Hey guys, just wondering if there are any part-time pilots out there. I live by an airport and it looks like so much fun to hop in a little Cessna and see the country by air.

I'm thinking of taking pilot lessons, just would like to know what advice on whatever.....

 

I love flying.... In terms of advice find an instructor you are comfortable with and go at it, just be prepared to open your wallet!

 

Yep, I graduated University of North Dakota in their commercial aviaition program. I hold Private pilot, Instrument, Commercial, Multi, Certified Flight Instructor and Certified Instrument Instructor ratings. I initially planned to go to the airlines but after a lot of soul searching I've decided the lifestyle didn't fit who I am. Being an airline pilot seems glamorous and its great for many people, however being gone 200+ nights a year, the initial sacrifices and low start up pay and the lifestyle in general just didn't sit right with me. I love to fly - just not enough to make a living out of it. I still may instruct on weekends etc, we'll see. there are other options of what I can do with it as well. I will say though that it is a huge committment of both time and money and is not an easy task. Just shooting from the hip I'd say to expect to pay as much as $6,000 dollars in order to get your pilots license. There may be instructors that claim they can do it for a lot less, and through all kinds of club deals, or block rates at you but beware. Make sure they are committed to seeing you all the way through with YOUR needs, budget and learning styles in mind. The best advice is that you'll get out of it only what effort you put in. So if you lack discipline in studying all the regs, chair flying etc, its going to cost you A LOT more money in review and take a lot more time as well. I hope that answered a few questions anyway, shop around, talk to the instructors, and make sure you can pass an aviviation medical exam and get at least a third class medical certificate before you spend any money!! I hope that helps some, Good luck and happy flying!! Feel free to message me personally if you have any further questions.

-Aaron Griffith

 

When I learned to fly, it was affordable, but today it is out of sight. Many, like myself, have given it up for less expensive hobbies. That said, take one of those trial flights that are offered - it will be a fun experience.

 

I'm working my way into becoming a commercial pilot. Just got out of an airplane a few hours ago. I hadn't flown in about 6 months, felt good to fly again, tad rusty though.

One note. If you learn to fly from a private instructor be careful. They can be hit a miss sometimes. Mine got to busy to finish me off. I was 1 flight from the check ride and he dropped me and then his plane needed an anual and that took over half a year. So I was set back. A dedicated flying school can punch you out in a dictated time frame if you can keep up for the most part.

But the rewards of flying are enormous. I can't get enough of it.

One more thing, if you have to ask how much, you need a cheaper hobby. Just open your wallet and close your eyes.

 

I am quite the Combat Flight Simulator and Flight Simulator 2002 Pro junkie.

I love seeing all that land out the window. Our local commuter is Big Sky Airlines, they have 19 passenger twin turboprops. I love seeing those wings tip and the landscape 15000 feet below you.

I have far too much in front of me to be a pilot right now.

 

I used to fly in the private sector, instructor, corp. pilot, etc. Have built 3 homebuilts in past years. Flown most aircraft up to corp. jets, and a little rotary wing time.

I, also didn't go with the airlines, seemed to be like a glorified bus driver. I enjoyed the heck out of it while it lasted.

 

i am curlently lookin for a cfi. my old one decided to go play airline pilot. but i have 17 hours in gliders and 6 in a cessna 172. so any cfi's aorund the michigan detroit area give me a holler.

 

Re the homebuilts, that really looks like fun and there are some great looking homebuilt airplanes flying. How was it?

 

I had lots of fun building them. At the time, it was very affordable. Now, materials are pretty expensive. Here's a two-seater I designed and built....

 

I am a pilot .... On my flight simulator. Microsoft Flight Sim 2004. Great tool to learn. There is a lot more involve than just hopping in a plane and taking off. I will one day achieve my goal of getting a pilot's liscence.

 

Good looking airplane, I'll bet it was a blast to fly. All things re flying are expensive now. When I was a young man (long ago), a friend bought a J3 Cub for $800, now they're $20K. You didn't have to mortgage the house to get the annual done.

 

Wow, that sounds like so much fun..

Thanks everybody for the info..glad to see all the pilots out there. Just kinda recently I've made it a goal to get my license, (my wife says more like a dream). The first question I asked was .....How much....and like 13hondacr250 said..I problably need to find a cheaper hobby. I have awhile I'm only 26, but if I could figure out a way to make a business out of it that would kill 2 birds with one stone....

Anyways, look forward to reading more posts....

 

Nothing I love more than flying from Boston out to the cape on Cape Air. 8-passenger Cessnas that never go above 2000 ft, friendly pilots that just seem to love what they do. Line up on that runway (you're watching everything the pilot does and sees, not like those big jetliners), touch down with barely a chirp from the tires, pull right up to the terminal that looks like a really nice 7-11, 20 minutes door-to-door...........gotta do that again, and SOON!!

 

Flying is fun stuff and it pays very well too.