Important News for current and future pilots
The nationwide pilot shortage continues its rampage. Due to many circumstances before, during, and after the pandemic, the pilot shortage...
Here are some of the common questions most people have when thinking about becoming a pilot. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact us.
Becoming a pilot takes a significant investment of both time and money. But the end result is one of the most rewarding, thrilling, and potentially lucrative careers in the America.
There are many different steps to take when attempting to become a pilot. The first major accomplishment will be to earn your private pilot's license. If you go the career route, then your next step is to continue your education to become a commercial pilot.
In order to earn your PPL you must be prepared for hard work and dedication. You will need to take flight and ground lessons, pass an FAA medical examination, apply for FAA student pilot certificate, log your flight training lessons, pass a written knowledge test, and finally complete your practical exam (check ride).
This may seem like a lot of work, but being a pilot is one of the best and most rewarding jobs out there!
First, head to an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and get a 1st class medical. If you have decided to go the airline route, you want to make sure you can get a 1st class medical because you will need one to become an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP).
There are other commercial pilot jobs you can do with a 2nd class medical also, if you are unable to get a 1st class medical for some reason.
Lots of airlines have programs you can sign up with to help pay for some of the costs you will incur during your flight training.
SkyWest has the Pilot Pathway Program that pays around $17,000.
United Airlines has the Aviate program.
Envoy Air has a Cadet Program.
The list goes on. Please do your own research because different airlines have bases in many different areas across the US.
Age is just a number! But if you are already 65 I would probably look at a different career.
I started flying when I was 35 and I still have many more years to go. Many students in the program tend to be a bit younger, but any age is a great age to start flying!
Short answer, it depends.
It depends on what airline you go to and how fast you can upgrade. A First Officer at one of the minor airlines could make $40,000- $120,000 and Captains could earn between $85,000-$230,000.
If you work for one of the major airlines the pay can range from $65,000 as a First Officer to over $300,000 as a Captain.
Pilots usually get between 9 and 15 days off a month with long-haul pilots normally requiring more time off to recover from large time zone changes and deep night flights.
In short, YES!
All ratings (Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII) can be completed at High Speed Pilot in the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer.
As of right now, the only thing that has to be done in a separate aircraft is 10 hours of flight time in a "complex or turbine powered aircraft". This allows a great opportunity to get in another aircraft that is faster, has retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller.
Flight training in 2023 will cost around $100,000 to go from zero experience all the way to a commercial pilot with flight instructor certificates.
You will have around 250 hours at this point and most pilots decide to teach for a couple years in order to get to 1,250 hours. At that point you can get a Restricted ATP license and begin flying for the airlines.
The sky is the limit after that! (pun intended)
Not much for blogging but I will try to update with current articles I find interesting.
The nationwide pilot shortage continues its rampage. Due to many circumstances before, during, and after the pandemic, the pilot shortage...