r/PilotAdvice

I heard most people became instructors, I’m curious what are the most common routes people took before joining the big leagues.

Heya everyone. Prepare to roll your eyes at my situation but I’m in need of guidance here.

I did my PPL training at ERAU Prescott… and with that came an absurd amount of debt (surprising right?). Because I combined my flight training with student loans for class and such, I am sitting at quite a high amount of debt for someone who is in their early 20s.

Here’s my issue though (other than the amount). I refinanced my loans to get a better interest rate and such but that removed the “in school deferment period”. Which in turn means payments are ramping up and my current job does not pay me to cover the cost of the payment.

There are ways to get that deferential period back. Possible refinancing again, etc.

My main concern is finishing training. Looking at places (local part 61 and 141), I’m looking at roughly another $50k-$65k.

I known I’m not the only who has or will be in this situation but what is the general consensus here? Do I stop flight training for now and find a full time job gig? Or do I continue moving forward in my training?

Hey there, kind of a rough topic to bring into conversation. My dream is to be a helicopter pilot and I go for my aviation medical today because I’m enrolled for flight school this fall. After conducting further research to prepare myself for the exam today I came across articles about suicide attempts being an issue with getting your Class 1 medical in Canada. I attempted once when I was 13 and once when I was 15 years of age (rough home life). I am now 19 years of age and I’m doing completely fine and have done so much to heal and better myself and was wondering if with this burden I can still get my medical today?

EDIT
The CAME didn’t ask me about it, he asked if I had any diagnosis of depression or anxiety which I don’t so I think that everything is good. When I tried to give him more information about myself with family history and whatnot he said “only parents” and “yes or no” so it didn’t go much farther than that…

Hi i just finished high school and i don’t know what to do right now my grandfather was a pilot and my family just kind of wanted me to become one as well there’s nothing wrong with it i would love to, but my parents are saying i should first get a bachelor degree and then go to aviation courses which could take around 7-10 years combined. And i really wanted to ask this, do i really need a bachelor degree to become an airline pilot. And also which country/school is the most reliable and considered best around the world that is also not crazy expensive. (I live in Mongolia and i want to be a pilot at MIAT Mongolian airlines)

I'm 23 and I'm about to pursue my pilot career, but before committing to the training and costs, I'd like to hear from people actually working in the industry.

I've seen people say that at Ryanair you can earn around £150k after 4–5 years, but I'm not sure how realistic that is. If anyone here flies for Ryanair (or another airline), could you share what the reality is?

I'd be interested in knowing:

* Starting salary and how it progresses.

* Flight pay, bonuses, and allowances.

* Benefits and pension.

* Typical monthly take-home pay.

* How long it took you to reach your current salary.

* Whether you think the career is financially worth it.

For context, I currently earn around **£4,500 per month after tax** working in construction. I know people don't become pilots just for the money, but it's a major career change and I want to go into it with realistic expectations.

I'd really appreciate any honest advice or experiences. Thanks!

I am an international student looking to begin my aviation journey in Canada, with the long-term goal of obtaining Permanent Residency (PR) and citizenship.

Due to various constraints, training in my home country is not an option. I have already shortlisted several flight schools that are Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) and eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). All of them can take me in as soon as I enroll.

My primary concern is what happens after graduation. I will have a 2–3 year window on my PGWP to build hours and gain experience, but I understand that the job market can be incredibly difficult for fresh Commercial Pilot License (CPL) holders.

To secure my future and avoid getting stuck after flight school, I am trying to resolve two main dilemmas:

1. Alternative Hour-Building Pathways:

-Apart from flight instructing, what are the most viable ways for a new CPL holder to build hours and gain valuable experience in Canada?(I do not mind moving out to any province, up north, down south or anywhere) (and I do not mind low pay, or hard work. I have the grit)

-What steps can I take to ensure a smooth transition from student to employed pilot?

2. Flight School Selection: Factory vs. Medium-Sized:

-Because flight schools predominantly hire instructors from their own student pools and finding an instructor job at a different institution is highly competitive, I am torn between two training environments:

Option A: (Large "Factory" School): Offers less personalized training, but a much higher probability of being hired internally as a Class 4 Flight Instructor upon graduation.

Option B: (Medium-Sized School): Offers superior, highly personalized training, but carries a much lower chance of internal hiring.

Given that I need to maximize my employment chances during my limited work permit, is it wiser to prioritize training quality (Option B) or internal hiring probability (Option A)?

Additional inquiry:

Is there any particular province to prioritize/choose for training and career progression/opportunities?

For now I’m between Manitoba and Alberta. Shall I consider British Columbia? I also have the chance to train at gander flight training institution in Newfoundland.

I understand that my inquiries might be a bit too complicated, I also understand that some questions have been asked a lot, but please be mindful that I am feeling quite overwhelmed. It is confusing and concerning. If you’re able to provide help please do so.

I am not asking you to suggest a way for me, or mislead me. I am responsible of my own decisions, I just want to get up-to-date data from people in the market.

As I got an offer for my first airline, they request an ehnanced background check. They need a reference from every employer and school in the last 5 years. Problem is I am still officially a student and all my past jobs were student jobs, where I didnt technically have a contract with them but a student service, and they have a contract with the jobs. Some of my jobs were just a receptor 2x a month for a dorm, one gas station i worked at for a month got sold so it doesnt exist aymore. How would you approach this situation? What would you put down? Would you leave anything out? I know they will contact everybody that I put and they will need to fill out a form.

edit: to be perfectly clear, as some people have the wrong idea. There is no incentive to “hide information”. In my country, a student job is a special form of temporary work available to individuals with eligible student status. Unlike regular employment, it is performed through the student work system rather than under a standard employment contract, and it is subject to different legal, tax, and social security rules.
Because student work is not based on an employment contract with the employer, it is generally not recorded as employment on documents that list a person’s employment history or employment contracts. Although the income from student work is reported for tax purposes and is taxable, the work itself does not appear as regular employment in the same way as a standard job.

Hi guys

So I’m thinking of doing an airline cadet program in the UAE however I just wanted to know if issue medical certificates to those that have / had been diagnosed with adhd.

The reason why I chose the uae is because aviation in my home country is very bad and there is no pathway to become an airline pilot unless you go through the military. Also my parents do have the money to afford it.

Also for context Rn I’m 18, I was diagnosed right after I turned 18 a couple months ago and took Ritalin and concerta

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!

Has anyone successfully become a pilot with a DUI? I got mine 3 years ago

I’m at a moral crossroad and was hoping to talk to some people in aviation. My partner had a seizure last winter and refused medical treatment or ground himself. He’s an FO that plays… loosely with the rules. Before we met he said he would do a fair amount of narcotics because in the event of an accident they’d be out of his system by the time it was tested for. The seizure was on video and since then I’ve (not a medical professional) have noticed some… off things that are symptoms of seizures (frequent deja vu, mood swings, flash headaches with an aura). He refuses medical care because he doesn’t want it on his record but I’m at the point where I am going to leave because I feel morally obligated to report him because if something did ever happen I would feel partially responsible knowing all of this. I’m not a nurse and I have a feeling if he was examined he wouldn’t be truthful. Am I being overly dramatic and not minding my own business here? His friends in aviation all partake in drugs and didn’t seem very concerned about his very public seizure.

Unfortunately, I’m not really great at math. I’ve heard a lot of things about how math is a very important part of flying. Right now I am going to be working on Geometry this year in school . After Geometry what kind of math should I take if I still want to be a pilot. Also if someone can give me a short summary on some ways math is utilized when flying that would be greatly appreciated.

Im really worried that I am going to waste all of my money on flight training and not be able to find a job because of my height, so I really need to know which specific airlines would allow people with my height. I really want to be a commercial pilot. Ive heard there are adjustable seats in cockpits and if you can get all the controls in a piper warrior then you should be fine, but please anyone help. Thank you!

AI sounds useful, but aviation training needs to be accurate. What would an AI ATC simulator need to prove before you would trust it?

I'm 17, just left school, I know I want to be a pilot but i'm not sure how what I should do or how I can achieve that

Howdy yall. I’m someone looking to become an airline pilot. I’ve done my feeler flight already (or whatever the official name for it is), doing my online PPL ground school, and I’m ready to fully dedicate myself to this career change. I’m Canadian, however I’d be down to go wherever it takes to get the best education and get me in the air and working asap. I’m entering my late 20’s so I would like to get going full throttle. Curious to hear what yall think is the best pilot school/program/training for someone like me? And I know it’s gonna be expensive no matter where I go or what I do so I’ve bit that bullet. I’m based in western Canada and I know places like Pacific Flying club have great reputations but I’d love to hear opinions from people with experience before I decide where to spend all my money and time. Cheers

I am currently a student at a 4 year university that has a pilot program. I have my instrument rating and am working on my com-multi and single commercial ratings. I'll have these both done by the end of 2026 and I'm looking to start either a pilot job or internship that's willing to hire me full time but just for the summer because I need it for my degree. Im willing to go anywhere in the USA for the job as I'm not very picky, however it does have to be full time and paid, as required by the school, any advise?

Currently at a Regional, what price would you consider cheap for an online bachelor’s degree in Aviation with all our certificates? I rely on using Sophia’s website as well. Trying to spend as little as possible, I just want the paper.

For people who struggled with radio calls during PPL training, what course, app, book, video, or practice method helped the most?

I'm pursuing a career as a commercial airline pilot after realizing business school isn't a good fit for me (plus that $222,000 median salary is calling my name) but am debating how to get there. Flight school looks to cost about the same as a college education, and seeing as I'm already 3/4 done with a marketing degree, I doubt I can afford it.

On the other hand, joining the military would get me the qualifications I'd need and get me paid to to it. Officer Training requires a degree, which I nearly have, so I'd be set there. However it'd also mean joining as an enlisted officer, tied to the military for 12 years with no guarantee I actually end up becoming a pilot and a high risk of washing out and getting stuck doing something else. Plus there's the risk of going to war and all that.

What path would people with prior experience recommend I take? I understand the Air Force to Airline pipeline is often utilized, but I'm curious to hear how it compares to flight school from people who have experienced both.

Edit because everyone seems to think I'm a poser: I am actually passionate about planes and flying, the secure paycheck is just a nice bonus to what I'm hoping turns out to be a fulfilling and meaningful career. And yes, obviously I know I won't make that much straight away, but working a long and challenging career with a clear end goal appeals to me.