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how hard is it to become a pilot?
#pilot #commercial-pilot #airplane #aviation #pilots #flights #flying
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3 answers
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Carlos "Danny"’s Answer
If it is something you like it’s not worth thinking how hard is going to be to become a pilot. You will enjoy it so much that you will even like the “harder” parts. With that said it takes a lot of dedication, discipline, studying, a lot of time, sacrifices, and I hate to say it but it’s very expensive. So that last part can be challenging/hard.
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Theodore’s Answer
Becoming a pilot requires you to build skills, experience, and knowledge in a wide range of areas beyond simply controlling an aircraft. However, the biggest hurdle that most people face isn't the difficulty, but instead the high cost of this process. You need 250 hours of flight time to earn a commercial certificate, and 1,500 hours to achieve your Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Each hour of flight time may cost you $100-200 (depending on where you are in the country, and the schools and airplanes available to you), in addition to $40-80 per hour for an instructor, for the portion of time that you are receiving instruction. That is a pretty tough hurdle for a lot of aspiring pilots. The other factor to be aware of is the need to be able to receive a medical certificate. The FAA has very stringent guidelines to receive this certification from an Aviation Medical Examiner, and if you have ever experienced or received treatment for a range of common issues (depression, anxiety, etc), it can be very difficult to get through this hurdle. Always consult with an Aviation Medical Examiner, and look through the FAA's guidance on medical conditions, before you invest too much in aviation as career path.
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Susan’s Answer
Becoming a pilot includes not just learning how to fly an airplane, but also learning about airspace regulations and understanding weather. If those things interest you, learning to become a pilot isn't hard. You will start out flying simple aircraft (single engine) and advance to more complex airplanes (twin engines or jets). You can also learn to fly by instruments or become an instructor yourself! There are flight schools that focus on careers in aviation.
Check at your local airport if they have a flight instructor who could give you some advice.
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