Anthony W

Hi all.
This is my first post here. I think this is the right part of the forum to ask this question, if it's not then i apologize.
I'll start by introducing myself.
I'm 14 and I live in Arizona. I'm a sophomore in high school (yes, i'm a year ahead as I skipped a grade when I was younger). I'm taking all honors classes and have a all A's and 1 B in Chemistry. I'm currently taking Honors World History, Honors Pre-Calculus, PE, Honors English, Honors Chemistry, Bible (It's a Christian Academy), and Computers (even though I have been playing around with them for a while and consider myself well-rounded about them; but the class is still required.) As you may have noticed I am very good in Math... but I still have a lot of friends and am not a geek! (In case some of you are wondering ).
A few years ago, I became very interested in planes, especially airliners. I bought X-Plane, the flight simulator, and have been hooked on flying ever since. And soon enough came the question: what do you want to be when you grow up? Well... an airline pilot, of course!
So I learned plenty about aircraft flying on X-plane. The different systems in the cockpit and outside of it too. Now, I'm not a pro, but I have intermediate knowledge about most of the systems on board the modern airliner. (Feel free to quiz me!) I also have the FAA book on FAR/AIM. I have most of the things in the AIM part already embedded in my brain, but not those in the FAR!
From every time to time I also go tailwatching at Sky Harbor. I bring my scanner along and never want to leave the paradise of having a 747-400 fly over your head at less than 30 ft! (BTW here is a link to my JP.Net spotting account. http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=28000 ) My other hobby is making models, I think you can guess what kind of models... if not, the answer is airplane models.
I also play soccer a lot, so being (really) fit is already part of my lifestyle.
So the question is:

What do I need to do/keep doing to become an airline pilot? Where do I need to go to College and what kind of degree do I need?

And that brings me to one more thing. I would like to become a pilot for Lufthansa. I already speak English, Polish, and French fluently, and also a little bit of Spanish. I don't think German will be too hard to learn.

Thanks in advance for all the help,
Anthony

de727ups

"What do I need to do/keep doing to become an airline pilot? Where do I need to go to College and what kind of degree do I need?"

Stay out of trouble and start taking flying lessons. Get a job. Hang out at airports besides Sky Harbor where you might actually meet someone who can help you. Go to an EAA young eagles event and make it known you are interested. EAA Young Eagles Join the civil air patrol if it seems like something you can handle Civil Air Patrol Online Where you get your college degree doesn't matter. Get one in something your interested in beside aviation.

Lufthansa is a German airline. Unless you have the right to live and work in Germany, you can forget it.

While I personally would like to welcome you to APC, I'd suggest you check out Jetcareers.com - Welcome The home page has links about how to become a pilot and the perspectives links tell how others did it.

rotorhead1026

Anthony, with your grades and fitness level you might consider a service academy or ROTC. Go to flight training from there and get in the pipeline, if airline flying is still what you want. Your wants and needs will change quite a bit in the next fourteen years or so, which is the time frame we're discussing. Airline flying ain't like X-Plane. Like the previous poster said, take a lesson or two.

Good advice all through the previous post. You'd make a good engineer, I think.


HEY!!!! I resemble that remark!


And don't destroy your hearing before you even get a medical.

So do many pilots - but not at the airport

dckozak

Anthony,
Welcome to aviation!! Just by looking in the Internet and finding APC and posting your interests, your are on the way to learning the how and why of your future endeavor. There are lots of posts on this website with opinions and facts about the way at get into aviation and I would suggest you take the time to comb threw this website for information that would answer your questions.
Anthony your lucky in a couple of ways that many young people (and some not so young) today ain't. You know what you what to do and your smart enough to achieve it if you really put your mind to it. As an airline pilot who, like you, knew what he wanted at a young (your) age I can tell you that there are many ways to achieve your goals and may traps that could keep you from getting there. This will sound familiar (read: Mom and Dad) but hear is some advice that will hopefully get you to reach your goals.

1. Do well in school. (I think you got this one wired)
2. Stay out of trouble. Avoid drugs and smoking. Your health is one of the biggest assets and potential set backs to your career in aviation.
3. Do not let others sway you away from your dreams. Stay focused and remember there will be lots of others trying to achieve the same and not all would be above pushing you out of the way to get what you have/are trying for.
4. Work hard, listen to those who have your interests at heart, and don't be afraid to reevaluate your interests as you mature and see things differently.
Aviation is a dynamic industry and airline flying has changed and will continue to do so into the future. You may decide in 10 or 15 years that your talents would be better directed else where.

Good luck

rickair7777

I second the thought that you should consider the military. I'm pretty sure you could get an ROTC or academy scholarship.

However...the downside to that is if you do not get a flight slot (possibly due to minor medical or vision discrepancies) you would still be obligated to military service for 4-10 years.This happened to me...

A safer option for someone who really wants to fly would be to get a college degree on your own and learn to fly on the side. Do not get an aviation degree unless it is in engineering. Avoid schools dedicated to aviation, state schools or in your case big-name schools offer more return on your investment than any dedicated aviation college. Ultimately learning to fly airplanes is vo-tech, not real higher education...kind of like welding or auto-mechanics. With your ability, do not blow your college years on "aviation science".

After college (actually as a junior), you should look seriously into flying for the Air national Guard or USAF reserve. This would allow you to fly at a regional airline while also earning the military credentials which are most competitive at the big airlines. If you wash out of military training, your civilian flying career will not be on hold since you will not have an active-duty obligation.

Pilotpip

Anthony,

I was in the same boat. I've wanted to do this since I was about 12. The others give you some great advice. I'll add this to it. Being 14, you're probably going to start looking at colleges soon. Don't buy into the hype of some of the high priced aviation schools. Find a school that is diverse and has many options for degrees totally outside of aviation. Save that money because you'll need it if you elect to go the civilian route. Whatever path you choose, take your time and weigh all the options. Do lots of research and don't buy into the hype of advertising. By doing this you will find the school that fits you best and gives you the most for your money.

You have a couple years, but start saving your money now so you can start taking lessons when you turn 16. Hang out at a smaller airport in your area and start getting to know people, perhaps get a job pumping fuel into aircraft and cleaning them during the summer. Work hard, get your ratings. Flight instruct while you're in college and you'll have a ton of options available to you when you graduate.

Anthony W

Ok thanks for all the replys.
I'll first answer to a few of the comments.
1. I have 20/20 vision and hearing even being under the 747s!
2. I was in CAP for a little bit, maybe like a year or so, but I quit because 1, the things they learned i had already learned myself, and 2, because I didn't really fancy the whole military aspect. So basically I wasn't getting anything out of it just a bunch of "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir".
3. I have flown before many times in the little Cessna's, so yes I know it's a little different than X-plane.
4. My school is right next to Scottsdale Airport (The school use to own the airport) so I'm thinking of going down there and maybe getting a job?
5. I've never been in a fight, smoked, been drunk or high, and I don't plan to either. And I've got my mind set to becoming a pilot. Only God would be able to change my mind!
6. I'm a European citizen. And now with the EU, I don't think there would be any trouble for me to live or work in Germany (Correct me if I'm wrong). Lufthansa also has a training center in Goodyear and I've been thinking for a while now to maybe go talk to them too.
7. I'd prefer not to do it through the military...it would take too long. Personally I'd like to take the fastest route.

Would ASU or NAU be a good choice for a college? I've been told I could get a full-ride scholarship there or at least any other in-state colleges. Maybe not Harvard but that should be enough...

Also, how does it work with the liscensing? In all cases, except military, do you have to get your liscence by yourself? That's more than $10,000 right there!

I don't want to be too picky as I know some things in life that just don't turn out the way you want them to. So I take it from what you guys are saying that:
1. You need good connections.
2. Airlines look for more than just aviation related stuff.
3. It takes a while to become a pilot. (Even for regional?)

Thanks again,
Anthony

de727ups

Getting a job at SDL would be a great move. Not sure you can do much at 14. Maybe assistant airplane washer. I got a job pumping gas at 16 but that was in the 70's. Not sure if they still let kids drive 1000 gal fuel trucks or not.

If you can get a full ride to a local school, do it. You can't go wrong there.

Pilotpip

There is no such thing as a fast route. Lots of hard work, and a lot of luck as well are required to land that dream job. However one thing that will always help is taking pride in yourself, and your profession. A lot of people have forgotten this, went for the quick and easy, and failed miserably.

As far as the ratings go you're going to have to pay for them if you go the civilian route. It's expensive no doubt. This is one of the reasons that many will tell you it's best to attend a lower cost state school (take every advantage of those scholarships!) and get a degree in something else. The airline programs really don't teach you anything extra for those thousands of dollars and the hype associated with getting your foot in the door is just that. There are no airlines that require a degree in aviation. Once you're at a regional you'll have plenty of networking as the captains you fly with move on to bigger and better.

I did all my training through the civilian route. If the military aspect of CAP turned you off it would be advisable to avoid going to the military just because of free flight training. It could be a very miserable 10 years if you sign up and they don't have slots available. Go into the military because you want to serve in the military.

Anthony W

Let's say I went to NAU perhaps and got a bachelor (is that enough?) in both aeronautical engineering (necessary or not?) and say marine biology (Or is that a little too far from what your saying? ). What steps would I have to take next for a regional pilot?