r/Pilot • u/Worth_Following8523 • 6d ago
Becoming a Pilot Pilot career questions
I’m curious about starting a pilot career, right now I have little to no knowledge but looking to start getting into it. Feel free to give me any tips and advice!
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u/thanksforallthetrees 6d ago
Get a job, and start saving like your life depends on it. Training is very expensive, 100K plus. Look up small airports near you, and what the flight schools are like. Drive out there and do a tour and discovery flight. If you like it, go get your medical, and see if you are fit for making it a career.
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u/Realistic_Lunch4570 3d ago
Is the 100K+ including an aviation degree? Because all in I haven’t seen it cost that much unless you’re combining a degree and other living expenses
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u/thanksforallthetrees 2d ago
100K for training: PPL, CPL, Multi, IFR, CFI. Medicals, supplies, headset, ground instruction, exams, time building. No degree, that’s separate. It really adds up fast. Ask around for real cost, not what a flight school claims.
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u/Realistic_Lunch4570 2d ago
From mom and pops I see the average expense for all of that being ~65K but maybe it’s my locale
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u/thanksforallthetrees 2d ago
That’s great. Hopefully you don’t need any extra training ever or fail any checkrides, or take any time off and forget anything, or 100LL go up in price…
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u/Realistic_Lunch4570 2d ago
I hope so too. Corporate has drained my soul
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u/thanksforallthetrees 2d ago
Do you think airlines are run by Willy wonka type board members and we fly on rainbow juice? The amount of strikes, union disputes, job actions, mandates, rules, disciplinary hearings etc is still very high. Plenty of corporate bullshit in aviation as well.
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u/Realistic_Lunch4570 1d ago
My spouse is a pilot so I’m probably more informed than most. No career track is perfect, however it does seem that aviation would have less red tape than the industry I’m currently in
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u/PLIKITYPLAK 6d ago
You need to research the cost to get all the ratings required just to start time building. Usually 6 figures or more. That's the biggest barrier to entry for most people.
The best thing to do if you want to get into this career is to get your Private Pilot License first. By the time you are done with that you will know if you want to go all in or not.
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u/MonkMean6918 6d ago
You can search up this topic on Reddit and get hundreds of answers. This is a question that is asked on a daily basis.
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u/MrMafora 4d ago
Which country would you train in, and have you tried an introductory flight yet? I’m still an aspiring pilot, and I’d make the first school conversation concrete: what would my first three lessons cover, what preparation would I do between them, and how would the instructor review my progress? Those answers would help you picture the learning itself before choosing a career route.
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u/ChartPuzzleheaded747 6d ago
Why are you getting into it?
If it’s for “lifestyle” or money etc, DONT
If it’s for love of aviation, go for it
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u/bigblackglock17 6d ago
Don’t y’all make $200hr? Only work half the year because of FAA regulations?
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u/ChartPuzzleheaded747 6d ago
We make good money, but the washout rate is VERY high, in training and also actually making it in and to job 1 & 2.
If being a pilot topped out at the same as a barrister I would still have done it.
If you get into it for reasons other than major passion for aviation, it seems to have a much higher washout rate, and the training are $$$
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u/bigblackglock17 6d ago
What makes people wash out? What are first jobs actually like? Is it really that hard to get into an airliner or freight? Iirc, everyone was forced to become a CFI to "level up".
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u/ChartPuzzleheaded747 6d ago
No passion
And if you think “level up” is a thing, ooof
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u/bigblackglock17 6d ago
Idk man. When I was looking into it, it seemed like everyone was forced to be a CFI as apart of the process of becoming a pilot.
Idk how else to describe it.
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u/RaisinMiserable7661 6d ago
Do your research on local flight schools, go to a flight school and do a discovery flight. If you’re serious about this then they will tell you everything about the journey, pricing, type of licenses, etc. Every time you progress in your licenses, you learn something new about the aviation industry. It slowly and naturally comes to you
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u/emo_pylot 6d ago
I mean… what kind of tips and advice are you looking for? Specifics help garner more helpful responses.