Biggest Barrier to Entry for Becoming a Pilot?

[ifconfig]

Row to hoe...

Oh to have my English corrected by a Chjerman of all people!

You are, of course, correct.

 

[ifconfig]

I dunno. Given the premise was about finding sex, I think "road to hoe" was right on, more or less.

I like the way you think, my friend.

 

[DrewG]

While I can agree with the OP's "times of life" factoring in to having two (but not all three) of the things needed to fly, I can only speak from my experience. And I have to say it was money, hands down.

I had the passion and I could MAKE the time - a medical was never a big worry. It's being able to throw down hundreds of dollars a week to achieve the goal in a decent time. That's always been my barrier - from the time i was a teen until my current mid-30's.

When I talk to non-pilot friends and acquaintances and tell them I want to be a pilot or that I'm currently pursuing my PPL, 9 times out of 10, their initial reaction is, "Whew...that costs a pretty penny," or "I'd love to do that, but there's no way I could afford that."

 

[Dan Thomas]

I didn't vote because it comes down to a matter of just how bad someone wants it. If they want to become a pilot bad enough, they will find a way. They will sacrifice things that otherwise take up their time and their money. If they are unable to work their way through the medical process, then they truly should not become a pilot. Otherwise, if there is a will, there is a way.... so I think the biggest thing preventing someone from becoming a pilot is the lack of will and prioritization.

I'd agree with that. The young guys/girls I've seen succeed at becoming airline pilots or whatever are the ones who went for it. Not many young guys can't pass a medical, though there are more now who run into problems because they were on Ritalin or other politically correct fix-phony-condition drugs.

These go-getter kids don't go buy a brand-new car to impress everyone. They make do with a reliable old car. They don't make trips to Hawaii. They are willing to wait for the toys and fun. They save their money instead of buying the newest iPhone or going to the coolest movies. Every dollar represents, to them, another 30 seconds of time toward the ultimate goal. They get low-paying time-building flying jobs, knowing that this process will be somewhat painful and time-consuming. They might even have to be ramp rats for awhile before getting into that right seat. They don't sit around talking about what they want to do. They go do it. They marry partners who support their goals. They fly (and drive) responsibly to avoid risking career-killing enforcement actions.

Dan

 

[Henning]

I'd agree with that. The young guys/girls I've seen succeed at becoming airline pilots or whatever are the ones who went for it. Not many young guys can't pass a medical, though there are more now who run into problems because they were on Ritalin or other politically correct fix-phony-condition drugs.

These go-getter kids don't go buy a brand-new car to impress everyone. They make do with a reliable old car. They don't make trips to Hawaii. They are willing to wait for the toys and fun. They get low-paying time-building flying jobs, knowing that this process will be somewhat painful and time-consuming. They might even have to be ramp rats for awhile before getting into that right seat. They don't sit around talking about what they want to do. They go do it. They marry partners who support their goals. They fly (and drive) responsibly to avoid risking career-killing enforcement actions.

Dan

Most of the time they have parents footing the bill....

 

[Dan Thomas]

Most of the time they have parents footing the bill....

The most successful students I had were the ones spending their own money. Many of them had saved for years or had sold the house to do it. The kids whose parents were feeding the moneyhole often wasted an awful lot time, theirs and everyone else's. Many of them appeared to have been thoroughly spoiled by Daddy's wealth. They figured they could buy a license instead of working for it. And many of them never went anywhere with the career, either.

Dan

 

[DrewG]

They marry partners who support their goals

Truth. Not doing this was certainly a hindrance to continuing my pursuit of the goal.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ClimbnSink]

I'd agree with that. The young guys/girls I've seen succeed at becoming airline pilots or whatever are the ones who went for it. Not many young guys can't pass a medical, though there are more now who run into problems because they were on Ritalin or other politically correct fix-phony-condition drugs.

These go-getter kids don't go buy a brand-new car to impress everyone. They make do with a reliable old car. They don't make trips to Hawaii. They are willing to wait for the toys and fun. They save their money instead of buying the newest iPhone or going to the coolest movies. Every dollar represents, to them, another 30 seconds of time toward the ultimate goal. They get low-paying time-building flying jobs, knowing that this process will be somewhat painful and time-consuming. They might even have to be ramp rats for awhile before getting into that right seat. They don't sit around talking about what they want to do. They go do it. They marry partners who support their goals. They fly (and drive) responsibly to avoid risking career-killing enforcement actions.

Dan

Miserable life. Never mind the new car or zombie phone, that stuff is a waste,read that and ask why? For the chance to spend their lives in commercial airports, driving buses for a living. Prone to all sorts of career ending events. Heck you could go on welfare buy and fly an ultralight and have a higher quality of life

 

[NoHeat]

What do you think is the biggest barrier to entry for becoming a pilot?

Time?

Money?

Passing the Medical?

Studying.

Not many people are willing to study something hard, and take an exam, just so they can then do something pleasurable. There are so many other things that offer pleasure more easily.

 

[ClimbnSink]

Studying.

Not many people are willing to study something hard, and take an exam, just so they can then do something pleasurable. There are so many other things that offer pleasure more easily.

There is something to that I've talked with people that wouldn't buy a jetski because of the required joke safety course. Doubt you can fail one of those. We can chalk that one up to fear as well.

 

[LandSickness]

Studying.

Not many people are willing to study something hard, and take an exam, just so they can then do something pleasurable. There are so many other things that offer pleasure more easily.

I'll take it a step further. I believe if more people could get past the fact that if you cut corners or are lazy this "hobby" will kill you, it would be a more appealing form of recreation. The way most people relax is by concentrating less. Vegging out. Money is not a big deal in my circles, but the chance that you could die is. My friends tell me all the time that it's not that it's any more dangerous than any other activity, it has more to do with the understanding that it takes your full concentration and focus and some people just don't consider that relaxing.

 

[jsstevens]

I'll take it a step further. I believe if more people could get past the fact that if you cut corners or are lazy this "hobby" will kill you, it would be a more appealing form of recreation. The way most people relax is by concentrating less. Vegging out. Money is not a big deal in my circles, but the chance that you could die is. My friends tell me all the time that it's not that it's any more dangerous than any other activity, it has more to do with the understanding that it takes your full concentration and focus and some people just don't consider that relaxing.

I never really thought about it this way, but last year I took my brother in law for a sight seeing flight. He is a pretty serious sailor (in my book). He owns and sails a 48' boat around the Caribbean for fun.

After the flight he commented that it was nothing like sailing-unless it was sailing in the harbor with boats all around. I was on & off the radio and dealing with traffic, and he's right it's enjoyable but not relaxing.

John

 

[PPC1052]

Oh to have my English corrected by a Chjerman of all people!

You are, of course, correct.

In fairness to your statement, roads are tougher to hoe than rows.

 

[dell30rb]

I never really thought about it this way, but last year I took my brother in law for a sight seeing flight. He is a pretty serious sailor (in my book). He owns and sails a 48' boat around the Caribbean for fun.

After the flight he commented that it was nothing like sailing-unless it was sailing in the harbor with boats all around. I was on & off the radio and dealing with traffic, and he's right it's enjoyable but not relaxing.

John

I can't say that I view flying as relaxing.. I like flying because its challenging, fun to work on skills and for some circumstances its a great mode of travel.

Well, maybe I could say that its relaxing to fly along Hwy 70 to the beach on Friday afternoon, knowing your friends are down there somewhere in that traffic.

I grew up sailing and my dad still owns a 43', I used to have a 30'. I didn't really view the actual sailing as relaxing - i'm always tweaking the sails, navigating or doing something. Its sometimes cold or hot, you can get wet, stuff can break and you have to fix it. I enjoy sailing for the same reasons I do flying - its challenging and its fun to travel on your boat. The relaxation part comes after a long day sailing, when you tie up/anchor, get everything squared away and break out the rum!

 

[John Baker]

I think my iPhone ate my response.

Fear. Fear of all that crap. Being broke, ticking off the spouse, the dangers of flying, you name it.

It's all about fear. Fear is the barrier.

Fear is nothing but an emotion, the more you face it down, the stronger you become. John Wayne once said that "courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." I would add to that by saying that if you keep saddling up, it will not be long before fear never enters your mind while saddling up.

Never let fear run your life, it will ruin the whole thing for you.

-John

 

[FormerHangie]

Some of the things cited here aren't so much barriers to entry as indications of disinterest. Most people don't pursue flying because they just aren't interested. It's rather like any other activity. For example, there really isn't any barrier preventing me from taking up golf, the reason I don't is that it doesn't interest me.

 

[Davecat]

Time....and getting used to training in a plane that is likely 30+ years old. Once certificated then the decision to buy, rent, club, or partnership comes into play, and once again a 30+ yr old plane phobia, unless you have cash to burn.

I have been at it for almost a year. 23 hours logged. Try to schedule every week. Weather grounded for the past month. Not giving up...yet, but at some point the time investment may ware me down.

I could do multiple other challenging and just as rewarding activites with MUCH les time investment. As for me I love to sail. 20-30K puts on the water with a darn good hull. I can say first hand that racing a J27 or similar is far more challenging and physical than flying.

Even a novice with a few days instruction can be on the water confidently navigating their local waters. That can be said for a host of other outdoor sporting endeavors. Not so with flying.

BTY, ever walk aroung a marina. Lots of idle boats. Seems to me money is never an issue with high end activites like these.

 

[Ghery]

When I was younger, the barrier was money. Later the barrier was time. I never had both at the same time.

Then, when the kids were in college my wife found out we could get across the state in about 2 hours instead of the 5 1/2 hour drive. She suggested that maybe I should get my pilot cert (something I had wanted to do for years). I jumped on that. Then, a number of years later she commented that we had skipped too many flights across the state because of weather, something an IR would fix. Took a while longer for a number of reasons, but I finally got the IR a couple years ago. Did I mention that I have a wonderful wife?

Now my daughter is expecting twins in July (FINALLY!!!). I mentioned to her that I would be looking forward to introducing them to flying when they were a little older. She was NOT thrilled. She has flown with me, but thinks that light planes are too dangerous. What? Where did that come from? I'm going to have to work on her a bit.

The barrier changes with time. I don't think there is a single answer.

 

[dell30rb]

I can say first hand that racing a J27 or similar is far more challenging and physical than flying.

Sure but comparing racing a J27 to learning to fly in a cherokee (or whatever) is a poor comparison. You are comparing a competition in a high performance sailboat to learning the ropes in a trainer. How do you think it compares to an aerobatic competition in a super decathlon or pitts?

A better comparison would be a sunfish on a lake.

(I know the boat in this pic is not a sunfish)

 

[ClimbnSink]

That guy has sleep apnea

 

[DrewG]

That guy has sleep apnea

I laughed.

 

[whifferdill]

How do you think it compares to an aerobatic competition in a super decathlon or pitts?

Hell, you don't need to have a damn clue to fly competition acro.

 

[ebetancourt]

You're probably right. Learning to fly is a great experience, but if you don't have anywhere to go, you eventually lose the motivation to fly.

True for many, maybe most. But Flying is just plain fun for some of us. I like taking trips when time is available, but I like flying some aerobatics, working at the max performance maneuvers, flying the pattern, and just plain flying. Going some place is actually lowest on my list of flying reasons, although my bucket list includes a long cross country in my Waco. I would like to make it south... at least as far as Medellin, Colombia.

But as long as I can loop, roll, spin, lazy 8, chandelle, slow flight, wheel land, 3pt.,...

I'll keep flying. ;-)

Edit: But then again I have never quit learning, I am still a student pilot in spirit.

Ernie

 

[Dan Thomas]

Miserable life. Never mind the new car or zombie phone, that stuff is a waste,read that and ask why? For the chance to spend their lives in commercial airports, driving buses for a living. Prone to all sorts of career ending events. Heck you could go on welfare buy and fly an ultralight and have a higher quality of life

Yeah, there are some that see it that way. And then there are many who have made the sacrifices and achieved their goals and are making a dandy living at doing what they enjoy.

Dan

 

[jordane93]

for me time has been my biggest barrier, and not time meaning not enough of it. in my case its the use of time. Ive had to delay my private and instrument training because i didn't study for the written and procrastinated. that's my biggest barrier but so far for my commercial training im taking the written first and hope to get it knocked out at the end of this month or mid january

 

[brien23]

I got this from "WIKI HOW" for someone becoming a Pilot to read.

• Flying as a career is a stressful job. A pilot's ultimate responsibility, the safety of his/her passengers and/or cargo means making a lot of personal sacrifices - constant training and evaluation, constant drug and alcohol testing, background checks, difficult hours, long days, and huge liability. Think long and hard before taking on this career.
• You could have long absences from home and family. You will never be able to stop that. No matter what is going wrong at home, you will be going back into the sky.
• This used to be a very glamorous profession, but not anymore. Pilot's pay has been slashed and they have to stay in the airport to board the next flight. If they want to relax they can sleep on operation desk pads. Often they also have to go for screening and pass the security check just like all of the passengers.
• Your career will always depend on your maintaining your medical certificate.
• Most of the steps and tips on this page apply primarily to people eligible to work in the USA and planning to train, fly, and become an airline pilot in the USA. While some of them may be applicable to other countries and job markets, it is best to ask for more advice in your home country about becoming an airline pilot.
• In recent years, airlines have made cuts to pilot pay, days off, hotel quality and location, uniform expenses, medical and dental plans, and vacation time. Unless the regional carriers radically increase the starting pay ($45,000 or more), it may not be worth your time and money for training. Flight experience has been devalued and many pilots have opted to change careers altogether. Others pursue alternative airline positions that don't involve "flying the line."
• Not only will a new airline pilot start out at barely $20,000/year, due to new legislation, they are also required to have the same minimum requirements as a Captain (1500 hours of flight time, Airline Transport Pilot License). You will now be required to spend more time to earn these minimums, make the same amount of pay as when the minimums were 500-1000 hours, and invest more of your life leaving less time to make more down the road. Passion will be a must because the logistics of these changes don't make sense.
• You will always be taking written exams, oral exams, and checkrides multiple times in a year for the rest of your career. Yes, you will still be performing stalls and steep turns on checkrides as a 747 captain. Failing these checks can be an end to your airline pilot career. Failure of any airline training or checking event becomes part of your permanent airman record which is required, by law, to follow you to any new employer for your entire career.
• Anytime you change jobs, by choice or because you've been laid off or your airline has gone out of business, you will be starting at the bottom again at your new airline in terms of your position, schedule, and pay, regardless of experience.

 

[Davecat]

Sure but comparing racing a J27 to learning to fly in a cherokee (or whatever) is a poor comparison. You are comparing a competition in a high performance sailboat to learning the ropes in a trainer. How do you think it compares to an aerobatic competition in a super decathlon or pitts?

A better comparison would be a sunfish on a lake.

(I know the boat in this pic is not a sunfish)

Wrong! My point is simply the time factor. I am not comparing the activities per say....I am the comparing the time investment. One weekend of training a sloop rigged day sailor and you are off to the races. Not possible with flying. Flying is more like golf. If you don't partake regularly you get rusty and take steps backwards. If I get a lesson or two this weekend in that 40 yr old PA28 I am certain I will playing catch up. This adds not only time, but expense for which I have budgeted 10k....or half a decent daysailor.

GA is struggling. Not surprising to this future aspiring aviator. May take another year. And then again I may become another student pilot that walks away.

 

[Becky]

The other you missed is "spouse/significant other", that probably keeps more people out of aviation than the others.

I disagree. I think that may be a stated reason, but not the real reason. "If it's important, you'll find a way. If it isn't, you'll find an excuse."

 

[Jimmy cooper]

I would compare sailing quite closely to flying. When young I sailed a lightning, then an E scow. Both on fresh water. The scow is a very high performance racer and lots of fun to sail. It will pass most mono hull sail boats like they are anchored. A Pitts would be close to an e scow in performance but I've never even had a ride in one. Next would be a super decathlon which I have flown but only looped and spun. A tail dragger is a great deal like a scow as far as paying close attention to the wind, especially gusts and things going south quickly. I had a used scow that I sailed for quite a time. Never could afford a nice decathlon or super cub but have had quite a few taildraggers. Lots of fun. Stearman was my favorite, Luscombe F next. Both boats and planes can be very expensive especially if your not very careful when purchasing either. Many aircraft logs and engine logs are fairy tales.

 

[FormerHangie]

I disagree. I think that may be a stated reason, but not the real reason. "If it's important, you'll find a way. If it isn't, you'll find an excuse."

If you have a spouse or SO that doesn't like what you're doing, they can pretty well drain all the enjoyment out of it. My wife was not always too awfully fond of my going hang gliding, since I'd be gone all day. Not knowing what kind of reaction I'd get when I got home really made a difference in my motivation to fly. I got no end of guff one day when she had a minor plumbing problem at home since I wasn't there to deal with it.

After I hung up the glider, I was thinking of buying an MC Scow (sailboat) and getting into dinghy racing. I was trying to include the whole family, but she really didn't see it that way. When I later asked her about it, she said she thought it was a bad idea because I wouldn't use it enough. After watching the winds for the last year I think she may be right, about the only time we have much in the way of wind, it's cold.

 

[John Baker]

Could it be that not everyone shares our passions, or has the patience, along with all of the other resources that are required of one in order to fly?

Becoming a licensed pilot is a very expensive, time consuming, brain draining, patience busting, anger managing, frustration conquering, *****, to most people who give it a try.

I can not understand why more don't want to use their limited free time to become one.

-John

 

[FormerHangie]

Could it be that not everyone shares our passions, or has the patience, along with all of the other resources that are required of one in order to fly?

Becoming a licensed pilot is a very expensive, time consuming, brain draining, patience busting, anger managing, frustration conquering, *****, to most people who give it a try.

I can not understand why more don't want to use their limited free time to become one.

-John

All of the above. Most people can't afford it, period. Of those that can afford it, most of them aren't really interested.

Hang gliding's the same way. Most Americans and Canadians could afford that, but not many are interested.

 

[noobJohn]

I think people gloss over that. But it's a simple fact and the #1 reason more folks don't pursue flying as a hobby. If you're planning a career as a pilot, that's different. People can borrow money and go into flight training full time because that's an investment in their future. But as far as hobbies go, it's way more expensive than most.

Most people can't afford it, period. .

 

[denverpilot]

Fear is nothing but an emotion, the more you face it down, the stronger you become. John Wayne once said that "courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." I would add to that by saying that if you keep saddling up, it will not be long before fear never enters your mind while saddling up.



Never let fear run your life, it will ruin the whole thing for you.



-John

Absolutely. You weigh the alternatives and decide you'd rather do than not do and accept the consequences. Holds true for just about every decision in life.

 

[John Baker]

The more GA struggles, the more the cost of GA goes up. Fewer participants means that the schools, mechanics, rentals, all associated support enterprises must charge more in order to stay afloat. The higher the prices, the fewer the participnts....until it is gone completely... except for the few and the privileged.

-John

 

[QuiQuog]

After the marriage ceremony, my wife looked at my flight bag and said "now that we're married, you should put that flight gear in the attic."

I looked at her with a shocked and horrified expression and said "oh my God, for a minute there, you sounded like my ex-wife!"

She said "I didn't know you were married before!!!"

I said "I wasn't".

Classic.

 

[Everskyward]

Time, money and interest rarely intersect. Then there's the fact that flying is interesting to the person who's doing it but the rest of the family might not be on board with it. I think it's unusual when spouse and children (especially when children are old enough to have their own interests) are all on board with the idea. So it's either leave them behind or find another family activity.

 

[ClimbnSink]

I leave em behind, they are used to it now. You gotta be man enough to amuse yourself.

 

[eman1200]

Some of the things cited here aren't so much barriers to entry as indications of disinterest. Most people don't pursue flying because they just aren't interested. It's rather like any other activity. For example, there really isn't any barrier preventing me from taking up golf, the reason I don't is that it doesn't interest me.

I don't think that's what this thread is about. Obviously, people who don't have an interest in {whatever} don't do {whatever}. I think the question is for new people who ARE interested but end up not pursuing, what was the barrier for them.

 

[ClimbnSink]

I don't think that's what this thread is about. Obviously, people who don't have an interest in {whatever} don't do {whatever}. I think the question is for new people who ARE interested but end up not pursuing, what was the barrier for them.

If that is the crowd we are talking about fear is the only answer(fear of a brutish wife counts as fear)