Where do I start to become a pilot?
Posted by No_Underscore12@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 34 comments
I apologize if im asking this question at the wrong sub.
Im currently at college studying cybersecurity and I hate it. I dont find it interesting at all and Ive really tried to enjoy it. Piloting and aviation caught my attention after my friend recommended it, it sounds a lot more exciting than what I’m studying and is something I could genuinely see myself doing long-term, unlike my current major.
I want to learn to fly and hopefully one day for an airline. I just dont know where to start at all, I don’t personally know any airline pilots or anyone that does. Theres an ATP flight school 30 minutes from me but its super expensive and apparently big corporate flight schools have a really bad rep. My buddy’s grandpa has a plane and said he’d take me up sometime but he doesn’t have any commercial or airline experience. It’s definitely helpful but I need to know how I can make this a career.
It doesn’t look like I need a specific degree or any degree according to what I’ve read. Finances aren’t my biggest concern, I know I can find a way to pay for something I have a passion for.
Where do I start?
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JennyBeatty@reddit
STEPS TO BECOME AN AIRLINE PILOT
1- Take a Discovery Flight at your local airport. 🤩
2- Check your bank account and credit rating. It can take 50-80 total flight hours (with instructor + solo) and cost $10,000 or more to achieve the Private Pilot certificate. 💵
3- Apply for the FAA medical certificate. Get the First Class. Do your homework beforehand, as some health conditions and medications can cause delays or are disqualifying. Stop using marijuana products, even if legal where you live. 🩺
4- Start flying lessons. 💸
5- Link up with students, pilots, and mentors, and find scholarships with The Ninety-Nines, EAA, Latino Pilots Association, National Gay Pilots Association, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Professional Asian Pilots Association, Sisters of the Skies, and Women in Aviation International. Don’t expect scholarships to cover all costs, however. 👥
6- Start studying ground school, in a class or self-paced course. 📖
7- First solo! A huge milestone!! 🥳
8- Keep taking lessons, flying solo, and studying. Don’t get discouraged! 😓
9- Pass the FAA Knowledge Test - Private Pilot Airplane. 🤓
10- Pass the FAA Practical Test (in the airplane) with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. 😅
🥳 WOOT WOOT! You’re a Private Pilot!
11- It can cost up to $100,000 for all the training to be an airline pilot. Read contracts before signing — loans, employment contracts, and training repayment agreement provisions (TRAPs).💰
12- Repeat flight training and testing to achieve the Instrument rating, Commercial Pilot certificate, Multi-Engine rating, and possibly Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate. This can be achieved within 12-18 months in a fulltime structured program at an accelerated flight school, or go at your own pace at your local airport. 💸
…Or in college. Look for an FAA-approved Part 141 R-ATP two- or four-year college aviation degree + flight training program. Flight training expenses are on top of tuition. 🎓
🥳 WELL DONE! You’re a Commercial Pilot! 🛩️
13- Fly small aircraft and get paid while building hours and experience. Many begin as flight instructors, including for their college. Or in banner towing, parachuting, pipeline patrol, or other entry-level pilot jobs. 😃
14- Network at aviation conferences, expos, job fairs, and meet-and-greets. Invest in pilot counseling services for resume and application and interview prep. 👥
15- Having reached the required age and built up the flight hours to qualify (at least age 21 or 23, and 1000, 1250, or 1500 total flight hours, depending on type of training), take one more test and checkride to achieve the Airline Transport Pilot certificate (ATP), or Restricted ATP. ✈️
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS! You’re ready for hiring as an AIRLINE PILOT! 👩🏻✈️🧑🏼✈️👩🏾✈️🧑🏾✈️🧑✈️👩✈️‼️
Pokeknight26@reddit
TYSM!!
No_Underscore12@reddit (OP)
really helpful thank you. Do you know if flight school typically covers ground school as well?
JennyBeatty@reddit
A Part 61 flight school won’t necessarily cover all the ground school you need. The flight instructor should do some ground school and can direct you to online / video courses to study. Sometimes a community college offers ground school — look into it.
A Part 141 flight school will include ground school but you will still need to do some studying on your own.
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Dull_Crazy6546@reddit
I am also looking at starting this career path, going to get my 1st class medical certificate on Thursday to see if I can even consider it
DionFW@reddit
I would say From The Ground Up.
gokuvsnaruto74@reddit
Underrated joke lmao
Big-Battle8945@reddit
Hi! I’m thinking the same thing. Out of interest, did you get started?!?!
No_Underscore12@reddit (OP)
Not yet! I have my medical and application almost complete, my last step is figuring out finances and then I’m good to go. I found a really good local flight and tried their discovery flight and loved it. My friend’s grandpa also took me up in his cessna for a bit and I got a chance to practice direction, controls, and instruments. But my first step was trying out microsoft flight sim and buying a physical cheap flight sim to go with it. Highly recommend. I’m hoping to start near fall
Gloomy-Gap-8141@reddit
Hi good day I'm also interested in being a pilot and I've read that u didn't have passion in cyber security how are u doing now and are u liking it was it fun I'm also bout to enter college and thinking of being a pilot Bye And hope u find Success on being a pilot bye.
nextgeneric@reddit
Your local flight school.
No_Underscore12@reddit (OP)
Are there any tips on what to look for in a flight school? I’m completely new to this
MoveTraditional555@reddit
It’s super expensive (no surprise there). Price check everything. Compare the costs of local flight schools, look at every tiny regional/municipal airport in your area as well as all the big ones.
There is definitely more than one option for flight training (college degree, military service, flight school) and a lot of ways to finance it (loans, self fund, etc) so you’re at a pretty big crossroads. Weigh all of your options.
Go take a discovery flight (reach out to a local flight school if you’re curious), look at some of the airline programs for cadets and see what’s best for you. Also make the effort to look at some of the social media accounts of pilots out there. Yes, social media is a fabricated cushiony little lie, but there are a surprising number of pilots out there who just want to make an instagram or YouTube so they can show people how cool the cockpit is, or answer that burning question every passenger has.
Everyone’s journey is different, you’ll see a lot of different pathways, but we’re all headed to the same place, so don’t stress it too much but do your research carefully.
Opening_Respond_1592@reddit
Why is it so expensive? I’ve always wondered. I’ve wanted to be a pilot for forever but don’t think it’s financially possible for me.
MoveTraditional555@reddit
Fuel, airport fees, cfi rate, the rental itself is expensive, on average I pay about $350 per 1.5hr flight. I’m paying a lot but this is my dream so I’ll see it through
No_Underscore12@reddit (OP)
Thank you, this is really helpful
MoveTraditional555@reddit
No problem, I hope everything goes smoothly!
OpeningHighway1951@reddit
If your college offers ground school or maybe even some flight training even if it doesn't go all the way, jump on whatever they offer. Ask around. Local junior colleges too. Your local small airport probably has a private air school or a CFi who hangs out giving lessons to build his hours.
TheChittyChef@reddit
I have spoken with someone who owns a flight school and he said the most important thing to know before deciding to be a pilot is how much studying and math you will have to do on your journey. He told me that many people fly a couple of times then when it comes time to study they realize that they just really don't want to learn it all and then quit. This is why he offers free online pilot training so that people can see what they would have to learn and see if it's really for them. https://fly8ma.com/courses/free-private-pilot-ground-school-pilot-course/ is the website. (not affiliated with them all at so this is not an advertisement)
Lopsided_Drawer_7384@reddit
Well, as we say in Ireland:
"I wouldn't start from here..."
ThisZucchini1562@reddit
If you want to do it, do your research at ch the industry is extremely cyclical, and who knows what looms around the corner in the next 20-30 years with technology and AI…
Tuk514@reddit
Your local flying club :)
Shot_Independence274@reddit
Pilot lessons?
No_Underscore12@reddit (OP)
where? Local or a corporate flight school?
Shot_Independence274@reddit
Depends on what your end goal is.
No_Underscore12@reddit (OP)
I want to fly for an airline
Shot_Independence274@reddit
Then look for programs sponsored by airlines.
Or get your commercial license and get into private flying, get some decent hours and go that way.
No_Underscore12@reddit (OP)
Thank you