Young Wanna-do

[cessna_driver2]

Work part time at an airport washing planes. I think you have to be 18 to do the line service thing. But maybe you and wash them. This way you can network your flying & website design even more.

The Civil air patrol is also a good idea. The do have positions for cadets as observers in the a/c. There is usually a lot of trips for CAP to bigger airports w/ glider operations. CAP also help w/ crowd control during a lot of the major air shows like oshkosh. (great way to go to a free airshow.)


Wish you luck.

 

[Jon-Kyle Mohr]

350DRIVER: Great idea about putting some of the money away for flying. The only thing I spend it on is aviation at the moment (scanners, flightsim, etc.) I greatly appreciate your help!

nosehair: haha, I actually was looking forward to the sport-pilot area, as I thought the solo age would be lowered to 14 as in gliders. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait and go for the PPL. I would'nt mind taking a flight in SpaceShip 1, though

minitour: I spend quite a bit of time in flightsim. This really helps as far as IFR and aircraft opps go. I've got the entire 737 start up (from battery switch to flipping the engines over to "CONT" before taking off) memorized. I also have the C172 checklist down, I made my own in DreamWeaver that I printed out for my own use.

I've been looking into the King Schools PPL package. I got a little demo from Sportys in the mail and I scored 98% on it when I gave the testing a go, not bad if you ask me

I appreciate all the recommendations!

bafanguy: Gotcha there, I'm already a member of CAP. I've been rather busy lately and have not had time to go to any meetings. I don't want to show up just for the O-flights, so I've been skipping out on them, too. Its another way to get in the air, I figured why not! I'd still like to go flying right seat every once and a while, though.

de727ups: My local airport (Smyrna, KMQY) is the most un-friendly civil airport out there. You'd think it was a military base, barbed wire fencing around the perimeter, ID cards to open gates, etc.. You can't even get to the FBO without possessing an ID card to get in, real bummer.

As a matter of fact, yesterday I went over there to check out an avionics shop. There were to fellas who worked there sitting on the porch, I asked "May I come in and browse around a bit?" They simply replied with "No..." I figured it was insurance, something like that. I was about to take out my AOPA card, but I figured it would do me no good.

This being said, there is no way to correspond with pilots as the fence is around 250 feet from the ramp area . Let me know if you ever come down to the Nashville area

cessna_driver2: I don't think there are any jobs left at our local airport, a friend's dad just got laid off from a mechanic shop. I'd be willing to scrub down the tarmac with a toothbrush, pretty much anything.


Once again guys, I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions!

 

[Flyguy6]

Well, its not as if once you do your 15-25 hours,you have to stop flying until you get 17 years old. I know these twin brothers that started when they were 15 years old. They both soloed on their 16th birthday. Nowm they have been flying , doing cross countries and flight planning. They will definantly be ready for their checkride on their 17th birthday. So, I would suggest that you fly and study and just develop your skill. Heck, build that dual time. It will only put you ahead of the game and keep you fresh on the skills.

 

[Jon-Kyle Mohr]

I know that, Flyguy6, but it would be waisting money as I would hit a wall by the time I am around 30 hours into it. I could do XCs, etc., but I think it would be smarter overall to wait and do maybe a lesson every 2-3 months.

 

[minitour]

Why couldn't you get your maneuvers up to PTS before you go on your first solo? Maybe even get a CFII to take you into some actual instead of doing the required 3 hours as simulated? How about starting Basic Attitude Instrument Control?

If you can get the Private Pilot stuff to PTS or better, I don't think you'll be wasting your time. Once a month would be good...maybe just an hour or two. Go on some dual cross countries. Once you really nail the Private stuff, maybe get some complex time or HP time (if you can). Try to go right seat (even though you can't log it) with a private pilot or an instrument pilot on some cross countries...

There's lots you could do...at least thats what I would have done. I would have loved to have flown once a month at 14 and just NAIL the PTS on the Private ride...by the time you're 17 you'll have well over 100 hours...be well on your way to the commercial...

-mini

 

[uwochris]

JonKyle,

Something to keep in mind... do not get too hooked on FS. You will be surprised once you start formal flight training about how different the two can be. FS is good for IFR stuff, but you shouldn't even be thinking about flying IFR until you got the VFR stuff down.

I used to play a lot of FS and it almost worked against me for the PPL training. I always had a hard time learning NOT to stare at the instruments, which is vital for your VFR training.

Just keep in mind that FS is a game, and not reality. Flying an airliner on the cp is nothing at all similar to flying one in real life. I am by no means an expert myself, but once you get to the higher levels, you will really have to develop a good understanding of not just procedures, but also systems, CRM, etc. You cannot learn these things in a computer game. And just because you can land a 737 on FS does not mean you can land one in real life I have spoken to people who think they can land a 747 just because they can do it on FS...

I guess what I am trying to say is slow down... do not rush your career, but by all means, do not go at a turtle's pace You are young, very young. Do not treat your youth as a "race" to the airlines. Realize that there is a lot of work involved in getting to the airlines- also realize that many people have fallen on hard times in this industry (very low pay, lay-offs, long periods of unemployment, etc). Keep the passion alive, work hard, and never give up. Try to spend your time away from FS, and put it towards something more useful (I would heavily recommend reading as many books as you can about PPL training... read groundschool books, take practice exams, etc). This will be much more useful than FS, in my opinion.

Good luck with your career, and never try to rush anything, because you will only end up forgetting about all the fun you had climbing the corporate ladder (ie. always take time to smell the roses ).

Chris.

 

[Jon-Kyle Mohr]

I know that FS can not accurately simulate real world flight dynamics, I merely fly in FS for fun. Put me in a 172 now and I could probably land it, but you'll need a new plane by the time I come to a stop

I went up in a 172 with CAP a couple months ago, I got to fly a bit of the time. I noticed that I too was looking down at the panel, but I noticed it and corrected the problem. I found an attitude that kept me at the right altitude and speed, made a reference mark (like the distance from the magnetic compass to the horizon line) to keep that attitude and took in all the scenery.

Even though I would be getting my IFR ticket later, you still should know how to track a VOR, ADF, etc.. I tracked a VOR while we were up and the pilot was rather impressed with my knowledge of IFR training, it was all from flightsim.

I am by no means an expert myself, but once you get to the higher levels, you will really have to develop a good understanding of not just procedures, but also systems, CRM, etc.

Have you by any chance seen the PMDG 737 series? It has all the procedures, FMC, etc.. I have a 125 page manual and thirty page checklist with all procedures explained. If you sat me in a real world 737 now I could more then likely do the whole start up and get you to the runway, but don't expect me to fly it!

I know FlightSim is a game, but it is a very accurate simulation of real life at the same time. It has kept me interested in aviation for a long while, as I've not had access to a plane. When I was 5 my father and I picked up FS, by the time I was 9 I was shooting CATII ILS approaches into ORD. I don't think I'll "give" flightsim up and go only reading about flying, Its a passion of mine and I enjoy doing it.

I also read a lot, AOPA flight training, etc.. I've found a ton of useful info about landing, VFR and IFR flight and more. Great stuff!

I am by no means "racing to the airlines", merely racing to the skies, as I love to fly

 

[de727ups]

You need to meet some people who are sympathetic to your cause. The guys at the avionics shop see you as a stupid kid who might steal their Garmin 430. Or they are just jerks. Might I suggest seeing if there is a local EAA chapter in your area. (www.eaa.org) Go to a meeting, stand up and say "I'm 14 and I'm a computer whiz. I love flying and I'd trade time in your airplane for helping you figure out how to get Service Pack 2 downloaded onto your computer or maybe help you out with a web site....please help me".

Honestly, I think you'll find someone who would help you out.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

You need to meet some people who are sympathetic to your cause. The guys at the avionics shop see you as a stupid kid who might steal their Garmin 430. Or they are just jerks. Might I suggest seeing if there is a local EAA chapter in your area. (www.eaa.org) Go to a meeting, stand up and say "I'm 14 and I'm a computer whiz. I love flying and I'd trade time in your airplane for helping you figure out how to get Service Pack 2 downloaded onto your computer or maybe help you out with a web site....please help me".

Honestly, I think you'll find someone who would help you out.

I like that. Take de727ups's advice and go for it. He always has great advice!

I was about your age when I took my first demo flight, I started flight training when I turned 15 and soloed shortly after my 16th BD following a PPL after 17 and everything else came after that.

Have fun and enjoy flying!

 

[Jon-Kyle Mohr]

Great idea, 727! There are two pretty close near by: http://eaa419.org/ and http://www.eaa162.org/ . I'll try to persuade my father into taking me to a meeting