Congratulations on wanting to be a pilot!
Before you begin your flight training you need to be very aware of one sobering fact: only two out of ten student pilots will earn their private pilot license.
During the heyday of general aviation, 1950’s – 1960’s, there were about two million certified pilots in the United States. No doubt this was due to the sheer number of pilots that came out of World War II and the affordability of flying at that time. During the 1980’s when liability costs started to soar and fuel prices increased, obtaining a pilot license became more difficult. As the greatest generation began to age, the pilot population began to dwindle.
After the attacks on September 11 the pilot community decreased to an anemic 500,000. As the baby boomer population started to retire there was sheer panic that there would not be enough pilots to fill the vacancies in the airlines. This problem was exacerbated by the Colgan Air disaster which resulted in Congress raising the required hours to become an airline co pilot from 500 to 1500. Currently there are signs of improvement. The number of student pilots has drastically increased over the last few years, and it seems that we’re entering a new Roaring 20’s of aviation training as many young people pursue the airlines.
Unfortunately, 8 out of 10 student pilots will stop their training. So what can you do to increase the odds in your favor?
#1: Join AOPA and/or EAA
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is general aviation’s lobbying group and their mission is to protect our freedom to fly. AOPA has a wealth of resources and information for students pilots and their magazine, Flight Training, is outstanding. Student pilots who join AOPA are more likely to finish flight training than those students who do not. If you are registered with AOPA as a student pilot, you will earn a set of wings to put on your lapel when you pass your check ride.
Experimental Aircraft Association is an organization dedicated to homebuilt and experimental aircraft. They sponsor the Young Eagles Program and the largest Fly- In, Air Venture, at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. EEA is another valuable organization to support your flying.
#2: Secure Funding
Let’s be honest – flight training is not cheap and many student pilots just plain run out of money and can no longer afford to fly. Do your research, check the cost at several flight schools and compare those averages to online research, and then create a budget. The national average is about $15,500, so you need a plan. Remember: no bucks, no Buck Rogers.
#3: Find a Mentor
Flight training is very challenging and very rewarding. But not knowing where the journey will go can be a daunting experience. Find a pilot who can be your mentor, give sage advice and keep you on the path to becoming a private pilot. If you don’t already know a pilot, reach out at your local airport, ask your airfield AOPA rep, or contact your state’s pilot association for a suggestion.
#4: Be Committed to a Set Schedule
When you start your flight training, commit to flying at the same time each week. Book out as far as you can on your flight school schedule, and then stick with that schedule. You’re more likely to train if you’re already committed on the schedule. If you have already set the time aside and you are unable to fly, this is a good time to get into the simulator or do some ground work with your instructor. Becoming a private pilot takes commitment and hard work.
#5: Be a Pilot in the Classroom
Learning to control an aircraft is the easy part of becoming a pilot. The hard part is hitting the books. There is so much information that a pilot needs to know that the task can be daunting. To be a pilot in the sky you first need to be a pilot in the classroom. Set a time each day to study, take practice tests and prep for your practical exam. You need to be as committed to the ground work as you are to the air work to finish your private pilot’s license.
Keep in mind that once you become a pilot, you will be a member of a very elite group of individuals who make up less than two tenths of one percent of the U.S. population… Pilots are truly exceptional people!