16 years old. Planning to become a firefighter first to pay for flight school. Is this realistic?
Hey everyone,
I’m 16 years old, and my long-term goal is to become an airline pilot.
I’m going to a trade school for my junior and senior years in Fire Science. After I finish the 2-year program, I’ll be able to start working as a firefighter once I turn 18. My plan is to work as a firefighter for about 4 years, save as much money as possible, and then go to flight school around age 22.
One of the main reasons I’m interested in becoming a pilot is that it seems like an amazing career, and eventually earning $100k+ a year is definitely a big motivation for me. I know money shouldn’t be the only reason to choose a career, but it’s an important factor for me.
I was also hoping that the entire pilot path—from starting flight school to getting hired by an airline—would take around 4–5 years. Is that a realistic expectation, or does it usually take longer?
From what I’ve learned, the path seems to be:
Finish flight school and earn my ratings (Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII, and possibly MEI).
Work as a flight instructor or another entry-level flying job to build flight hours.
Reach 1,500 hours and earn an ATP certificate.
Get hired by a regional airline.
Build experience and, hopefully, move to a major airline later on.
Is that actually how it works today, or am I missing something?
Do you think this is a realistic plan? Is becoming a firefighter first a good way to pay for flight school, or would you recommend a different route? Also, is wanting the career because it sounds exciting and has the potential to pay well a bad reason to pursue it? I’d really appreciate honest advice from people who have gone through flight training or are airline pilots. Thanks!