Shard

Aviator

0.085% of Canada's population hold a civil pilots license.
UK 0.05%
US 0.1%

Ontheroadoflife

..If they fly like they drive....god help us all!!

Zoe Bell

I thought those percentages would be higher ( especially in US)

I do know that less than 8% of private pilots in north america are female

ArthurBrit

Thanks guys (Zoe that footage is brilliant by the way) I am going to go up again (hopefully) but I need to buy myself some time - get things figured out.

The worst part is that I really enjoy being in the air but I just get completely nervous and the anxiety is very difficult to control which doesn't help! My intent is if I go up often enough that the anxiety will fade/disappear, it's an expensive therapy!

Ever since they tried to fly me in that Cherokee I have just completely bottled it!

I don't even care if I get my PPL but would love to be able to do some basic flying maneuvers like chappelles and eights without the fear of god coming over me!

Zoe Bell

There might be some slightly more inspiring footage on my YouTube channel.

Believe me I know exactly what you mean. Getting my PPL was a way for me to get over my fear of flying.

It probably took about 10 lessons before I stopped throwing up with fear before every lesson . but it was so worth it in the end.

The feeling after your first solo can't be described. The feeling after your first solo x country is 100 better !!

scrubbedexpat091

Based on the prices I have seen, its not a average persons hobby by any means, unless high income, or doing it to build a career, I don't think the average to slightly above average person can really afford it.


My airline had a heck of a time finding female pilots, we got a lot of flack because we didn't have very many, but those doing the complaining don't realize there are a lack of females who are pilots and even less who can meet the hiring requirements of a major airline. They spent a lot of money giving to programs to aimed to get women and girls interested.

If I didn't have the health stuff that banishes me from being a pilot, I could not think of a more perfect career to suit my interests.....

If I won the lotto, I'd take lessons even if I could never actually get the license just for fun.

Oink

Getting a recreational license is a piece of piss and relatively cheap but you can only fly in the country. A private licence is a bit more spendy depending on endorsements/ratings and is a lot more useful.

ArthurBrit

It is really expensive to do as a hobby but I do think it's possible to do on an average salary.

Personally I used to smoke and drink about the same as an hour of flight a month (which is not the ideal amount of time to spend flying but it's enough).

I think part of the problem with the expense of flying comes from the fact that most people who want to pursue it straight away decide that they need Private license ($10,000 minimum). Before even flying they think they are going to need night rating/float rating/Multi rating and more. They don't just think "I want to fly", before you even try the hobby you've already decided it will cost $100,000. There are not a lot of hobbies where you count all costs upfront but piloting is one of them it is however good to realise the cost before you do it as it can and will add up if you have the stomach and will to dedicate your life to it.

I do not believe it would be the easiest career change at my time of life (early 30's) especially due to the fact that I earn more than most pilots would in the first 10-15 years of their career. If you want to pursue it as a career it is definitely ideal to start young.

For anyone with kids if they show a remote interest in flying then look at signing them up with air cadets! it's a much cheaper route than having to pay approximately $65,000 to become a commercial pilot earning minimum wage (price varies across the country and flight school + aptitude of learning). For the record the theory side of flying is simple and straight forward in my eyes but obviously based on the thread I struggle within the air.

Zoe Bell

Might be true for the states. I'm reasonably sure the recreational permit is a lot easier in the states than it is in Canada.
I seem to recall being mildly horrified at the incredibly low minimum reqs

ArthurBrit

PilotTraining.ca > Recreational Permit Vs Private Pilot Licence

magnumpi

Have flown most things, Cessna 150-172 to PPL, sailplanes, and para motors and gliders. The only time I was close to being killed and shit scared was in Turkey while paragliding, I got blown back over Babadab Mountain 6,500 foot TO, and narrowly missed a forest, I fully raised my arms and sped out from the tree tops by mere feet, then over a ridge, landed at the back of a hotel next to the swimming pool Lol. Just sat there for a while thinking !!

Flew again next day.

scrubbedexpat091

I suppose its pricey to me since I don't drink or smoke, or any of that. I couldn't do an hour a month, but I also have to hire a pilot which increases the cost...lol

I took my lessons at 19, not many, 10 or 12 hours in total. I would have gladly taken lessons younger, but my parents said no and wouldn't let me.

I agree it's a career like doctors where you gotta start young if you ever hope to recoup the costs and make it into a career before retirement.

When I was a 15 or 16 I bought a set of VHS training video aids to watch..

Not sure what fascinated me with flying considering up until I was 18, I had never stepped foot inside an airplane or even been in the air...lol

Pollyana

very expensive in the uk, you are either wealthy or have a large bank loan like me
Also very expensive to stay current, flying clubs want flights every 3-4 weeks or you go up with an instructor before they let you hire, all costs mor then. Certainly not for your average person, it seems much more accessible in Canada and the US.

My instructor always said if you have a scare you go up again at once, like falling of a horse I was a horribly nervous student, and had a few scares, like the door of a C152 opening at 3000 feet over a large Sussex lake! I remember we flew into Glasgow once and on departure followed ATC to the letter but an A320 decided to change levels without permission and flew very close above us, that was a bit freaky. I'm a bit of a fatalist though and I know it'll get me if my name is on it, otherwise I will cope. I lost a couple of friends in incidents while I was still actively flying, one at Shoreham, one (an instructor of mine) at Biggin Hill, but thats just aviation, it comes with risks.

However, i had it drilled into me never to fly if I felt unhappy about the plane and its mechanical issues - no way would I personally have flown with a prop needing a manual start.

Shard

Interesting, thanks. I understand the broom motif now

Didn't know there were any large lakes in Sussex !