Almost everyone has dreamt of becoming a pilot at some point in their lives. But for many, the dream diminishes as they get older or is overtaken by more realistic ambitions. Becoming a pilot is as practical as any other dream career if you are passionate about soaring in the skies daily. But if you have height phobia or have other conditions that may hinder you from flying, becoming a pilot is not the right career for you.
That said, becoming a pilot is rewarding. Airlines and private aircraft owners are continually looking for more and more talent. These days, becoming a pilot is one of the smartest decisions you can make. Here are the key things to know.
Prepare to learn more.
If you would like to become a pilot, it is time to gear up and return to school. Until you have gotten your pilot license, you will hit the books, study more, take notes, watch educational videos, take practical application lessons, etc. Most of the theoretical learning takes part on the ground in a classroom, and it forms the foundation of your excellence in the cockpit.
You may need to learn more languages.
If you are good at learning new languages, piloting won’t be a problem for you. To become a pilot, you need to learn new languages to communicate with other pilots and the ground control team. Note that the first language you learn is radio talk such as:
- Wilco- I will comply.
- Affirmative- yes
- Roger- I received and understood your last transmission.
Although radio talk in piloting is not challenging to learn, the challenge is to communicate continuously without slipping into regular language use. It is often accompanied by guidelines such as:
- Think about what you will say before you talk.
- Be on the lookout for potential failed transmission.
- Listen before you transmit etc.
Prepare yourself to learn alphanumeric codes that help you interpret weather conditions as you fly. For instance, METAR is a weather report you get after every thirty minutes or hour. PIREP refers to a log of the actual weather conditions your aircraft encountered during a flight.
Be prepared for regulations.
Becoming a pilot means familiarizing yourself with the hundreds of aviation regulations. Just like many other laws, not knowing will not be an excuse for breaking a rule. Aviation regulations in different countries ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft spaces locally and abroad. Before you google how to get a pilot license, learn the rules and what you need to comply with. Aviation regulations are some of the things you learn in the classroom before entering a plane to practice. Whether a student pilot or a licensed one, you are held to the same standards when it comes to complying with the regulations.
Aerospace systems and concepts will be embedded in your brain
Aerospace systems involve a complex network of aerospace sections within which you apply various altitudes and weather minimums. These are some of the concepts you will be studying, and soon they will be embedded in your brain. They become part of you and part of the decisions you make.
There are many ways to use your pilot license.
You can become a tour guide, work with charter flights, explore unchartered territories, restore classic planes, etc. Becoming a private pilot is a rewarding career path.
