The previous two posts covered the types of training available and the licenses needed to pursue an airline pilot career. This article will close the series and talk about how to get started.

I cannot definitively say which option is the best for each person. A good option for most people is to keep costs as low as possible and still get quality flight training. It is good to get a degree in a non-aviation field. This career is very fickle, with many things out of pilot’s control that can seriously slow down career advancement or end the career.

First figure out which option best suits you. If financing is needed the FAA approved schools are more likely to have it available. If you know you need a structured environment then an FAA approved school will also be a good fit. If you are trying to time the market and getting your license quick to hit a hiring boom then an accelerated program would be the way to go.

I have seen others take a path I think is best. These people got their ratings in two years while also attending a community college for an associates degree. Then these people worked as flight instructors for two years while finishing their bachelors degree in a backup field. This path is even more attractive with the availability of online course as instructors can then move anywhere a good instructing job can be found.

Go into the flight school you are interested in and pester them with the questions below. Poke around with that schools current and former students as well as designated pilot examiners, preferably not directly employed by the school, that have tested students in the flight program.

When poking around, here are some good questions to ask:

1) Are you an FAA approved school?

It will be your preference and school availability, if you are looking to stay local, that will determine the correct answer for this.

2) Is there financing available through your school, or do you have financing available through a lending institution?

If you need financing this will be an important point. Do some research before discounting a school you might otherwise like. Financing might be available in your circumstances, it’s just that the school hasn’t done any leg work yet.

3) How long is it taking your students to finish each course? You are looking for both calendar time and flight time.

Very few students get licenses in the minimum flight time requirements, so it is ok if a school is averaging above the minimum. If the average is above 70 hours for a private pilot, either the bulk of their students are dumb or the school is milking flight time out of the students. The average for commercial pilots should not be much above 260 hours. This question is also a good honesty checker. If they say their average is the minimum then they probably lying. Some schools can consistently hit the minimum with the commercial pilots license, but it is rare to get minimum for the private pilot license.

The average calendar time for all licenses to fly professionally (including flight instructor certificate) should not exceed 2 years. If a flight school is consistently taking longer than this they likely have poor airplane or flight instructor availability. Your flight training will be most effective when you work at a consistent and diligent pace.

4) What is the first time pass rate for student checkrides?

If the pass rate is much below 80% then either the school does not have quality training or the examiner is overly difficult. If the pass rate is below 80% don’t immediately throw the school off your list. Rather, ask around with local pilots, former students of the school, and even the examiner(s) to see why.

If the school has trained many flight instructors it is ok for the average to be a bit lower as some FAA offices have an asinine view that 50 percent of flight instructor applicants should fail the test the first time regardless of the quality of applicants.

5) What is the experience level of your flight instructors?

Every flight instructor has to get a start, so it is not bad to be paired with a relatively new one. There should be at least one experienced instructor at the school to provide support for the new teachers, and to help with your training should you have a snag. During peak airline hiring, flight schools have difficulty keeping experienced instructors.

6) Are the flight instructors career instructors or time builders?

Most pilots that flight instruct do so to build time and many of these people are good instructors. If a school is mainly filled with instructors looking to move on then you can expect to change instructors at least a few times.

Some time building instructors only see students as a means to fill out their logbook, and could care less about student’s progress. There are enough of these types that you need to be wary of them. If you suspect your instructor is of this mindset first approach them about it; but it is likely you will want to find a different instructor.

Most career instructors are very good at teaching. The one thing to watch for with these people is they can easily get stuck in a set way of teaching. They will not vary from their method, even if doing so might help you make progress through a section you are having trouble with.

7) What is the school’s opinion of training syllabus?

Schools that adhere to a training syllabus are more likely to keep your training going at an appropriate pace, and will better track your training progress. You will want to find a school that doesn’t view the syllabus as set in stone, as it is sometimes ok to deviate from the syllabus a bit to further your flight training or to suit circumstances. For example, many syllabi require certain ground lessons mixed in with specific flight lessons. But if the airport is locked into a string of bad weather and you aren’t able to fly then it would be best to work on ground lessons until the weather improves.

How is flight instructor availability?

The flight school might be overloaded with students, or it might have a hard time attracting and retaining flight instructors during peak hiring times. If instructors are overloaded, it will difficult to finish training in a timely manner. A good load for a flight instructor is 7 to 8 students.

9) How is airplane availability? Also use this question as an opportunity to look at the condition of the airplanes.

This question is along the same path as instructor availability. To move along at a descent pace the school needs to have enough airplanes. Airplanes are expensive, so schools try keep airplanes busy. You should be able to schedule airplanes as needed for lessons with no more than 2 weeks lead time, with a little flexibility on your end.

When looking at the condition of the airplanes, many will be older and will not look so good. The saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ applies to training airplanes. Operators aren’t concerned with airplane aesthetics if the planes don’t interface with the less-knowing public on a regular basis. Some of the worst looking airplanes are well maintained.

Look for cracks or dents in metal. Do differentiate between plastic and metal as it’s ok for plastic parts to be icky. Look for fluid leaking or dripping from the engine or landing gear. Check to see how many radios the instrument training airplanes have. If the instrument training plane(s) only has one set, the operator is trying to go to the bare minimum and may be skimping in other areas too.

10) How is pilot examiner availability?

Starting to see a trend here? It is no good for your progress if you are ready for a checkride only to wait a long time. You should be able to get a checkride within about a month of it being scheduled, though sooner is always better.