It takes a great deal of time and money to become a pilot. This is especially true if you plan on having a career in aviation.
Missteps such as choosing the wrong flight school, failure to create and abide by a budget, or even the wrong instructor waste time and are often expensive. Wouldn’t it be great if you had someone who knows the aviation industry inside and out to provide you with guidance along your journey? That can be arranged if you pick up a copy of Pilot Career Path by flight instructor, DPE, aviation academic writer, and FLYING Magazine contributing editor Jason Blair.
Blair has been a pilot since 1992 and has more than 10,000 hours of flight experience. He has given thousands of flight tests over the years and writes the Aviators Field Guide series as well as oral exam guides for Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA).
His guidance starts at day one, helping you consider your options when it comes to selecting a flight school.
For example, should you choose an accelerated program or an airline academy, or would you learn better flying two or three times a week at a small flight school at a local airport? Or perhaps a college program with a degree component would be better for you?
Blair puts out some numbers on costs and tips for budgeting. Don’t forget living expenses and factoring in the costs of financing a loan if that’s the route you select.
Blair cautions to be selective about ground school and other outside-the-cockpit education, especially when it comes to online ground schools and aviation influencers. Be selective about where you get your information.
The nuances of a career in aviation are also covered, such as the value of using an electronic flight bag (EFB) versus paper charts. He also advises the reader to understand analog instruments and tools such as the mechanical E6-B, noting that apps can be suspect, and if they do all the work for you (such as during flight planning), you probably haven’t learned the material.
Other practical tips include selecting an aviation headset and flight gear bag and how to pack the latter. You don’t need to carry a 10-day duffle bag when an overnight bag will do.
Career planning is often where fledgling pilots flounder, relying on the internet or a “buddy” for information. Blair walks you through the hiring process used by flight schools and corporate flight departments and explains the cyclical nature of airline hiring.
The book is available from ASA in softcover or e-format for $19.95.
