Learn To Fly: Fun Things You Can Do With Your Certificate
Flying an airplane is an unmatched experience, and you can do some amazing things once you earn your certificate
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| Pathways To The Cockpit Whether you want to fly for fun or as a career, there are many ways to become a pilot. Let’s examine some options. |
| When people wonder, “how do I become a pilot?” they only consider a few possibilities. But there are several ways to earn your wings. Because each person is unique and every prospective pilot wants to accomplish different goals, finding the right path is an essential first step. How can you get into the left seat? The Military Many people would suggest joining the military if you want to fly professionally. While that advice was good in decades past, it’s less so today. Sure, the military provides unmatched pilot training. The problem is that modern technology has reduced the number of pilots the military needs. These days, there are roughly 800 to 1,000 pilot slots per year in the U.S. Air Force, and being selected for one isn’t easy. Today, becoming a military pilot requires a 10-year service commitment, a college degree, a rigorous medical screening exam and high scores on different aptitude tests. Local Airport Flight School The flight-training facility at your local airport is also called a “fixed base operator” (FBO) and could include other aviation services. These flight schools are a convenient way to earn your private pilot certificate and advanced ratings. Advantages include proximity to home, a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and scheduling around your job. Drawbacks of local FBOs include aircraft that may be older, small training fleets that could mean scheduling conflicts, high instructor turnover and costs that vary widely. That easygoing training schedule could lengthen the time it takes you to earn your ratings. Independent Instructors Some instructors aren’t affiliated with any specific flight school; these people might instruct in their own airplane and could be less expensive than local FBOs. Freelance instructors advertise on airport bulletin boards, at airport cafés and by word of mouth. Ask around about an instructor, interview her or him first, and agree to a few “shake out” flights to see if you both get along. Training Academies Training academies are facilities that offer intense, focused pilot training—usually to airline standards. The goal of a training academy is to immerse you in aviation to get you trained quickly. Accelerated training comes at a price: academies are neither cheap nor lax. While you can be in the right seat of a regional jet quickly, it will require complete dedication, considerable financial and time resources, and personal discipline. Some academies have specialized programs or train pilots for specific airlines, like Westwind School of Aeronautics’ Boeing 737 program and its affiliation with Colgan Air. FTSI’s CAPT program and FlightSafety feed several regional airlines and offer curriculums from zero time to first officer. Some, such as ATP, have multiple training sites. Degree Flying Programs Several colleges and universities across the country offer accredited degree programs that include earning all your ratings. These schools offer both the academic and the flight-training pieces of the flying career puzzle. While these require a minimum two-year commitment (to earn at least an associate degree), their focused programs yield graduates who are in high demand with airlines and corporate flying departments. Some schools are reasonably priced, and their degree will give you something substantial to fall back on if you ever leave flying. |
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Labels: Aviation Careers, Features, Getting Your License, Jobs and Schools, Learn To Fly, Learning Center, Navigation
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Sunday 4 October, 2009