i want to become a pilot. where do i start?

Question

so i am 16, and i want to become a pilot.
what is the best way for me to start?
what classes should i be taking?
what college/university should i attend for the best training?
what should i start doing right now?

By the time i graduate from High School, it will be June, 2008.
if you need anymore information, feel free to email me, [e-mail]


any additional information will help. thank you so much [:

well i just read a question asking if you can get a private pilots license when you are in high school and i am currently a Junior and am interested in this.

Answer 1

I am in the process of helping two different people about your age go through this same process. They are both girls as well. I would be happy to answer any and all questions that you may have. I was soloing airplanes when I was your age and I got my private pilot's license the week that I turned 17. If you wish to get your private pilot's license then the easiest way is to go to your nearest airport's FBO and find a flight instructor. You may also be able to find "flight instruction" in your yellow pages. You could call the FBO and ask them this information as well. They will point you in the right direction.

Flying is rather expensive. If you are looking at doing this as a career then there are good civilian flying schools out there and/or, you can do it through the military. I can give you the low-down about how to do all of this if you are interested. Talk to you soon.

Answer 2

Like I said in your last question; you can't just wake up and decide to be an airline pilot. Of course there's a lot involved. Trust me; the airlines don't take people who've never flown before. If you live in the United States, the best first step is the Air Force; to be an Air Force Pilot is just as (even more) competitive; but you get flight training. To be any kind of pilot; whether a sport pilot, or a private pilot, or maybe you just like to fly kites with you in them aka an Ultralight; it doesn't matter- you're going to need a Pilots Liscence; which you can obtain at a flight school for around $10,000 is the cheapest I've seen, so far I've gotten mine plus my instrument certification and I'm at $13,000 or so...Another good idea; check into the Civil Air Patrol. It's a great oppertunity. College is a neccesity; and to get into any college, especially the big Air Force ones like for example the Air Force Academy, good grades in High School from even your freshman year; I took a boat load of honors and even an AP class with all A's and a few B's. Like I said; you can't just wake up and decide you think maybe you want to be an Airline Pilot; and if you do...I hope your young! Any questions message me Cheers! Tim

Answer 3

Go to your guidance counselor and see if they have a program for aviation that you could take. BOCES has a really good aviation course that enables you to receive your private pilot's license by the time you graduate high school. I don't remember the exact names of the really good aviation colleges, but there are many of them in Florida...I don't live near there but maybe you do. Start saving up as well because it costs at least $150.00 an hour to get your flight time and you will need about 50 hours...you do the math. The Air Force is also a good choice because you get free hours, for the price of serving active duty for a few years. Same thing with the Navy. Look into those types of things and you should be on your way fairly soon. :)

Answer 4

You can get a discounted introductory flight by goint to:
http://www.beapilot.com/indexfl.html

They are linked up with flight schools all over the area.

Do all you can do. Being a girl is helpful, as quotas need to be filled. Get microsoft flight simulator and a joystick and go through the lessons. You can get your private license at 17. Be ready for that. Sometimes scout groups get to go up with pilots, or kids join the Civil Air Patrol.
This will give you a great head start. Consider the air force, if you would not mind the military.

Embry Riddle in Prescott is one of the best colleges for pure pilot aviation. Ohio Univerisity, Southern Illinois University and Florida Tech also rock. You'll have to balance where you live with budget and schools.

There's a list of all the colleges on the page below.
Also there is a good article at AOPA here: http://flighttraining.aopa.org/learntofly/articles/4494.cfm

Answer 5

I would recomend you to start looking for a school. U need to find a flight school that offers commercial license training. Then all you need to do is compare the schools you find based on price, training they give, equipment they use, and how well the school is known. AOPA (www.aopa.org) has a pretty good list of schools somewhere on their website.
Right now, to improve your chances, you can start reading articles about aircraft, and aerodynamics. the more you know, the better it will be for you later on.
I am currently attending TSTC Waco. Not the top school out there, but for the price, and level of training, it can get me to an airline. Used to be top 2 year pilot training program in the states, right now we are rebuilding that status.

Answer 6

I've been a pilot of a small single engine aircraft , sense 1975. I started learning at a small airport in the home town. This airport had 5 (five) instructors, in which I chose the one that I enjoyed talking to the most. If you have an airport with small aircraft on it, I'd start there, you can start flying now at the age you are. Good Luck.

Answer 7

You can start your flight training at any age....but you cannot solo the airplane until you are 16, and you can not get your private pilot liscense until you are 17. So I would say 16 or 17 is a good age to start, it is very expensive....start saving now.....you don't necessarily need "perfect" vision, as someone else wrote earlier, for general and commerical aviaton as long as your vision can be corrected with glasses your fine....for military flying you need perfect vision....

In aviation you should start flying as soon as you possibly can....

Answer 8

Sort of old now, but if you can still bet the book "Flights of Fancy", it can be interesting reading and provide some basic background.

Start reading aviation-type magazines. (Probably you already are).

Hang around the local airport -- probably you already are doing that.

Probably start with ground school classes; learning all you can.

Are you just interested in a private pilot's licence, or a commercial licence.
Or perhaps you are interested in something more "exciting".
http://www.jaars.org/aviation04/avia_home.shtml
http://www.maf.org/

Answer 9

If you google pilot lessons or flight schools, there are schools all over the nation and I'm sure in your own state. They offer summer camps and things of that nature that you can begin taking. Also some of them will allow you to begin taking actual classes twice a week after you receive you turn 18. It doesn't take long and the programs are awesome. I have a friend who just completed one in MS.

Answer 10

You certainly can take flying lessons, and even get your liscence at 16. The most important thing to do would be to get a job and start saving your money, because flying school is not cheap. But you can check any of your local smaller airports for flight school. Your eyes have to be darn near perfect though.