How to Become a Pilot
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Discovery Flight
First, find out if aviation interests you. Set up a "discovery flight" today! During this flight, you will go up in a Piper Archer II airplane, take flight controls and fly the plane for a short period of time to get a feel for it. Click Discovery Flight for more info with Florida Sky Aviation!
Discovery Flight
Video by Andrew Truax
Student Pilot Certificate
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How to obtain a medical
- Find an Airmen Medical Examiner (AME) near your location
- Fill out the MedXpress application
- Schedule the appointment for a medical examination with the AME’s office.
- If there is any concern that your medical issue may hinder your ability to fly, contact AOPA.
Next, if the flight goes well, it's important to make sure you're in a good medical condition by getting a medical examination before training. It's important to do this before training to prevent wasting money training in the event you do not pass a medical examination later in training before acquiring a private pilot certificate.
Medical
Design by Andrew Truax
Some Colleges offer flight training (Part 141) $$$
Independent flight training schools (Part 61) $
I can begin your training today! Review the training packages PDF and fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page! Any questions? Feel free to email me at Andrew.C.Truax@Gmail.com
Start Training
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If budget and/or time is an issue, depending what your end goal in aviation is can depict weather or not a college degree is required.
It is possible to obtain all of your certificates after high school, work as an instructor/banner towing/or a pipeline pilot to satisfy the 1,500 flight hours requirement for the ATP certificate.
With the ATP certificate, you may be hired into a regional airline without having any college experience. Also, if that regional airline company offers a no-interview-direct-flow into their major airline, you could become a major airline pilot with only a GED.
Otherwise, a bachelor's degree in any field is very beneficial for job searching at the airline level; especially if there is no direct-flow.
If the airlines are not the end goal, again, a bachelor's degree will be very beneficial. Although, not every employer cares about a degree more than your total light hours.
Traditionally, it takes a student roughly 250 flight hours to complete flight training. By then, they'll have their commercial certificate in both single engine & multi-engine (optional). As a commercial pilot, they can begin their job search. Unfortunately, most employers will not take pilots under 500 hours and without specific aircraft experience. The only low-hour jobs offered to pilots are usually instructing, banner towing, and pipeline patrol; instructing being the most popular and beneficial option.
Then, once more hours are obtained, you become more and more valuable to employers. The most attractive aspect employers seek is aeronautical experience. A degree can be a great polish, but in aviation, it is not required.
Overall, research your end goal's position. However, if you can afford the time and money, it's safest to get a degree in anything you want. If a college you plan to attend offers aviation training, it will be conducted under part 141. The only difference between 141 and 61 is that, in accordance with part 141, certificate prerequisites for aeronautical experience require less time.
Want me to be your instructor?
I can work with you to set everything up and get you started.
With me, you can obtain:
- Private Pilot Certification
- Instrument Rating
- Commercial Certification
- Certified Flight Instructor Certification