Airplanes, helicopters, jet fighters, radar planes, and small "puddle-jumpers!" All kinds of aircraft for all kinds of things! They're a big part of today's modern world and they all need somebody to fly them.

Many pilots work for airlines, flying passengers all over the country and around the world. Air Force pilots fly planes to defend the country. Coast Guard pilots rescue people in trouble at sea. Some helicopter pilots take workers out to ships in the ocean and bring them home again. Others pick people up from the top of skyscrapers. And some pilots fly planes that keep track of the weather.

The Real Deal

What's a pilot's life really like? Of course, pilots get to go to faraway places. And, they're needed all over the country and all over the world, so they can live almost anyplace. Besides, wherever they go, they can fly home again.

Pilots work strange hours. They might start work in the middle of the night and not finish for 15 hours. But they don't work every day. Sometimes, they have a few days off before it's time to go back to work. Many pilots like going to different places and not having the same schedule all the time.

Do pilots just climb into the plane and take off? There's a lot more to being a pilot than that. They use radio equipment and read radar screens. They plan their flights-where, when, how high, how fast, and more. They have to get their crew ready, check the aircraft to make sure it's okay to fly, and know about the weather.

Experience and Education

What does it take to be a pilot? You must have a lot of energy, be very organized, and pay attention to details. Of course, you need to know how to fly. Even then, pilots need to fly many, many hours before they can work for an airline.

But, where do you start to become a pilot? Many pilots learn to fly and get their experience in the military. Others take flying lessons, become flight instructors, and get jobs that start with flying small planes. Usually, you don't need a college degree, but it helps. Being good in math helps too, because pilots must handle a lot of numbers and details, plan, organize, and think clearly to make decisions. Math and science help you to do those things.

 

What You Can Do Now

How can you get ready to be a pilot? You should find out all you can about aircraft and flying. Checking out books and Web sites is a good idea. If you live near an airport, especially a small one, you can go there with an adult to see what happens, and maybe you'll even have a chance to talk to somebody who flies planes. You might be able to do this through scouting or a youth group. Meanwhile, remember-work on your math and science!