Becoming a pilot is a dream for many people who love flying and exploring the sky. But how do you turn this passion into a profession? What are the steps, skills, and requirements you need to fulfill to become a qualified pilot? In this article, we will guide you through the basics of how to become a pilot, from choosing the right training program to getting your license and finding a job.
There are different types of pilots, such as commercial, military, or recreational, and each one has its own goals, challenges, and rewards. Depending on your interests, budget, and career aspirations, you need to choose the path that suits you best. For example, if you want to fly for airlines, you need to obtain a commercial pilot license (CPL), which requires more hours of training and higher standards than a private pilot license (PPL), which is for recreational flying. You also need to decide whether you want to fly fixed-wing aircraft (such as planes) or rotary-wing aircraft (such as helicopters), as they have different training and certification processes.
I began my aviation career at a traditional flying club in the countryside. I believe that daily interaction with the flying club's operations, maintenance, and behind-the-scenes activities adds a lot of value to the pilot apprentice. Nowadays, few schools provide this because they are primarily focused on technical training and lack the traditional interaction of the old eagles. No one is forced to take this path throughout their training, but I find it very interesting, especially during the Private Pilot phase, where pilots learn to fly and develop great part of the beginning of their airmanship.
Existem basicamente dois caminhos possíveis. O primeiro é buscando se tornar um piloto militar, o que no caso brasileiro significa principalmente prestar o bastante concorrido exame para a Academia da For?a Aérea. O outro caminho é no campo civil. Hoje s?o oferecidos diversos cursos cuja parte teórica pode ser feita até por educa??o à distancia (EAD), sem aulas presenciais. A parte prática pode ser realizada junto aos aeroclubes e escolas de avia??o. Também pode ser interessante buscar organiza??es que oferecem treinamento em simuladores, para ganhar tempo e experiência. Por fim, importante estar o mais presente possível nos centros de instru??o, hangares e associa??es e/ou grupos de pilotos.
I began my aviation career on simulators, falling inlove with the feeling of that precise, smooth landing. The "I'm the best pilot alive" ego filling me with excitement to go round! It was here I realized two very important things. 1. Not everyone that would want to experience this, can.. 2. Everyone who wants to, should. That's when I began building my own 3D Design for an Aircraft to practice training in a simulator. For the extra challenge I decided as a fellow Aviator, I would design the aircraft from the inside out. Placing everything I would need to fly within arms reach. The rest is history. Aviator Inc. Be the reason Aviation thrives.
Before you start your flight training, you need to get a medical certificate that proves you are fit to fly. The level of medical certificate you need depends on the type of pilot license you are pursuing. For example, a first-class medical certificate is required for airline transport pilots (ATP), who fly large passenger or cargo planes, while a third-class medical certificate is sufficient for private pilots. To get a medical certificate, you need to undergo a physical examination by an aviation medical examiner (AME), who will check your vision, hearing, blood pressure, heart, lungs, and other aspects of your health.
O Atestado para prática de atividades físicas solicitado pelas academias pode ser obtido com clínicos gerais, entretanto o parecer de um cardiologista é uma op??o mais segura, visto que ser?o feitos exames específicos como teste de esfor?o físico. A Avalia??o antropométrica pode ser feita por nutricionistas e educadores físicos. Espero ter ajudado. Mas acho que um simples desvio de septo pode atrapalhar toda a sua carreira de piloto.
The next step is to complete your flight training, which consists of both ground school and flight lessons. Ground school covers the theoretical aspects of flying, such as aerodynamics, navigation, meteorology, regulations, and safety. Flight lessons are where you practice the practical skills of flying, such as takeoffs, landings, maneuvers, emergency procedures, and cross-country flights. You need to log a minimum number of hours of flight time and pass written, oral, and practical exams to earn your pilot license. The exact requirements vary depending on the type of license and the country or region you are in.
Once you have your pilot license, you can get additional ratings and endorsements that allow you to fly different types of aircraft, operate in different conditions, or perform specific tasks. For example, you can get an instrument rating that enables you to fly in low visibility or bad weather, a multi-engine rating that allows you to fly aircraft with more than one engine, or a flight instructor rating that qualifies you to teach other pilots. You can also get endorsements for specific aircraft models, such as jets or turboprops, or for special operations, such as towing banners or dropping parachutists.
Aviation is all about learning and making yourself a better, safer pilot. Add-on endorsements are a fantastic way to gain new skills and have the opportunity to fly different aircraft. Even if your ultimate goals do not rely on getting an add-on such as complex, tailwheel, etc, I highly encourage considering them given the learning opportunity they pose.
To advance your career as a pilot, you need to build your experience and network in the aviation industry. You can do this by flying as much as possible, applying for jobs that match your qualifications and goals, and joining professional associations or clubs that offer opportunities for learning, mentoring, and networking. You can also update your resume and portfolio, attend career fairs or events, and seek feedback from other pilots or employers. The more you fly, the more you learn, and the more you connect with others, the better your chances of finding your ideal pilot job.
In my opinion, the most interesting thing about a pilot's career is that no one follows the same path throughout their career. Aviation is very broad and has several segments: military aviation, executive aviation, commercial aviation and many others. During the stage in which the pilot is accumulating flight hours and developing his basic experience, I believe it is very interesting for him to be able to add value to solid experience, that is, to opt for possibilities that add a lot of value, such as turbine hours, hours in command or even flight instruction. The possibility of being able to make decisions or operate more complex equipment can be a big differentiator.
The same can be said for careers outside of aviation, but remaining open to new opportunities and willing to learn will always benefit you in the long run. Often times it will feel uncomfortable, but these are the exact moments I reflect on as having helped further me professionally, and personally. When seeking time building opportunities, especially early on, I urge pilots to be particularly diligent with understanding maintenance practices on the aircraft they'll be flying. This will not only build a strong habit moving forward, but help to avoid operations engaging in downright unsafe practices.
The final step is to keep your skills and license current, as flying is a dynamic and evolving profession that requires constant learning and improvement. You need to renew your medical certificate periodically, depending on your age and type of license. You also need to complete recurrent training and checkrides to maintain your ratings and endorsements, and to stay proficient and safe in your flying. You should also keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and regulations in the aviation industry, and seek new challenges and opportunities to grow as a pilot.
An incredibly important distinction is currency vs proficiency. Legal currency requirements should serve as the bare minimum from which pilots continue to refine their skills and knowledge.
I believe that the aviation career has changed a lot over the years. Today's aviator is no longer the same as the 1960s. Nowadays aspiring pilots need to seek basic and fundamental knowledge of the profession, but must be open to new trends and market realities. Nowadays, aviators, in addition to the classic training and skills of the former aviator, also need to develop solid skills such as leadership, management and communication. Today companies are looking for an aviator manager, not just an aviator. Things have changed.
A possible addition is that becomming a pilot is valuable for any Job in Aviation Industry. You are able to add the Pilots view in any discussion.