Resources For Prospective Pilots
Pilots Are In High Demand!
The aviation sector is rapidly growing, with analysts predicting a shortage of nearly 30,000 pilots by 2030. This is caused by both an increase in demand for air travel (passenger travel is increasing by 4% each year) and a decrease in new pilots (the number of certificates has decreased by 40% since the 1990s). This career has many great benefits, including high pay (the median commercial pilot pay is $113,080, and the median airline pilot pay is $239,200) and travel benefits! This is a huge opportunity for anyone interested, and there's never been a better time to get started!
Informational Resources:
Becoming A Pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA's basic outline for becoming a pilot, including certification, testing, and flight training. It also includes many of the commonly asked questions student pilots have, including how medicals work, student pilot limitations and links to various FAA documents such as the Federal Aviation Regulations and Airplane Flying Handbook.
Pilot Career Path Options by AeroGaurd
This website clearly describes the various paths into a career as a pilot. This includes the civilian pathway and its benefits, and the differences between traditional., accelerated, and college flight schools, and the benefits of each. It also compares and contrasts the civilian and military pathways into aviation.
Link: https://www.flyaeroguard.com/learn/how-to-become-a-pilot/pilot-career-path/
How to Become a Pilot by Fly8MA
Useful resource on how to start working towards your pilot's license. This includes the differences between various flight schools and methods of learning to fly, along with common mistakes student pilots make and how to avoid them. It also includes various strategies to save money on flight training along with other financial resources.
You Can Fly Book by Gleim Aviation
Useful booklet explaining the process of choosing a flight school, obtaining a pilot license, the types of licenses, basic aircraft knowledge, and more!
Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z1i2IGxPZX2U9F7GFJvOUiGmDPBh0V8O/view?usp=sharing
Fly 8MA Private Pilot Ground School
A free online ground school that covers everything from
Private Pilot maneuvers and landings to airspace
classifications and aircraft systems.
Link: https://fly8ma.com/courses/free-private-pilot-ground-school-pilot-course/
US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Airline and Commercial Pilots
Information on pay, future job outlooks and predictions. and other statists about careers in aviation. This website also includes facts bout pilot's typically work environments, and other careers that are similar.
Link: https://bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/airline-and-commercial-pilots.htm#tab-1
Scholarship Resources:
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Varied Awards ($2,500 to $14,000)
Deadline: February 2nd, 2025
Requirements: Vary - Must be an AOPA member and at least 16 years old
Scholarships available for primary flight training, aviation maintenance training, flight dispatcher, and airport manager. There are multiple scholarships for primary flight training and high school students.
Link: https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/aopa-flight-training-scholarships
Experimental Aircraft Association
Varied Awards
Deadline: February 28th, 2025
Requirements: Vary - Most require students to be at least 16 years old and have a 2.5 GPA
Scholarships are mainly for primary flight training, but there are also scholarships for multiple college degrees related to aviation, such as aeronautics engineering, aviation management, airframe and powerplant (A&P) maintenance.
Link: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/learn-to-fly/scholarships/eaa-flight-training-scholarships
Federal Aviation Administraton Scholarship Database
The FAA's database of common organizations that provide aviation scholarships. These scholarships vary greatly in requirements, application processes, and award amounts.
Link: https://www.faa.gov/education/grants_and_scholarships/aviation