There are many career options that you could choose from when you are a pilot, from operating cargo flights and being a flight instructor, to flying helicopters in the military and flying private jets. There are a lot of possibilities.
But in order to achieve that, you first need to go to flight schools for pilots to get the proper knowledge and training. Here are six things to think about when choosing a flight school for your pilot career in Alabama.
What Should You Look For When Choosing a Flight School in Alabama?
- Location
Where the flight school is situated is something you have to look into. There are some students who want to fly at a much warmer location so that they can get the required flight hours much faster.
There are also people who choose to go to their local flight school, especially if they are part-time students because it is much more convenient.
2. Partnerships
There are some flight schools that are affiliated with all of the different mainline and regional carriers. You could look into a flight school that would be able to help you land the certain airlines that you have always wanted to work for.
3. Reputation
Go to a flight school that has a good reputation to make sure that you get the best experience. You could contact some of the current students, and even some of the alumni that you are interested in joining and hear what they have to say about their experience. 4.
Part 61 vs. Part 141
There are 2 different types of programs that are available when you are going to flight school. The Part 61 Program and the Part 141 Program.
When you are taking the Part 61 Program, it’s far more informal and it’s best for students who are part-time. You are going to need to have more flight hours so that you could achieve your career goal but you are going to have more control over your flight instructor.
Part 141 on the other hand is best if you want to get your degree in a more structured environment. It has courses that are FAA-approved and it has a minimum threshold for pass rates.
- Cost
How much you are going to spend on the program is also something you have to take into consideration, and slight school is not cheap. Choose a flight school that is within your budget.
2. Instructors
Look into the quality of instructors that they have because learning in stressful conditions is not the best. But learning in a fun and calm environment is much better.
The quality of instruction is very important and it’s hard to unlearn bad habits, so it’s better not to have those habits in the first place.
Ask them about their training styles and see if it fits with your own personal learning style.
What Are the Requirements for Pilot School?
1. High school diploma
If you are planning on going to pilot school, you have to be at least 16 years old and you need to have a high school diploma. If you do not have a high school diploma, then you could also get your GED credentials.
You need to take classes in math, geography, science, and psychology. And you could also take a few foreign language classes if you are planning on flying internationally.
2. College degree
When planning on going to pilot school, it is recommended that you have an approved college degree. Although it is not required, according to the Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA), if you are planning on piloting for major airlines, you are going to need a bachelor’s or associate degree.
Some of the approved college degrees are Bachelors in aviation, aviation technology, aeronautical science, air traffic management, aerospace engineering, aviation management.
When you are looking for classes to take, make sure that you take classes in physics, electronics, math, engineering, and geography. This would all depend on what direction you want to take.
3. Student pilot certificate
You have to be at least 16 years old, be able to read, speak, and be able to understand English in order to get your student pilot certificate.
But if you want to get a student pilot to pilot a hang glider or a hot-air balloon, then you could get the student pilot certificate at age 14. Once you have this, you could apply to flight training.
4. Medical clearance
You need to have 20/20 vision with or without corrective lenses and be able to distinguish between all of the different types of colors, pass the hearing test and understand conversations about 6 feet away, pass the neurological test, be able to have their brain rhythms measured, and pass the cardiovascular test and be free of any kind of heart problems for at least 2 years.
Choosing the right pilot school for you could be hard, so you could take your time to choose between all of your possible options.
Make sure you would be able to learn all of the things you have to learn in order to be an effective and safe pilot. Know what kind of pilot license you are aiming for to have a safe flight.
