Son interested in becoming a pilot
Posted by jabbo13@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 22 comments
Ho all,
my Son is interested in becoming a pilot and has been a bit of a dream for a few years now.
he is 15 and based in England so I am just looking for any help or advice on the best way to get him started.
I don't know if best to start looking for lessons and to jump straight in or where I would even go to start looking.
as you can tell I have no knowledge on any of this other than it's going to cost a fair amount but any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
BALPA have a great guide on how to become a professional pilot. Since he's only 15, it's probably too early to start flight training in powered aircraft, as you can only go solo at 16 and get your licence at 17.
He could look into RAF cadets, or gliding, which is a great way into flying for young people. You can find the map of clubs on BGA website here. Just pop around to your local club on a weekend with good weather, and no doubt you'll find somebody who can talk you through the process, or even take him on a trial flight. He can go solo in a glider at age 14, and get his licence at 16. Some of the gliding experience counts towards time required for commercial aircraft licence as well.
There is also an option to start training on microlights, and time from 3-axis microlight currently counts toward getting a PPL (private pilot licence) for "proper aircraft", and will likely count towards some of the hour building required to get a commercial licence. It's generally more affordable due to lower operating costs - have a look at the BMAA website for more details.
In the last few years, there have been fully funded schemes for flight training available in the UK, such as the BA Speedbird Pilot Academy, but he'd need to be 18 to start the training. TUI and Jet2 have also ran the schemes in the past. Definitely worth keeping an eye on that.
jabbo13@reddit (OP)
Appreciate the detailed response mate.
I've been having a look at the funded schemes and think that will be one to apply for as he gets a bit older but will certainly have a look at the other bits that he can do hopefully beforehand.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
No worries.
As this post has been deleted by some "very considerate" moderators, I'd repost it to r/flyingeurope, which is a slightly more welcoming community.
jabbo13@reddit (OP)
Cheers mate I'll whack a post up on there.
I was getting loads of helpful answers but I hate reddit mods sometimes
tomdoc@reddit
Can start the initial (at least 10) lessons prior to solo from age 14 though
flying-ModTeam@reddit
You want to become a pilot? That's great! Most of us at r/flying have been in your shoes before.
Please browse through our FAQ as we have amassed a large amount of material and wisdom over the years about how to become a pilot, whether you're considering flying as a career or just as a hobby. We're sure to have address nearly any concern you might have about the process.
In the event that you have any specific concerns we haven't yet addressed, please feel free to post a question about your situation.
Good luck and have fun!
Full_Imagination_890@reddit
Yes private pilot licence. Then he has to get his commercial licence if he wants a job doing it and an instructor ticket to build hours which of course means he needs his instrument night ratings and a class 1 medical, multi engine rating and books and a head set at over a grand. Your looking at spending the same as buying a house (ok a house in the north anyway) this isn't like a car where you get a licence and you can drive anything upto a certain weight at any time and weather conditions. If you have the cash then pay for it, even send him to the States where they have the weather to get it all done quickly. A ppl in the UK can take a year or more due to weather alone. If military isn't an option you can try and get him on a sponsored path, you'll find the application forms next to the boxes of unicorn tears that appear in conjunction with brigadoon. Any way good luck.
Atom_Tom@reddit
Instructor ticket? Completely unnecessary in the UK.
Spending a grand on a headset? Also unnecessary.
Going out to the States? Not always cheaper.
A PPL can be completed over a summer if you do it full time.
PinkGalaxyUnicorn@reddit
I'd suggest getting him involved in gliding. It's one of the cheapest ways to start flying and it teaches excellent stick-and-rudder skills that will be very valuable if he transitions to powered flying later. Since you mentioned you're in the UK, here's a link to find the gliding club closest you: https://www.gliding.co.uk/club-finder/
jabbo13@reddit (OP)
Thank you mate I will have a read up this looks like a good option.
Silly question time - does glider experience count towards powered flights as in the PPL (see I'm learning) etc or is is tracked differently.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
If he gets a SPL (sailplane licence), he could then credit 10% of the PIC (pilot-in-command) time towards a PPL, up to 10 hours.
So, if he'd have 100 hours PIC in gliders, he could credit 10 hours of that towards a PPL. If he had 50, then he could credit 5.
10 hours in gliders would also count towards the 200 hours required for the issue of a CPL (commercial pilot licence).
PinkGalaxyUnicorn@reddit
Not a silly question at all. Glider lessons count toward an SPL (Sailplane Pilot's Licence) rather than a PPL, so the hours themselves don't transfer. That being said, proficiency with gliders will very likely mean he'll require far less instruction toward a PPL because he'll already have strong fundamental flying skills. It's often said that people who started in gliding end up being some of the best stick-and-rudder pilots out there.
ltcterry@reddit
There are lots of glider clubs in the UK. Many have inexpensive youth flying. You may solo a glider at 15 and earn a Sailplane License at 16.
It’s a great way to start.
Most of the people here are Americans, and the American mod
SupraJames@reddit
Has he been up in a light aircraft yet? That’s always the first step - an experience flight - and will also count towards PPL.
jabbo13@reddit (OP)
He has not but this is something we are looking into.
I assume this would be something that we can look at booking to see if it takes his fancy so will start having a Google.
I'm going to sound silly here but what does PPL stand for? Is it private pilots license?
SupraJames@reddit
Yes, PPL is the first step - and for a lot of pilots like me, the only step if you want to keep it as a hobby, but even airline pilots would have started with a PPL.
Where abouts are you? There are most likely small airfields nearby that you may have never heard of which do flying lessons and would help with that first experience flight and talk about the whole process with you both.
jabbo13@reddit (OP)
Thank mate appreciate the response.
We are based in greater london so I know there a few private airfields around but I have never had a deep dive into it before.
I will have a look around and reach out to start some convos and see about what we can do.
Do you think his age will be an issue or is this something he can try and dive into at 15?
SupraJames@reddit
Great yeah loads of options round there then! He can absolutely start having lessons at that age and log the time (everything about becoming a pilot is about logging time) but he’d have to be 16 for first solo flight - some kids might do that on their birthday! And then I do believe it’s 17 to actually get the license.
So he could definitely be in a position when he’s been flying an aircraft on his own well before learning to drive… :)
slothrop516@reddit
Military is always an option too, idk how it is in England but also not guaranteed. I’d start looking at businesses around local airfields and seeing if there’s any flying clubs that will take him on a discovery flight to see if he likes it
jabbo13@reddit (OP)
I think he wants to avoid the military route but this one thing we have kind of discussed.
Local flying clubs is a good shout so I will have a look around thank you.
slothrop516@reddit
Military has a lot of pros and a lot of cons, I don’t know how it works in England but I’d research it and know everything before you guys make a decision. I did it sometimes I regret it sometimes I don’t. Obviously vastly different for you guys, but it’s not all bombing and dog fighting and top gun stuff you see on TV. There’s cargo, patrol planes, helicopters with like 80 different mission sets it’s hard but rewarding rework I’ve met a decent amount of Brit’s in my time in and they’re all a great bunch. The most important thing is seeing if your son likes it. Plenty of people love planes and stuff but then you hop in a small trainer aircraft and you might discover it’s not for you.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Ho all,
my Son is interested in becoming a pilot and has been a bit of a dream for a few years now.
he is 15 and based in England so I am just looking for any help or advice on the best way to get him started.
I don't know if best to start looking for lessons and to jump straight in or where I would even go to start looking.
as you can tell I have no knowledge on any of this other than it's going to cost a fair amount but any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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