Is commercial pilot training a good option?

Some Training Questions.?

• I am 14 years old and I want to become a pilot. have asked a couple people, and they say that the Student Pilot License is only a Medical Exam. But when I visited a website about flight training this is what they say about it. Quote: STUDENT PILOT'S CERTIFICATE Student pilot's can begin their training at any age. Student pilots are permitted to fly solo (without their instructor) at the age of 16. In order to take passengers along (other than a Certified Flight Instructor), the student must obtain their Private Pilot's License. $35 per hour + aircraft rental People say you start training at any age, but you have to be 16 to solo and get your Student Pilot License and 17 to get your PPL checkride. I thought it was only a Medical Exam, but I don't get it. 1)Can you explain a little about it? I was planning to start logging hours at 16 but maybe I can start earlier, or maybe later because you have to be 17 to get your PPL. I saw people starting at 14 years old and they took their time and finished at the age of 17. My birthday is in November, so, If I start on June 2012, age 16 and finish early September 2012, I still won't have gotten my checkride, but I need to go back to school. 2) Can I come back on December and finish it or does the training have to be all at the same time? Should I just wait until college?? I don't think it is going to make a difference. Or the other option is doing it after college, or getting my Private Pilot at a FBO while in college and then doing the career program on the summer.. So the real question is, 3) If you were in my position, what would be your plan for the future, considering you know a little something about me?

• Answer:

  You need to be 16 to obtain a student pilot certificate, and you need a student pilot certificate to fly solo, but you do not need a student pilot certificate to fly dual (with an instructor). Thus you can get a jump start on training before your 16th birthday. You are not eligible to take a checkride until your 17th birthday. How early you begin your training (and thus, how long you spread your training out until your 17th birthday) is entirely up to you and how much money you have to spend on training. Generally, spreading training out over a longer than necessary period of months or years is not the most efficient way to learn. You will need at least 40 hours of logged flight time (that is minimum, national average is 60 hours in the logbook) before you are ready to take your checkride. You should ideally fly at the very least one hour per week (preferably more frequently than that), so you are looking at about 40-60 weeks (about 1 year) of continuous training. Of course, you could fly much more frequently than that and be ready for the checkride in well under a year of training. But if you fly less frequently, you start to get rusty between lessons, forget what you have learned in the previous lesson, and so on...and it becomes much less efficient as you need to keep refreshing your memory on things that you have already learned. So aim for at least flying one day per week (or preferably 2-3 days per week you can afford to). With that said, if you fly once per week plan on about a year (plus or minus 3 months) to become ready for a checkride. With that estimate, you can work backwards from your 17th birthday and figure out when you can start training. Starting when you turn 16 sounds just about right, doesn't it? Remember, provided you have enough funding, there is no such thing as receiving too much instruction. Make sure you read the following federal aviation regulations (FAR's): 14 CFR § 61.83 Eligibility requirements for student pilots. To be eligible for a student pilot certificate, an applicant must: (a) Be at least 16 years of age for other than the operation of a glider or balloon. (b) Be at least 14 years of age for the operation of a glider or balloon. (c) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft. 14 CFR § 61.85 Application. An application for a student pilot certificate is made on a form and in a manner provided by the Administrator and is submitted to: (a) A designated aviation medical examiner if applying for an FAA medical certificate under part 67 of this chapter; (b) An examiner; or (c) A Flight Standards District Office. 14 CFR § 61.87 Solo requirements for student pilots. (a) General. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student has met the requirements of this section. The term “solo flight” as used in this subpart means that flight time during which a student pilot is the sole occupant of the aircraft or that flight time during which the student performs the duties of a pilot in command of a gas balloon or an airship requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember. (b) Aeronautical knowledge. A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test that meets the requirements of paragraph 1 of this section. (paragraph 1 snipped) PRIVATE PILOT REQUIREMENTS § 61.103 Eligibility requirements: General. To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must: (a) Be at least 17 years of age for a rating in other than a glider or balloon. (b) Be at least 16 years of age for a rating in a glider or balloon. (c) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft. (d) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who: (1) Conducted the training or reviewed the person's home study on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in §61.105(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft rating sought; and (2) Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test. (e) Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in §61.105(b) of this part. (f) Receive flight training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who: (1) Conducted the training in the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft rating sought; and (2) Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test. (g) Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of this part that apply to the aircraft rating sought before applying for the practical test. (h) Pass a practical test on the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft rating sought. (i) Comply with the appropriate sections of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought. (j) Hold a U.S. student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate. To be eligible for your private pilot checkride, you will need 3 hours of instruction in prep for the checkride within the 60 days preceeding the checkride -- something to keep in mind if you have to go back to school and take a checkride on your winter break: 14 CFR § 61.109 [Private Pilot] Aeronautical experience. (b) (4) 3 hours of flight training with an authorized instructor in an airplane in preparation for the practical test, which must have been performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test; EDIT: to answer your question about what I would do in your position, if you are certain that you want to become a professional pilot, I would try to get your PPL as early as possible (still in high school) and then you will have a significant jump on your subsequent training when you get into college or a professional pilot program. I have a buddy who got his PPL in high school and now at the ripe young age of 32 is already a 4th year Captain in an MD-11 at FedEX making six figures. I sure wish I had gotten that kind of early start rather than waiting until after college!