Would I be able to become a pilot without military training, how much time and money would I need?

Question

I'm 19 years old with all the time in the world, but money may be an issue.

Answer 1

You can get your private pilot's license w/o any training and that would allow you to fly small single engine planes. Typically you need about 40 hrs of flight time (both solo and with an instructor) and then must take several exams in order to obtain it. I work at an airport and its $80.00 an hour for a lesson and then $55.00 an hour for solo time in the plane but the rates are going to vary on where you go. I don't know what you are looking to do as far as flying but my step-sister was going to school to become a commercial pilot down in Florida and the schooling for that was about $75,000.00...Unless you are interested in going into the military though, getting any sort of certification to fly is going to cost money but if its something that you want to pursue for career purposes, then any money invested into it will be worth it. Good luck:)

Answer 2

Getting to be a commercial pilot who wants to fly for the airlines is very difficult! Airlines are getting very picky about new pilots. There is no advantage to trying to learn to fly now before college. Right now concentrate on placing yourself on a path for college. A real college, not an "aviation" college. "Aviation colleges" are money factories for the owners, cost way more than what you would pay at a local flight school and your training will be no better. Your GPA is the ticket you will need to use to enter college. Have it as high as possible, at or near the top of your class! After high school, take the courses that will propel you into a non-aviation career. You will need it, pilots are furloughed all the time or you may fail a check ride or a physical. In college you may want to consider the military route to a career in aviation. You do not acquire the enormous debt that civilian flight training costs and you are actually paid to get the best flight you can have. In your senior year of college start taking flight lessons. The closer together you can buy flight lessons the better off you will be. The time and money you save by not having to review so much will save you a lot of money. You need to work your way through all the intermediate steps up to an ATR (the airline pilot rating) which will set you back about $90,000. Got that kind of cash? Nobody gonna lend you that kind of dough, lessen its family. Well, so far you are $170,000 in the hole (including college) and you will be working for the next 10-15 years for little above what you earn as the night shift manager at McDonalds. We doing ok? Good. I neglected to tell you about the other folks with whom you will be competing for the few seats available. Most of them will be current or former military-trained pilots whose training overshadows any and everything you have done. It is a long and difficult path to being a commercial pilot. At least you are looking at the pros and cons now. Good luck.

Answer 3

You don't have to join the military to become a pilot. You should try to find a local flight school and inquire with them on how much your training would be. To get a private pilots license it usually averages around $5800.00. If you were to continue on with the rest of the training it will definitely start to get expensive. There are programs like Pilot Finance that can help aid in the cost of flight training, that may be something you may want to look into. As far as how much time it takes there really is no set time other then you need at least 40 hours of flight time and additional ground instruction to get your private pilots license, other then that its all up to you and how dedicated you are to getting you certificate.

good luck!

Answer 4

you just need to go to "flying school" at first. Which can be pretty reasonable depending on where you live. (keep in mind I live in Alabama so everything is cheaper here.) However if you are talking about wanting to fly commercial planes that gets rather costly.