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New guy with a few questions.

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by nmyers5, Aug 26, 2007.

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  1. nmyers5

    nmyers5 Rookie

    Aug 26, 2007
    1
    #1 nmyers5, Aug 26, 2007
    Hey everyone, currently I am a student at Radford University in Radford, VA. But out of school it has always been my dream to be a commercial pilot. Whats the best way of going about this without going into the military? So far what I have read and come up with is to go to a small local airport to get my private licence and then I have heard a lot about the ATP flight school. Then after I get my commercial pilots licence, start building hours for a regional airline or flight school. Does this sound like a recomended route? Also, something that has really made me upset is that I am partially colorblind. I can tell the difference between most colors, but in some instances it can be a challenge for me. I heard you have to distinguish between aviation red, green, and white lights, which I usually don't have a problem with red, and green. Will being partially colorblind ruin my dream of becoming a commercial pilot?? Any comments will be greatly appreciated, thanks, Nick.
     
  2. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,971
    Southlake, TX
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    Rob Lay
    #2 rob lay, Aug 26, 2007
    If not the military route, I think instructing to build the hours is the other. Ask yourself some tough questions. Don't get $50k in debt getting your licenses to decide commercial isn't for you. It will take years and years of tough work and low pay. Do you want to fly as a job or for fun? If for fun, you'll be financially better off to get your degree and work in another career and fly as a hobby. However, if commercial flying is for you, then go for it full force and eventually you will get financial rewards, but that is a many decade process.
     
  3. rfking

    rfking Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2003
    785
    Italy
    #3 rfking, Aug 26, 2007
    All of us here understand the dream of being a pilot, but the route to becoming a commercial airline pilot can be problematic these days. There are several threads on this board that will be worth your reading.

    Start by going to your closest controlled airport, go to one of the local flight schools, and ask one of the instructors to call the tower and ask that at a quiet moment, they shoot you a series of lights with the light gun. That way, standing on the ramp with a (non color blind instructor) you can find out very quicly whether or not you have a problem.
     
  4. texasterry4100

    texasterry4100 Rookie

    Oct 20, 2007
    3
    #4 texasterry4100, Oct 22, 2007
    nmyers5,

    On the optimistic side of things. I am currently a student Pilot in San Antonio. My instructor is one impressive young man. He turned 21 on September 29th, and last week he was hired by a major airline. He got his private when he was 17, got an associates degree from Palo Alto college and kept flying and logging hrs. I knew that the day he turned 21 he would be a hot commodity and that I had a chance of loosing him as my instructor. Well I as expected he is leaving dangit. He has logged over 900 hrs. and the last 500 or so he was paid for. He is married, and pays his own way, now to be fair, you better have one hell of a work ethic. He gets up many days at 7am and gets home at midnight after a night x-country. Hell when I was his age, I worked those crazy hours, they just weren't worth anything towards my future.

    If you are serious about it, it is very achievable!! DON'T try and short cut things just work you butt off. Remember when your going round and round doing all those landings and pattern work with students, it will all be worth it.
    It was to Travis, and he will be flying people around the friendly skys at the ripe age of 21!! I guess just jealous in a way, because had I known then what I know now lol.

    Best of luck
    Terry
     

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