There is no one way to answer this question, as there are as many ways to become a pilot as there are those who want to do it. My first piece of advice is to have a backup plan. Training is expensive, real expensive. So you will find it useful to have a second skill to fall back on while training or building up those hours. Most people I know working as flight instructors have some other job on the side to keep them going. The reality is that it can take some years before you'll be earning an average wage. So just how expensive is this? Well for a PPL you need a minimum of 50 hours total flying time, and for CPL 200. Depending on the aircraft you can expect to pay between $150 and $220 an hour ($200 is a good figure), and add to that about $40 an hour for an instructor while you're flying dual. So on those figures alone that's $10000 for a PPL and $40000 for a CPL, not including instructor costs. But remember that those are minimums. Very rarely would someone get their PPL in 50 hours. Most would be somewhere be 50 and 100. Mine took 84. Over 100 is not uncommon. And these costs are just flying costs. You've also got ground classes, exams, medicals and other associated costs.
And along the way you'll also want to do other ratings. Aircraft type ratings, night ratings, aerobatic ratings... they all cost. But in the grand scheme of things it's all experience which looks good in your logbook when it comes to job hunting. And once you start heading along the career road, extra ratings start to add up. An instructors rating will cost around $15000, and MEIR will be somewhere between $15000 and $20000.
What else is involved?
Well to start with there are a number of exams at every step. Ewwwww, yeah I know. But it's not that bad. The exams cover Aircraft tech (how aircraft and aircraft systems work), Navigation, Radio, Aviation Law, Human Factors (aviation psychology and medicine), and Principles of Flight (physic of flying). Don't be alarmed by what these sound like, it's all pretty straight forward really. And to get these exams done there are two choices here, self study or go on a course. So it's up to the individual really and how self disciplined you are.
And one last thing, you'll be needing a medical certificate. This is done by an aviation medical examiner, a doctor who specialises in aviation medicine. Basically this is to make sure that you're not going to keel over mid-flight with a heart attack, and to make sure that your head is bolted on securely.
So you ask, where should I train? Currently I'm doing my MEIR at a flying school, which is a new experience for me. When I first started learning to fly I joined the local aeroclub, and gained my skills and qualifications that way. Flight Schools and Aeroclubs both have their own pros and cons, so it really comes down to the individual. There are other options such as the airforce or cadetships, however I don't know enough about those options to comment here.
Flight Schools
Flight schools offer a structured process to enable a direct route to the end goal, that being a qualified commercial pilot. Some schools also offer to help with seeking employment at the end. So if you want to fly but prefer structure and discipline, then flight schools are the path for you. Just like any course, a flight school course has set dates and goals that have to be maintained in order meet the requirements. This does limit the potential for individual learning styles, but does encourage the student to work harder to keep up. The other big advantage today of learning through a flight school is the student loan scheme. Whereas in the past cost has been a limiting factor in learning to fly, now it is possible to go straight from school into a flying programme courtesy of the student loan scheme. But remember, it is a loan and has to be paid back some time. Have a $100k loan hanging over your head will have future financial implications, such as when it comes time to buy a house. Something to keep in mind. But then again, another good incentive to work hard to get the good job.
Aeroclubs
The backbone of the NZ aviation scene, aeroclubs are an excellent introduction to flying. There are several advantages to joining an aeroclub. Each student learns at their own pace, flying when time and money permits. The variety of flying is quite large with competitions, club trips and not to mention various different ratings to interest the student.
As most people learning to fly through an aeroclub do it on a part time basis, it can take a lot longer to gain that PPL or CPL than what it would take through a flying school. This isn't a bad thing however, as this may lead to a more rewarding experience, it all comes down to the individual.
So how do I get started?
http://www.flyingnz.co.nz/ Have a lot of information regarding aeroclubs in NZ.
Cost, medicals, exams...is it worth it?
Imagine rocking up to your local aeroclub. You push the aircraft out of the hanger to give it a preflight, check the fuel, that sort of stuff. Then you and a friend or two hop in and take to the skies to the ever changing view. So is it worth it? It's just awesome!! Simply put, it's a dream coming true.
