Always Dreamed of Becoming a Pilot? Here’s What to Do

A pilot is one of those jobs kids around the world dream of having.  Training to become a pilot you get to fly your own airplane all over the world, seeing amazing sights and meeting amazing people each and every day. 

The experiences that you have in this job are simply indescribable. The added benefit to this is that being a commercial pilot can also pay a lot of money. Do you want to turn that dream into a reality? Here is what you can do to become a pilot.

Try an Introductory Flight

The first step towards becoming a pilot is first deciding if the job is right for you. Sure you might have dreams and aspirations towards it, but that might change once you get into a cockpit and try it for yourself. There are plenty of flight schools that will offer an introductory flight, allowing you to get up into the air with trained pilots and experience flying firsthand. 

While they will handle the takeoff and landing themselves, they might give you the opportunity to fly while in the air if you are comfortable enough. This is a great way of seeing if this is something that you want to pursue further. If after the flight you’ve decided this is something that you want to pursue, you now have to go to the next step.

Get a College Degree

While there is no specific degree needed to become a pilot, most airlines like to hire people with a college degree as it shows they have committed time to learning. A pilot needs to constantly be able to learn and adapt and a degree helps to reflect these traits. For an added bonus, look to get a degree in a field related to aviation. This will show that you are passionate about your work and want to take it to the next level.

Choose A Flight School Route

There are several ways to begin to get training to become a pilot. The one that you choose is entirely up to you and your preferences.

Flight Schools

These are the standard schools that will teach common people how to fly and get them the experience that they need. They are situated all over the country and are regulated by the government to teach and provide the same standards. There are many schools that will gladly take you in and when you find one you can read about them and see website for any further information. This will inform you of the costs and what is expected of you each day in school.

College Programs

There are college trade programs dedicated to training you to become a pilot as well. Instead of pursuing a regular degree, you can enroll yourself in one of these trades and get the experience that you need here. Some colleges even have their own aircraft, allowing you to fly often. Along with your degree, you can also get many certifications related to flying during your time in college. It is a great choice if you are young and looking to fly.

Airline Cadet Programs

It might be hard to believe, but there is a huge shortage of pilots across America. So much so, that the industry is taking steps to attract new potential pilots. Many airlines are offering programs that you can enroll in where they will teach you how to fly.

There is a large cost associated with these programs, but you will be working for a top company in America meaning you will have access to some of the best resources and planes the country has to offer. You will be put in touch with many expert pilots who are still flying and they will do what they can to help you succeed.

Military Service

The final way to get pilot training is to enlist into the military and join the airforce. You have to have a bachelor’s degree to be eligible to join the airforce, but once you do you will be put through their training if you pass their pilot training beforehand.  The great thing about doing your flight training with the military is that you will be getting paid as you train instead of paying. When your service is over, you will also have generally accumulated enough hours to be eligible to fly as a civilian airline pilot.

Apply for a Student Pilot License

Now it’s time to go about getting a license after all of that training. Similar to getting a student license for cars, you will be subject to a rigorous test just to grant you the right to be a student pilot. If you pass this test, you can then continue your training and work towards becoming a full-time pilot.

Apply for a Medical Certificate

To be a pilot, you have to show that you are free of any psychological issues that could compromise you during your flight. This spans anywhere from severe depression to constant seizures. If you are showing that you are unfit medically to fly a plane, you will be unable to proceed to the next steps.

Get Your Private License

Assuming you accumulated everything above, it’s time to get your private license which will allow you to fly alone. This is even more intense than the student one and it will require you to pass a test, have a minimum amount of flight hours beforehand, and be evaluated in the air by an expert. Once you have done all this and passed the exam, you can now move on towards getting further ratings, certificates, and a commercial license.

 

If flying is a dream for you, then don’t let anyone stop you from achieving it. It is not an easy path as it is filled with tests and challenges that you have to be able to overcome. The path is very long as well as it can take years to acquire the amount of flight time needed to get your licenses. When it is all said and done though, you will be a pilot, living your dream life flying from one side of the world to the next. What type of airplane have you always dreamed of flying?