This series of articles will tackle frequently asked questions to pilots that come in different variations from all ages and across all genders:
- I want to be a pilot.
- How can I become a pilot?
- Where do I start if I want to be a pilot?
- What are the requirements to become a pilot?
- What’s after finishing my flight school?
- How is life as a First Officer in an airline?
- And much more!
With this series of articles, I aim to answer these questions thoroughly from a pilot’s perspective who has been through the process not long ago. This guide will be a great help away from all the oversimplified info given by flight school’s websites and sponsored articles! I hope that this guide will be enough for everyone wanting to become a pilot, and I mean EVERYONE!
With this guide, I will even go through the UK student visa process and what a NON-EU pilot should expect when hunting for a job! I promise that it will be all you need to read to gain solid knowledge about the process of how to become a pilot to help you with your decision before you take your first step.
*One good trait to have as a pilot is to gain as much knowledge as you can about X (Let X be the weather report throughout your whole journey, airports along the route, environment…) before you start doing the work/operation.
These are the different sections of this guide:
Section 1 – About You!
Before embarking on your journey to become a pilot, it’s essential to understand the key factors that will influence your path:
- We will discuss important factors that are often overlooked when considering a career as a pilot, such as your character, skills, and abilities.
- How passionate are you about becoming a pilot? and Do you genuinely want to become a pilot?
- What are the subject requirements for becoming a pilot?
Section 2 – Your First Steps
You can read this section from here.
- What will you study, and which path is most suitable for you?
- How to choose a flight school and how to prepare for it?
- How much will pilot training cost?
- How to obtain a UK student visa (if applicable)?
Section 3 – The first phase of studying (A student pilot)
You can read this section from here.
- What will you learn in flight school?
- What to expect in each phase?
- How to successfully complete flight school?
Section 4 – Hunting for a Job
You can read this section from here.
We will discuss how to find a job:
- Is it easy to find a job as a pilot?
- How to prepare effectively for a pilot job selection process.
- The Dos and Don’ts of finding a job.
Section 5 – The second phase of studying – Type Rating and beyond! –
You can read this section from here.
Here we will discuss “The Second Phase” of studying:
- How do you specialise in flying one aircraft type?
- What will you learn?
- How to prepare?
- Difficulties that pilots face at this stage.
Section 6 – Your life as a Pilot
You can read this section from here.
Where we will discuss “The Stable Phase”:
- What will you do when you are officially released as a First Officer?
- What to expect and how to develop yourself?
- Is this phase actually the end?
Section 7 – Conclusion
You can read this section from here.
The wrap-up!
Fasten your seat belts and enjoy the journey!
TL: DR
This guide will provide you with solid knowledge to help you understand the journey you need to take to become a pilot in the most thorough and precise manner.
We will start by discussing your character and the various requirements of becoming a pilot, then cover the first steps and paperwork.
Following that, we will tackle flight school and everything related to it, then discuss what happens after flight school and how to get a job.
In Part 5, we will talk about what comes after securing a job, and then address your life as a First Officer before wrapping up at the end!
I will do my best to ensure this guide provides all you need to gain a strong foundation and will be updating it from time to time. I hope you will come on board!
