should i give up on my dream of being a pilot if i cant afford it?
Posted by Rough-Wash-8402@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 21 comments
this might sound like a dumb question but is it really worth the financial burden?
being pilot has been my dream ever since i was little and i cannot think of myself doing anything else. that said, i was initially thinking about getting into an university in korea specializing in flying (i’m korean) and enrolling myself to ROTC since it offers free programs for pilots (takes 19 years hut at least it’s free + get my required hours in before finding a job in airlines) , but i recently found out my height does not meet the requirements 😭 (i’m 161 but since they are very strict about the requirements, even 1cm cannot be tolerated)
my remaining option is to go abroad to get the required hours for getting the certificates but my family cannot afford 100k+ dollars 😭😭 do i have to give up? this genuinely feels heartbreaking
flyingwithfish24@reddit
(PTSD from working a 80 hr a week skilled trade job to afford flying intensifies)
Physical-Program-509@reddit
It’ll all be worth it when you’re sitting right seat in a 737 listening to a captain who went straight from embry riddle to a regional then got hired at a major before they could rent a car without any fees complain about anything
s2soviet@reddit
Dude, there’s many people around the world that face costs that are insane and they still manage to do it.
Like one flight hour in Brazil is more than half monthly minimum wage. And there’s people that still save up, and find whatever ways to pay it.
Don’t give up yet.
Have you at least went to a flight school in Korea, and asked around how people were able to afford it?
Go tour some schools, ask around, you’ll probably find a person or two that were in your situation.
If you really want this, I believe you’ll find a way.
s2soviet@reddit
Why don’t you enlist in the air national guard, and use the benefits to go to a flight school?
phatRV@reddit
Since you cannot join the airline in Korea because of your height, the only other option is to fly for recreation. Even if you meet the height requirement, think about the nepotism system where Korea prioritize military pilots above civilian trained pilots. Flying is an expensive recreation and many Americans with financial means found it too expensive for them. You can study to become a surgeon and work in the lucrative S. Korean cosmetic surgery business. With the money, you should be able to afford this expensive recreation.
InvestorOrSpeculator@reddit
Other option is to get a high paying job and fly for fun in the future. Most jobs aren’t high paying in first few years but I suspect in 10 plus years you could have it as a hobby, at least in the U.S. Not sure if general aviation in affordable or available in Korea, though.
You can’t always get what you want, unfortunately. It does seem crazy that 161 cm (5’4”) would be too tall to be a pilot as majority of males in the U.S. are taller than that.
Particular-Head-3629@reddit
How did you even come to the conclusion that 161cm (5'3.3") would be too tall? Obviously, the problem is that he is too short.
https://kosis.kr/statHtml/statHtml.do?orgId=144&tblId=TX_14401_A041
In 2024, the average height of South Korean men aged 18-19 was 174.5cm (5'8.7"). 2202/221495 (0.99%) were below 161cm (5'3.3").
InvestorOrSpeculator@reddit
Stupid error on my part when reading fast. :)
Rough-Wash-8402@reddit (OP)
no i’m too short,, thank you for the advice though
vivalicious16@reddit
Wow I definitely know shorter pilots in the US, but I guess Korea is different
No-Relationship-2169@reddit
Get the leg surgery 🤷♂️
Top_Ad39@reddit
Bro! You really want this?! Tape some thicc 1cm paddling to your heels when you get measured (paint it up to match skin tone) and/or hang from an inversion table each day for a bit and right before your appt, get that 1cm and get flying.
Novel_Economics5828@reddit
Sounds like you’re younger. Don’t give up just start working your ass off and saving as much as you can. I worked and saved a bunch and started flight training at 28. I might not get a 40 year airline career, but 30 years sounds like enough time to get sick of it. Also nothing is certain in life aside from regret of not at least trying to pursue your dreams.
Psycher_@reddit
I don’t have an answer to your question but I’m curious, you said you’re 161 cm and they have a height requirement, are they saying you’re too short? That equals out to about 5’3 (I’m American) and I’m just curious what the problem would be with that, I understand restrictions for being too tall but not too short
Plane-Juggernaut-897@reddit
his little legs cant reach the rudder pedals
Rare-Obligation-5504@reddit
For starters, why is there a height requirement to be a pilot? there are people way shorter than you that are pilots
Rough-Wash-8402@reddit (OP)
the requirement is for the ROTC one so jets.. i heard the usa army abolsihed that requirement back in 202 0 though
DadOnTheInternet@reddit
Dude I’ve taught people who were 7’ and 4’ 5”
You’ll be fine
minfremi@reddit
If the Korean military says that OP is too short, then he’s too short. He’s not fine.
DadOnTheInternet@reddit
Yeah don’t go military route for flying and follow the advice of other commenters, fly when he’s older.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
this might sound like a dumb question but is it really worth the financial burden?
being pilot has been my dream ever since i was little and i cannot think of myself doing anything else. that said, i was initially thinking about getting into an university in korea specializing in flying (i’m korean) and enrolling myself to ROTC since it offers free programs for pilots (takes 19 years hut at least it’s free + get my required hours in before finding a job in airlines) , but i recently found out my height does not meet the requirements 😭 (i’m 161 but since they are very strict about the requirements, even 1cm cannot be tolerated)
my remaining option is to go abroad to get the required hours for getting the certificates but my family cannot afford 100k+ dollars 😭😭 do i have to give up? this genuinely feels heartbreaking
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