Pilot Career

[manisare]

Hi i was wondering how old can you start learning how to fly an airplane. I want to become an airline pilot and fly for Air Canada. I am 13 now and i want to find out how old can you start taking flying lessons in Canada? Do you go to these flight school or you go to this Air Canada flight school academy... I really want to become an airline pilot and thought what you guys would say. thanks!!!

[Tyreal]

My cousin is in school to become a pilot. As far as I know, you have to graduate high school first and then go to a post secondary academy or school to learn how to fly.

She's told me a lot about her experience, and I know you are a flight simulator addict. According to her, flying a plane is in real life is nothing like the game. She used to play FS sometimes but now not all because its not even close to what she has to do at school.

[Quakindude]

I've worked in the Aviation field for the last 18 years. As a crew chief, not a pilot. However, I think I can speak with some authority here.

Be very good at math and science.

[halutzparilla]

is math and science combined is Physics right? or i'm just sobered...

well good luck, and they are right any career like Pilot really needs a HS degree then you go to Academy for flight...

[Gig-O-Ram]

I considered pursuing flight training a couple of years ago (because I got all hot into FSim), but when I learned that the cost to get a non-commercial pilot's licence at a local flight school would run me about $4K or so (not including insurance and fuel costs), it seemed a bit unreachable for me at the time. I still think it's something I might be interested in at some point, but my wife isn't so hot on the idea (mainly because of the obvious possibility of accidents).

Even though I've played flightsims for years, I still have trouble with certain aspects of charting navigation and use of ILS (Instrument Landing System) on larger craft, but I can land a Cessna or a Mooney ok. So even though those are things that would be addressed in ground school, and in solo cross country tests, I think it's better for all concerned if I stay on the ground.


But to you, all I can say is work hard when you get to a point where you can actually recieve training, and be careful! And good luck!

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

I've worked in the Aviation field for the last 18 years. As a crew chief, not a pilot. However, I think I can speak with some authority here.

Be very good at math and science.

True. That's what stopped me from being into aviation as a pilot. :(

So I became a computer guy instead. People are always surprised when I tell them I totally fail at maths, they expect someone in computers to be good at it.
Truth be told, I always thought computers were a gazillion times more about logic than maths, that or I didn't get the logic in maths yet. :P

Good luck anyway.
Life gave me a few presents, and even if i'm not a pilot I landed a few planes, been in dozens of cabins with the crew and trained several hours on flight sims (not those computer games, pshh, the real sims :D) and it's simply awesome. If you love it work for it. :)

[Gig-O-Ram]

Originally Posted by polobunny

So I became a computer guy instead. People are always surprised when I tell them I totally fail at maths, they expect someone in computers to be good at it.

I'm the same way - no good with math - and so up until a year and a half ago, I never would've believed I would build my own system, rebuild one for my wife and build one for my mom. So when I tell people I can build computers, it's always a little amazing to me, still.

[Hitman]

You might want to check out Cadets | Join Us. You can join as young as 12. We have the same thing in the US called the civil air patrol. This program will get you a head start on either a civilian or military pilot career.

I don't know about Canada, but in the US probably the cheapest way to become a pilot is in the Military. It's certainly not the easiest way. Pilots with Military Flight Experience are usually get preference when applying with civilian airlines. Check out the Canadian Air Force / la Force aérienne canadienne. I know in the US we have the Air Force Academy, I am sure Canada has something similar. If you can get into that school

If you don't want to go the military route, your best bet is an Aviation College like this one Seneca College: Aviation & Flight Technology or this one Welcome to Moncton Flight College

[JCLW]

14 IIRC, but don't quote me on that.

I'd arange to do the medical exam first. There are some things that may stop you from flying commercially, and you might as well find out now before you plan a career.

LMK if you need help finding a doctor that does the medicals.

[RangerXLT8]

My dad flew fighters in the MARINES for 25 years.

Commercial Pilots usually need 20/20 vision. Navigators need to be good at trigonometry, physics ect.