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Flight Instructors

Exploring This Job

You can explore aspects of this field while you are still in high school. Begin by reading aviation magazines as well as more complex materials with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and other information. The FAA publishes study materials covering topics such as aviation weather, aeronautical knowledge, and weight and balance. Its Web site has information on how to get these study guides. You can also begin developing radio skills, which you will need as a pilot, by learning to use a ham radio.

Although you must be at least 16 to get a student pilot certificate for solo flying, you can start taking flying lessons even if you are younger. This will allow you to see how much you enjoy the flying experience as well as let you work with a flight instructor and, in that way, get a close up view of the instructor's job. If you can't afford lessons, you can still meet and interview a local flight instructor to get information about this type of work. Suggested interview questions include: What made you want to enter this career? What do you like most and least about being a flight instructor? How did you train for this field? What are some key skills for success? What advice would you give to young people about preparing for the field and being successful on the job? How will advances in technology change the field?

Another fun thing to do is to go to air shows, which are frequently held during the summers. Check for shows or "fly-ins" in your area or plan a trip to one. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) holds one of the largest such fly-ins each summer in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as well as other regional fly-ins across the country. At these shows you can meet other flying enthusiasts, see every kind of aircraft from homebuilts (those built by the pilots themselves) to sophisticated military aircraft, attend workshops, and watch flying demonstrations. The EAA also offers Air Academy Aviation Camps for those ages 14 to 18 as well as weekend "camps" for adults and a free Young Eagles Flight Program that matches young people between the ages of eight and 17 who are fascinated by flight with adult pilots eager to share their enthusiasm for aviation. Young Eagles actually fly with the pilots, and flights last 15–20 minutes. Membership is also available. For more information about these opportunities, visit http://www.eaa.org.

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