forum.

Now is the time to start gearing yourself toward a career as a pilot. A lot of folks wait too long and end up way behind the game later. That being said, there really isn't a lot you can do at sixteen except assure that your grades at school are as good as they can be, make a real habit of keeping your nose clean, and stay dedicated.

As much as you can, select science and math classes for the next two years and make it your plan to do very well in all of them. Trig and calc aren't necessary, but being good at figuring in your head will be very useful. Plan on getting at least a two year degree in a non-aviation field, although a BS would be a lot better. The airlines like college degrees, no matter what the major, and a non-aviation education would be a BIG help if something prevents you from flying until retirement.

Starting flying lessons at your age is not a really good idea. You have two years before you can take the exam for certification and that's a long time to spread out the flight lessons you will need. Also, say you take a few lessons now, and a few more a month or two later, by the time you reach your eighteenth birthday, you will need to brush up on a lot of those lessons from two years before, which means additional hours with a CFI and solo practice.

Stretching your training out over two years will almost certainly result in you needing from ten to even twenty hours more than if you did it in a year or less. Waiting just twelve months, until your seventeenth birthday, is a much better timeline. You could fly say, five to seven hours each month, end up with between fifty and sixty hours and be ready for the checkride right at your eighteenth birthday. Tha FAA requires 45 hours of instruction, minimum, but almost all students require fifty or more. It took me sixty, plus or minus, and I did it in nine months.

I am not a professional pilot, but I was trained to be one. I took all ground and flight schools, and checkrides required to be cerified as a Com/Instr Pilot and an MEL rating. But, with a wife and two kids I did not have the finances to be able to fly enough each month to stay current, and now hold a PPL/SEL. In the past thirty years I've accrued 1700+ hours in single engine aircraft.

Hope this rant helps, you sound like an intelligent and wise young man and I wish you all the luck you can get.

Glenn

PS: Being the proofreader for fl350, I especially appreciate the quality of your post (spelling, grammar, puctuation, etc.). Very impressive for a person of sixteen years.

[SF3aviatrix]

See my webpage- Getting your PPL & Pilot Career FAQs

[pson57]

Thanks for the reply Glenn and for the link SF3! Both were extremely helpful and it looks like you have a lot of time into that site. Sorry it took me so long to reply, I have been extremely busy with homework and Lacrosse tryouts. That said, sounds like I need to make a decision within the near future as to whether I want to go the local flight school route or more formal schooling route. I like the idea of the club because then I can still go to college for a "backup career."

One question Glenn, I thought you had to be 17 in order to become certified? Maybe we're talking about a different certification? I turn 17 in october, so that helps a little bit atleast. But, I understand what you're saying about not spreading out the lessons to far because of the need to brush up on the eventually. Though I want to spread them out somewhat, I don't want to over do it.

Thanks again for the very informational posts.

Matt Peterson

[AirRabbit]

Note to Self:

Dear Self: Note the 16-year old young man who is respectful, asks clearly worded questions (and then actually thinks about the question he just asked), apparently prioritizes his time correctly, is interested in physical activity (you don't get a lot more physical than Lacrosse) at least as much as spending time on a computer (you should take that hint, self!), uses words like "informational," and actually takes the time to look at and read the recommended sources ... hmmm ... watch this young man and expect very impressive things from him.

[glnflwrs]

You are right, my mistake. The requirement is 17. So, in my opinion, it's time to start.

Just for your information, I was an Air Force vet with veteran's benefits and in 1977 I decided to get my PPL. I applied to the VA for my education benefits and enrolled at Belleville Area College in Illinois. I chose Pilot Technology for my major, a two year degree.

When the VA approved my benefits, I went to my bank and applied for a loan to cover tuition and flight time. I took the money and plunked it all down to the school getting a big discount for block time. I then paid the bank every month with my VA check.

I never had to wait for money to fly and at the end of the first semester I flew my checkride and had my PPL. The next three semesters I did the same thing and got my commercial, instrument, and MEL. I could only afford to keep current with the PPL/SEL certification. Two wives and a kid... NO, two kids and a wife. Hehehe!

I also took all the pilot related electives they offered like advanced weather, cloud physics, physiology for pilots, psychology for pilots, etc.

If there's anyway to get your flying time paid in advance that is the way to go rather than messing around with training with a flying school.

[aviation dude]

Its time to start. Because think yea your not old enough to take the checkride but neither am i and i started a while ago. Flight lessons are not exactly getting any cheaper and neither is aviation fuel. The earlier you start the more time you will have logged when you have your job application in front of you

[SF3aviatrix]

The earlier you start the more time you will have logged when you have your job application in front of you.

Not exactly. One can start too soon. If you spend 6 months or a year training for the PPL an enormous amount of money is wasted on repeating lessons over and over as too much time is wasted in between and your skills deteriorate. That is why the average pilot gets their PPL in closer to 80 hours, not 40 which is the FAA minimum. Doing this can easily double the cost of the PPL.

On the other hand, doing your PPL in the most condensed amount of time (several weeks to 2-3 months) will get you finished much closer to 40 hours and the money saved by not repeating lessons (esp if it was a loan!) is much better spent on getting the instrument or multi-engine rating. I assure you, both IFR and ME time is far more valuable time to have on a resume when job hunting that VFR solo time. All time is not created equal.

[AirRabbit]

All time is not created equal.

Truer words have never been spoken!

[aviation dude]

Yea money may be wasted but flight time can never be wasted.

[Kilrah]

Have to agree to that...

[pson57]

Thanks for all the input and compliments everyone. I have a lot of options to look into, so i'm happy I started researching all of this now.

Glenn: What does VA stand for? I like that route you took, being able to get your certificates somewhat quickly and efficiently.

SF3 that information was very helpful. I didn't realize the extra money it would take to stretch the lessons out.

At this minute I am starting to look into all the different options with my dad, and I don't have anymore questions for the time being. But, I know I'll be posting again soon with some questions!

Thanks again for everyones time...

[AirRabbit]

Yea money may be wasted but flight time can never be wasted.

Have to agree to that...

...unless the flight time is spent practicing doing something the wrong way! Did I ever tell you guys about the student I picked up prior to X-country solo who insisted on “correcting” for non-existent turbulence when on final approach?

[glnflwrs]

pson57,
VA stands for Veteran's Administration. I was in the USAF from 1970-1974 as an Aircraft Electrician. I was eligible for up to $35,000 in college money. I ended up using about $18,000 total for four semesters which gave the the Comm/Instr. rating that I couldn't afford to keep current. LOL !! I also received an AS degree in Pilot Technology.

Ironic, huh?

Glenn