ON YOUR WAY TO BEING A Pilot

By Madyson Schulze

Have you ever thought about what would happen if you were on a flight and the pilot needed someone to fly? Would you be the person to step up and help, or would you be in the mess of chaos taking place in the back? If you decided to get your pilot's license, you would always be prepared.

There are many ways that you can get started with aviation at different ages! You can either go through the military, or just get lessons from your local airport. Although it may seem time-consuming and like the process would last forever, it may be just a little simpler than you think. According to academyofaviation.com, there are five steps to getting your license:

1. Earn your private pilot certificate (must be at least 17)

2. Earn your instrument and multi-engine ratings

3. Earn your commercial pilot certificate (more experience is better money)

4. Earn your certified flight instructor certificates (helps you make a living)

5. Gain your experience and a minimum of 1500 flight hours.

Another possible way of flying would be to try glider planes. In a glider plane, you are towed up by a bigger plane that contains an engine, then unconnected and left to glide back down. For this variation, you only have to be 16 years old and cleared of any medical conditions that could prevent you from the safe operation of the plane, according to soaringacademy. org. This website also mentions that you need a minimum of twenty glider flights, ten hours of instruction, and ten solo flights. You must also pass the FAA knowledge test, as well as the oral and flight test with an FAA examiner.

The type of aviation I grew up around was within the military. In an interview with my dad, a test pilot for the Air Force, I learned in depth about another common way into flying. He started out at the Naval Academy, a four year college in Annapolis, Maryland that gives both traditional academics, as well as, teaching leadership and how to be an officer. When graduating from there, one goes on to either the Navy or Marine Corps. He graduated as a second lieutenant in the Marines. After graduation, he moved on to six months of learning to be an officer, and another two years of flight school, where he earned his wings of gold, a designated winged pilot in the Marine Corps. Next, he learned how to fly the jet that he would be operating overseas for the military for about a year.

My father and I discussed that there are other ways of getting into aviation. One avenue would be to go straight to flight school for the military, which only requires a college degree. Another way would be to start taking lessons as a kid. If you go to your local small airport, more times than not, there will be instructors that can teach you how to fly. These instructors would start with ground school. This includes learning about aerodynamics, weather, and basic rules about flying (sort-of like the ones you learn when you get your driver’s license). The next step would be getting in about 25 hours of flight time with your instructor. Once those hours are completed, you will have your private license. However, this license is only good for flying a small plane in good weather. If you wanted to fly a plane through clouds, or something similar, you would need additional instruction. “If it’s something you think you might be interested in. but don’t really know, a lot of small places will take you for an orientational flight to see if it’s something you enjoy,” said the interviewee.

So, if you think aviation is something you would enjoy, try it out! There are many ways to learn; just pick the one that seems best for you!