I am 16 and I am planning to go to regular 4-year state college. When do you think is the right age to start attending flight school? Any advice?
I'm 15 and a half and I'm starting now. To the answer above me: Yes, there is a 19 year old captian, he is from Britain. Youngest commercial pilot in the world, if not, history. If I were you, I'd start now, you can receive a private license AT 16.
#1 by Ryan B on June 11th, 2009
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well, its pricy and time consuming so the earlier the better, if you can – Start now, you are eligible to solo, and when you turn 17 you'll be eligible to receive a License
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I'm 17, and currently hold a Private Pilot's License.
#2 by flyguytilidie on June 11th, 2009
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You can start now if you wish. If you are in the USA, you must be 17 to get your Private Pilot license, and 18 for your commercial. The biggest inhibitor will be the funds to pay for it. Flying skills are perishable and paying a little here and a little there as you go can mean money spent relearning things. If you have to wait until you are in college before working on your ratings, I would get some books now and start learning the academic portions.
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#3 by Rob G on June 11th, 2009
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Whenever you have the time and money to do it. It really doesn't matter. Just remember, your studies are more important than learning to fly an airplane right now. If you can afford it (time & money) while in school, then great, go get started. If you have to wait until after college to start your flight training, that's no big deal either. You can go from 0 hours to working as a flight instructor in less than 1 year if you can devote 100% of your time to flying.
Again, it really doesn't matter. Keep this in mind though. Whenever you go for an aviation job, they will want to see recent flight time. You won't be able to get a job as a flight instructor if you got your certificate 3 years prior and haven't flown much since, especially if the hiring doesn't improve in this industry. Likewise, it will be difficult for you to get a job at a Regional Airline after you graduate college if you got your commercial/instructor tickets before college and built all your time back then and haven't flown much in the past 4 years. It is for this reason that I'd personally hold off on getting your commercial/instructor tickets until you can devote 100% of your time to flying and start working right afterwords. Like I said though, if you can afford to start working towards your private pilot certificate now/soon, then go for it.
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#4 by Tj on June 11th, 2009
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if you can pay for it, START ASAP because airlines prefer the youngest of the youngest! Ive heard that an airline has a CAPTAIN at the age of 19 years! And no money wasted on College/University! So look for a flying school that suits you straight away!
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#5 by WAVERLY? on June 11th, 2009
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I'm 15 and a half and I'm starting now. To the answer above me: Yes, there is a 19 year old captian, he is from Britain. Youngest commercial pilot in the world, if not, history. If I were you, I'd start now, you can receive a private license AT 16.
References :