Hi, my name is Tyler and I’m a senior in highschool. There is a vocational school in my area (Prosser Career Education Center) and I am enrolled in the Aviation program there. In my first year (Junior year) we did all book work and learning FAR-AIM stuff and how engines work and things of that matter. So this year (Senior year) we get 10 hours of flying with a CFI as PiC. Now I’m roughly 6 hours in, and my instructor gives me nothing but praise, saying that I’m one of the best students he has ever been with (not trying to toot my own horn). While I would love to ask him these questions, I just don’t have the time to, so I thought I would post them here to see if anyone could answer. Here it goes;
Can I get my commercial license without college? I really have no interest in flying for a major airline (possibly Republic airline, especially since they are based in my home state) but I have gotten pretty low scores on my SAT and cannot afford tuition for college. Is there a smart, effective way to achieve (at least) my commercial license (possibly get in with Republic)?
I want to make a living flying, I love flying!! It’s the best thing ever. But I honestly have no clue what I want to do with my life. Its my senior year of highschool and I have no clue where I want to go to college or what I want my career to be. I would love to fly for a career, I am just not sure how or what path to take. Any advice would be so helpful and I appreciate anyone who has taken the time to read all of this and leave some advice.
I would start reading the FAQ section. A lot of your questions will be answered there.
Since you know your way around the FAR/AIM, take a look at FAR 61.123. No where in there does it say you need a college degree for a commercial license. That said, I suggest you do some serious soul searching and figure out what you want to do with your life and what you want to achieve in your flying career. You say you don’t have any interest in flying for a major airline right now. That could change. If it does, and you don’t have a degree, will your flight experience be enough? Who knows? Are you willing to take that chance? Up to you.
First I’m not sure why you don’t have the time to ask an instructor at the school you’re at but ok. You need no degree to get a CPL. In fact you don’t even need a High School diploma. To fly for ANY airline however you will need to build the required 1500hrs and the most common method is flight instructing so you’ll need your CFI as well.
Now as a high school student you may in fact believe it would just be cool to fly and you’d be perfectly happy flying for Republic. BUT, let me assure you that when you see ALL your buddies leaving to go fly big Boeings and Airbuses and getting paid in the HUNDREDS of thousands you will most definitely want to jump ship.
Further I have to be honest. If you can’t afford a degree at your local community college you certainly won’t be able to afford the cost of getting your CPL and CFI’s. Perhaps you should consider staying in school, getting a job and earning some money and then looking at flight school.
Since you say you have no clue what you want your career to be, I would suggest finding a way to go to college (loans) or going right into the workforce until you figure out what it is you want to do. There is absolutely no point in throwing money at something you are not sure of.
I’m in 11th grade right now in high school I graduate next year and I will get my certificate as a Sdos. Could I become a pilot and fly for an airline even that I won’t have my high school diploma? Sorry for my spelling!
That sounds like something you might have issues with, but I really have no idea. I would suggest talking to the recruiting departments of several regional airlines and asking them directly.
My advice would be to look into a trade to start. A trade school will teach you a skill and earn a certification that can be used throughout life. It is also something that you can usually earn some sort of paycheck while getting. A&P would be a good way to dip your feet into aviation while also learning a skill and a paycheck.
I think the big takeaway here should be life is tough. It requires blood sweat and tears… it requires discipline to get up in the morning and take care of business; take care of your health, your home, your bills, your education, your growth as an adult.
My suggestion would be look into what your options are and choose one that doesnt put you in alot of debt considering you sound like you are unsure of what you want in life and may not have the maturity yet to push through the barriers. Worst you can do is take on 100k debt and quit at it.
What do you mean by again having a GED is something you might have issues with. And what do you mean by it will certain not be looking well upon? It says on ATP website that you need a GED or an high school diploma and order to go to ATP!
A GED/High School diploma is required to start ATP and will get you to the regionals, but it will not be enough to get to a legacy airline (United, American, Delta). You might even struggle with majors like Southwest, Alaska, etc. All of those airlines write it is “preferred”, but with the number of applicants they have with degrees, your chances are unbelievably slim at getting in without a 4-year degree.
I do not think it is smart to go into debt with college if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. I think a trade would be a good idea. Learn a skill for a comparatively low cost and make some money to squirrel away…Some trades make you a lot of money to squirrel away. Whey you know what it is you want to do, you will have some money set aside and no debt.
Being accepted into ATP and getting hired at a major airline are two very different things. If I were in a hiring board, I would want to hear a very good explanation as to why you had a GED and not a regular high school diploma. Keep in mind that 99.9% of pilots, if not 100%, will have regular high school diplomas.
I am confused myself as to they you are already planning on getting a GED before you have even completed high school. It seems odd to me and it will to an interview panel as well.
I don’t want to get hired for major airlines or fly for major airlines. At my high school and order for me to get my high school diploma I would need to stay for three years and order for me to have my high school diploma. But I not going to stay for three years I’m going to graduate in 2022 and get my Sdos certificate because I can’t get my high school diploma if I graduate this year I would have to stay for three years and I don’t want to do that because I want to graduate this year. Soon I’m going to get my GED on line and then when I graduate in the summer of the year of 2022 then my plan is to apply for ATP and then fly for regional airlines that is plan for my career. Yes I would really like to get my high school diploma this year but unfortunately I don’t have a choice unless I graduate in three years and get my high school diploma but I’m not and I’m really excited for me to graduate this year and get my Sdos so that I can graduate this year. You probably are confused about all that what I just said or maybe you guys are not confused but that’s just how it works at my high school. Sorry if I missed spelled my writing!
Ok this seems to have spiraled out of control so allow me to try and clarify a few things and maybe a little tough love.
While I have no idea what Sdos are, personally I think once the pilot shortage kicks in you might be ok with a GED. Just know you will be asked about it and hopefully between now and your interview you’ll have a better response than “I didn’t want to go to school for 3yrs”.
Next I have no idea how old you are but know this, a) you must be 18 to train with ATP and b) must be 21 to fly for a Regional. Now I’ll assume you’re somewhere between 15-18. No disrespect but for you to say “I don’t want to get hired by a Major” clearly demonstrates your level of maturity. You’re talking about making a significant life and career decision with very limited knowledge (the fact you believe United Express is a Regional shows you haven’t done your research). What I can tell you is while now you believe you just want to go to a Regional and spend your life there, I can promise you when you see ALL your peers advance to the Majors to fly heavy jets all over the planet and make 5 times the money you are, you WILL feel differently.
I encourage you to relax and slow down a little. Do ALOT more reading on the subject and if this is something you truly aspire to do, understand it’s a process that will take time and patience.