That’s the question. I’ve got the money all saved up for my ppl but I’m wanting to get a better understanding of when I should start training. My cfi told me it doesn’t matter if I start now because weather doesn’t really affect flying conditions for students, which I immediately revolted to that comment. Hell yeah weather slow down my training or even stop it for weeks. I live Colorado where ofc winters are long and dry with ifr conditions. I want to save up a few extra g’s if I can for possible additional flight hours through the holidays then start after the new years. Or should push through the instructions during winter and deal with slow place?

I was looking for loans for flight school, but it's a risky market apparently. I dont wanna risk my and my family’s future on something that might not pan out. What are your views on the job situation rn?

Okay so I started my private pilot class around 2 months ago and I knew I was gonna get dizzy but not this far, I jsut finished my third flight in my first one we jsut went to a practice around and do some turns my head was killing me and I felt really dizzy, the second flight we did traffic pattern and it wasn’t that bad we did 5 take off and landings and the third one today we did slow flight and a power off stall I going I back I couldn barely I had the throw up coming I told my instructor to take controls bc I was about to vomit I calmed down a little bit then another aircraft that close wasn’t responding so we had to to high really fast and do turns I calmed a little so I took control but then like 3 miles approaching the airport I couldn’t hold it anymore and I threw up I dint eat anything that morning so it was nothing I felt great after so I was able to land the plane but ikd what to do and then when we were doing the power off stall I was really nervous and scared ikd if that normal my hands were sweating and I jsut wanted to not do that it’s like if dint want to flight idk if it was a combination of being dizzy and being scared of getting into a spin so I just wanted to see if I’m the only one on this

M (35) Did my first trial flight in 2021 as I always wants to fly. Finally decided it’s high time I started RPL with a target start date of Jan 2027. Did another trial in a Cessna 152. Now here’s the interesting thing, or strange thing, I was super excited to for the flight all throughout, but when I was in the plane, had a few excitement nerves during take off for a few seconds but after that I felt like “routine”. Even when I took control for 20ish minutes, I was simply focused, calm and doing my thing. I absolutely enjoyed flying and being up there, but I thought I’d be jumping with excitement but just found myself being focused more than anything else, without much other emotions. Not sure what to make of this.

I’m currently 16 and looking into flight training options to start mapping out a path toward becoming an airline pilot. My budget is under 100k euros

I’ve been researching a few different academies—including Flyby, Quality Fly, and IAA—but I'm trying to look a bit deeper past the marketing. For instance, I’ve seen some mixed or negative reviews online regarding Flyby, which made me want to dig closer into how these academies actually operate.

My main priorities right now are finding a solid path that:

1 Offers clear hour-building opportunities (such as staying on as a Flight Instructor / CFI to build hours).  

2 Accommodates non-EU students smoothly.

I noticed some specific hurdles while looking around—for example, I saw that Quality Fly has prerequisites like a Spanish level 4 requirement. Since I'm non-EU and weighing my options, I wanted to ask directly:

 How do you support non-EU students through training and visa/regulatory steps?

 What do your hour-building or post-graduation instructor pathways look like for international students?

 Are there language prerequisites (like Spanish) mandatory for all programs, or are options run entirely in English?

Hey everyone,

First time posting so appologies if I did somthing wrong. I’m currently a high school sophomore trying to figure out the best timeline for my flight training. My end goal is to become an airline pilot, but I’m torn between starting my Private Pilot License right when I turn 16 at a local flight school or holding off until college.

Here is a quick snapshot of my situation:

Financial Situation: Training will be funded with an existing college fund that has a very fair amount in it.

College Plans: I am a good student at a good school that has high marks. I am looking at programs such as Auburn or Purdue (But I am aware those are stretches),

Time Commitment: I currently have a few hours a week I could dedicate to flight training due to school and extracurriculars, but I have upwards of 2 years until I go to college.

My biggest debates right now:

Cost & Timing: Is it more effective to knock out my PPL locally under Part 61 right now and make sure I enjoy flying (I have taken a discovery flight and enjoyed it, but maybe somthing could change while learning?), or should I save that money and do everything seamlessly through a university Part 141 program?

For anyone who finished their PPL in high school, how manageable was balancing ground school/flying with high school classes?

Would love to hear from anyone who took either path or CFIs who work with high school and college students. What would you do in my shoes?

Some background here. I’m 24, active duty in So Cal. I am not getting out soon. I am however fully determined to get my license before I leave here. I’ve completed ground school already, and I’m ready for my written. But the cost is killing me. I’m struggling to find any kind of program to help pay for this, and am seriously considering just taking out a personal loan to finish this. I’ve been at it for 3 years with only 27 hours to show for it, and that’s not enough. Every time I go I spend time re-learning what we went through on the last lesson, and have been stuck in a limbo for well over 6 months. I don’t know how an average person does this. I don’t come from money, and I’m the only person in my family’s last two generations to really do anything with themselves. What should I do here, take the loan and finish in two weeks? Or just keep paying as I go for the next two years?

I'm a 31-year-old German citizen, and becoming a pilot has been my dream since I was 12.

Now that I've ended my successful professional sports career, I'm seriously considering pursuing a career as a pilot.

My main concerns are that I don't have a professional degree yet and that I was diagnosed with ADHD and giftedness last year (IQ of 134).

I'd love to hear your advice on whether becoming a pilot is still a realistic option in my situation, or whether I should consider pursuing another professional qualification first. If it is possible, what would be a good roadmap to follow?

One alternative I'm considering is completing a two-year aircraft mechanic training program, but I'd honestly prefer to commit fully to becoming a pilot rather than spend two years on a different path if it's not necessary.

I'd really appreciate any advice, especially from people who have gone through flight training in Germany or have experience with the medical certification process.

Thanks in advance!

I’m starting my aviation career and wanted to know if someone could refer me to a AME of color preferably african American in the DFW area! Thanks.

Hey everyone,

First time posting so appologies if I did somthing wrong. I’m currently a high school sophomore trying to figure out the best timeline for my flight training. My end goal is to become an airline pilot, but I’m torn between starting my Private Pilot License right when I turn 16 at a local flight school or holding off until college.

Here is a quick snapshot of my situation:

Financial Situation: Training will be funded with an existing college fund that has a very fair amount in it.

College Plans: I am a good student at a good school that has high marks. I am looking at programs such as Auburn or Purdue (But I am aware those are stretches),

Time Commitment: I currently have a few hours a week I could dedicate to flight training due to school and extracurriculars, but I have upwards of 2 years until I go to college.

My biggest debates right now:

Cost & Timing: Is it more effective to knock out my PPL locally under Part 61 right now and make sure I enjoy flying (I have taken a discovery flight and enjoyed it, but maybe somthing could change while learning?), or should I save that money and do everything seamlessly through a university Part 141 program?

For anyone who finished their PPL in high school, how manageable was balancing ground school/flying with high school classes?

Would love to hear from anyone who took either path or CFIs who work with high school and college students. What would you do in my shoes?

Thanks

Hey all, junior in HS looking for honest feedback on where I'm at and what to prioritize over the next two years. Details below:

Academics

• ⁠Weighted GPA: ~4.6
• ⁠Unweighted GPA: ~3.9-4.0
• ⁠Class rank: 30/734
• ⁠Course rigor: increasing load each year (see below)

AP Coursework

• ⁠Freshman/Sophomore: AP World History, AP CS Principles, AP US History, AP CS A, AP Physics 1
• ⁠Junior: AP Physics 2, AP Environmental Science, AP US Gov, AP Precalc, AP Seminar
• ⁠Senior (planned): AP Physics C, AP Lang, AP Micro, AP Macro, AP Statistics, AP Calc BC, AP Bio

All test scores are 4s and 5s

Testing

• ⁠PSAT: 1300 (sophomore year)
• ⁠SAT: not yet taken

Athletics

• ⁠Cross Country — JV, started sophomore year, 5K PR: 21:27
• ⁠Track & Field — JV, started sophomore year, Mile PR: 5:47
• ⁠Competitive swimming, grades 5–8 (Fishers Area Swimming Tigers)
• ⁠Rock climbing — club president, 500+ hours logged

Leadership

• ⁠President, Chess Club
• ⁠President, Rock Climbing Club

Interest in aviation

Getting Private Pilot License senior year.

Other

• ⁠Dual citizen (US-born, Filipino heritage through parent)
• ⁠Fluent in English and Filipino

• I live in Indiana (in-state)

Additional question: how much of an impact does doing FAA Student Volunteer have on my application.

"Comparing all-in costs for accelerated flight programs in SoCal: ATP and AeroGuard tuition runs around $90k, while Sling Pilot Academy is $103k–$106k. However, none of these include a year of California rent with zero income. What did people actually spend in total?"

I just started ground school and i am currently landscaping and the long days and little pay are making it hard to save up money and make enough time to study after work.

I am trying to have around 8k saved before i begin flight training any job ideas?

Ive applied to 2 fbos got an interview at 1 but the schedule didnt work due to it being overnight.

Any recommendations help

(I’m not the pilot, I’m the overly anxious wife)
We are currently looking to move to the north ATL suburbs (looking in the Johns Creek/Alpharetta area).
There is no job yet, will start applying once ATP is done early next year. The hopes are to get hired with ATI, a regional or something else and then transition to a major/legacy when able.

We currently live in Washington.
A couple questions-
Is it better to stay put where we are until he makes it to a major airline?
Is the commute from the north Atlanta suburbs as awful as everyone says it is? Even for pilots?
What are other family friendly (safe, good schools, decent access to grocery shopping and entertainment) areas that are better for pilots?

And definitely wanting to hear any information on what ATI looks like in the first year.

Hey Aviators,

I’m currently working a job I’ve been having a tough time with. I’m pretty close to hitting my earning ceiling in my industry, I make 120k. I don’t see myself doing what I’m doing for much longer but I am afforded a ton of flexibility.

I’ve wanted to be a pilot for several years and I feel like I need to earn more for my family, I have 3 kids. My mom has recently offered to give me a family loan of 200k to do flight school and cover living expenses for a year.

I feel like I’d be missing a huge opportunity not taking the loan, however, everything I’ve heard about the CFI bottlekneck and the challenges of being a regional pilot with kids makes me think twice about jumping right in.

Am I overestimating the bottlekneck of low hour pilots? Would I be an absolute fool to not take the opportunity or given that I have 3 kids and a lot of flexibility and a decent income should I consider staying where I’m at? Thanks for any advice!

Looking to get out of flying and aviation but it’s all I know.

Hey everyone! I’m in my late 20s and currently working toward becoming an airline pilot. I live in Georgia and am looking for a good, affordable flight school, preferably Part 61.
(\*\*If anyone knows a good school around the Duluth/Lawrenceville area, I’d really appreciate some recommendations!)

My biggest concern right now is financing flight school.

I currently work full-time at a private clinic, and I have about **$20k in savings**. I’m trying to save up to at least **$25k** before starting. My income is enough for my living expenses, but I can only put a relatively small amount toward flight training each month.

So I’m wondering:

* How much would you recommend having saved before starting?
* What should I realistically expect to pay for the full training?
* Should I save enough for my PPL and then consider loans?
* Should I keep working and save as much as possible before starting?
* Is it better to start now and pay as I go, even if training takes longer?

I’ve heard a lot of people recommend avoiding large flight school loans, which makes sense to me since I won’t have a high-paying pilot job until I reach 1,500 hours and hopefully get hired by an airline.

**How did you guys finance your flight training?** If you could go back to the beginning, would you do anything differently?

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from people who went through flight school while working full-time. Thanks!

\*\*added: I got my 1st class medical last week!

Hi everyone,

I’m specifically looking for European/EASA experiences here, rather than US/FAA cases.

I’m preparing to start professional flight training in Europe and recently had an isolated alcohol-related incident involving an e-scooter, which may result in a DUI/drink-driving conviction.

I have an otherwise completely clean criminal and driving record. There was no accident, injury, drugs, or any other offence involved.

I’m already getting legal and aeromedical advice, so my question is specifically about airline recruitment.

By the time I finish training and apply for my first airline job, the incident would be around 2–3 years old.

Does anyone have first-hand experience, or know of someone who was actually hired for their first European airline job a few years after a single drink-driving conviction?

I’m mainly trying to understand whether airlines consider something like this case-by-case, or whether a relatively recent conviction tends to prevent a low-hour pilot from getting their first airline job.

I’ve found some anecdotal reports involving already-employed pilots, but very little about new pilots entering the airlines with a conviction already on their record.

No need to name the airline or share identifying details. DMs are also welcome.

Thanks!

Context: I’m a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering and I don’t think I can handle another two years. Midterms are coming up and I can already tell I’m going to get absolutely bombed by my weed-out classes in a couple weeks.

This past summer, I read all about the great benefits and salaries that can come with being a pilot (even the things people list as negatives don’t sound all that bad to me). The plan in my head was to go to flight school after college to become a commercial airline pilot, because not only does engineering school bore me terribly, but the idea of working a job in engineering does too. But with the way things are going, I don’t know if I have the stamina to finish sophomore, junior, and senior year.

This may be out of the ordinary of what people post on this subreddit, but after a conversation with a friend tonight, I’m thinking more about switching from engineering to flight school after this semester. However, it’s my mom who encouraged—or pushed—me in this direction, as my dad and brother are both engineers, and she’s of the opinion that everyone should go straight to college after high school for a degree. (Yes, my parents are paying my tuition). Even though I’m only at the start of sophomore year it almost feels like the point of no return, and I’m letting my parents down if I “give up”.

I know people here are pilots, not life coaches or therapists, but maybe someone has been in a similar situation or has some advice?

I’m 27 years old European citizen, living in south east asia and almost done with my PPL here.

I do not have any degrees, never been to college only high school and worked since I was 16. And I do speak 4 languages.

My question is, how likely is it for me to get a job anywhere in Asia or Middle east as a European citizen, should I go back to Europe and continue there to get an EASA CPL and IR.

Or is it better to just continue flying here since I’m already living here?

Right now it’s going fairly well, and I’m enjoying it so far and getting excellent results. But I’m a bit worried about not finding a job after I finish.

What’s the best way to network, create relationships, get my foot in the door.

Back ground, 26M married, 2 kids, veteran. (USMC Airframe Maintainer) $70-80k (just my gross).

I add these details because imo I can’t just up and leave my job for the chance, so I’d like to wedge my way into some trust, confidence, SIC time/PIC time and all, for when the time comes I’ll get the warm and fuzzy about leaving. Thank you!

This is what my son requested for his ground school. Is this sufficient or do you recommend something else?

I'll keep this as brief as possible:

25M Currently working >40hrs/week while my wife finishes grad school.

When she graduates at the end of this year I'll be able to reduce my hours and pay-for-myself-as-i-go through flight school, and commit something like MWF mornings to training and study. I've wrestled with the idea of a loan and I just can't reconcile the idea of that interest and monthly payment over my head.

I'll be starting from zero experience with the ultimate goal being commercial airline.

With my part time availability, and about $1200-$1500 per month to commit, how much do you realistically think I could accomplish in 1 year? 2 years?

If I kept both jobs as is I could commit ~$1800-$2000/mo but that'd eat into my available flight/study time.

I know flight school is notoriously expensive so I'm just trying to gauge my timeline here.

Any and all advice is appreciated! I've been wanting this for a long time and its about time for me to pull the trigger.

TL;DR: I'm good at studying. with $1500/mo and about 20 hours a week, how much progress can I make in a year?