Boris Tylevich
How to become a pilot after 30 years
One day I told my girlfriend, my future wife, that I had a dream to one day learn to fly. I was 30 years old, I wouldn’t be upset if it didn’t work out because it seemed unrealistic to me. For my birthday, she gave me a flight - “rides” in the Moscow region on a Yak-18T. This is a legendary Soviet flight training aircraft with a powerful engine.
They let me steer in the air - and that’s it, I was hooked. The instructor said that if you like it, you can learn to fly from them. Since then, every weekend I went to the airfield: studied, flew, communicated with experienced comrades. So I trained to be an amateur pilot - I passed tests and test flights, and received a license. After that, I began to spend even more time at airfields, flying with friends around the Moscow region and the country.
Gradually, I noticed that I was sitting in the office (at that time I was still working at Slando) and thinking only about flights the next weekend. Then we learned that the project was being closed - the work no longer aroused enthusiasm. This coincided with a loss of interest in Internet projects. But I read a lot and with enthusiasm about aerodynamics, meteorology, and aviation. It turned out that this is very close to my education - this is where real physics is.
I decided to change my profession because: I was tired of everything at my job, after the closure of the project we were paid bonuses, and I also found out that there are several pilots who completed their studies in the USA at about my age, and they were hired by Transaero. I decided to become a professional pilot. Then it seemed that now I would live a little frugally, on savings, and then I would get a job at Transaero, and everything would be fine. It all turned out completely wrong, but I haven’t regretted a single day.
I studied to become a commercial pilot with instrument ratings on single-engine and multi-engine aircraft in the USA. I found the school through a recommendation on Russian forums.
The USA has good infrastructure: hundreds of thousands of aircraft, tens of thousands of airfields, the rules are logical and understandable. It is cheaper to study there than in Europe. Europe is more regulated, the theoretical requirements are much higher. For a novice commercial pilot, they are, in my opinion, overpriced. Roughly speaking, in the USA you need to pass one exam out of 1.5 thousand questions, and in Europe there are 14 exams, where there are a thousand questions in each subject. In Europe, in terms of theoretical training, a beginner is immediately required to be a line pilot, and this is the next level after a commercial one. In my opinion, the training system in the USA is the most convenient and logical.
To become a pilot, you not only need to learn how to fly, but also learn many things. In the USA they just give you a book - go study, if you have questions, ask. That is, no one invests any knowledge in you. But you can study in a convenient way: for some, 4 months is enough, while others need a year to obtain a commercial pilot’s license with the necessary permits. Patriots of the Soviet school will say that this is not serious. Probably the truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.
My “classmates” in the USA were former IT specialists, lawyers, flight attendants, managers - people of completely different specialties and ages. We all trained to be commercial pilots to later work in aviation.
It was not possible to get into Transaero after studying. The company closed, the market shrank: there was little work, a lot of competition. For another year I continued to live mainly on savings.
To strengthen my skills, I looked for opportunities to fly for free. I attended instructor courses and worked for pennies just to fly. This allowed me to gain experience in flight hours (“flying hours”) and establish myself in the community, where I made many good friends, including students.
There was a time when I almost despaired: the crisis was not ending, there was no aviation work, I began to discuss with old colleagues in the Internet industry the possibility of freelancing or part-time work, and worked remotely for a couple of months.
And then, thanks to the recommendation of my boss at the flying club, I became a small jet pilot in business aviation. My partner is 55 years old - he has 30 years of experience and 15 thousand flight hours on various equipment. In aviation, it often happens that an experienced and less experienced pilot work together.
A year later, our plane was sold and a little more was taken. I was sent for training, and now I fly on a medium jet. You always want to master a bigger plane. Three years ago I was able to fly a twin-engine propeller plane weighing 4 thousand kilograms. Two years ago I learned to fly a 6 thousand kilogram jet. Last winter I learned on the 13-ton. I have room to grow.
About flight safety
Aviation is the safest mode of transport, and I know of no other industry where accidents and their causes are investigated in such a way, and information about them is disseminated throughout the entire aviation industry. Manufacturers, airlines and pilots - the whole world is learning from one case. In general, one mistake does not lead to disaster. Disaster happens when errors accumulate. Prevention of errors begins not with the night before the flight, but with training, with annual advanced training, with the airline management, which is sensitive to the maintenance of the aircraft.
However, sometimes attempts to prevent disasters lead to excessive regulation of the industry, which may even have a negative impact on flight safety and deprives those who decided to do so in adulthood from the opportunity to enter aviation. This is exactly how the situation developed in Russia.
Let me explain. There is a standard path to aviation - to study for three years at school at the expense of the state. But not everyone, especially as adults, is ready to live in barracks for three years. Such candidates are highly motivated. They, like me, trained at their own expense to become commercial pilots in independent training centers in Russia or the USA. Many, like me, received the second higher education at the university civil aviation.
But a couple of years ago, the Federal Air Transport Agency began to believe that such pilots were not real and began to deprive them of their licenses, instead of carefully studying their experience when in doubt. And many people have very good experience. Let's say, just last year I single-handedly transported five training aircraft from the USA to Russia, by the way, for Russian schools. But for the Federal Air Transport Agency I am an under-pilot, since I did not graduate from college, and it does not matter what real experience and knowledge I have. This is sad.
However, I am confident that those who want to fly will still be able to do so. I advise all readers to come to the flying club for an introductory flight. Starting to fly is much easier than it seems.
The profession of a pilot has always aroused interest among young men. In addition to the fact that it carries a certain amount of romance, it is also quite profitable. However, not all those who dream of the sky can become pilots, since this requires passing a rigorous professional selection process.
What pitfalls might those who wonder about how to become a pilot? In order to conquer the skies and become a pilot, you must obtain a flight certificate, which is also called a “flying license.” It is this document that confirms that you have successfully completed the training course and are ready to independently fly the aircraft entrusted to you.
Before you will be given the coveted certificate, you will have to go through a rigorous medical commission, special training, including practical and theoretical training, pass the relevant exams. You will also need to fly a certain number of hours. The easiest way to do this is by enrolling in a military flight school or the Civil Air Fleet Academy. Another opportunity to obtain a pilot's license is to study and acquire the necessary skills at a flying club.
Once you have completed the required training, you will be issued a flying license. There are three categories of “pilot's rights”, which are given sequentially one after another. In some cases, for example with integrated flight training higher school, it is allowed to “jump” over a category.
The first category has the international designation PPL and means that its owner is a private amateur pilot. Such pilots are prohibited from working for hire, and they can only fly for their own pleasure.
In most cases this is enough. However, if you are interested how to become a pilot and work on a ship operating international flights, you will need to continue your training and obtain a license of a higher category.
The second category is the CPL license, i.e. commercial pilot license. It is issued to all graduates of all flight universities. Pilots who have received this license are allowed to engage in commercial flights, however there are some limitations. For example, if the crew has at least two pilots, then the pilot with a commercial license is only allowed to serve as co-pilot.
The pinnacle of professional flying is obtaining an ATPL or Air Line Pilot License. This category is proof that you have extensive experience in flying aircraft and are qualified to be a crew chief and perform commercial flights.
What is the difference between a pilot and a pilot?
Pilot - this concept is used in military aviation.
Pilot - this word applies to civil aviation.
Each of the “flying license” categories is divided into subcategories that describe in more detail exactly what kind of flights you are allowed to take. This may include night flights, instrument flights, or multi-engine aircraft.
Having a pilot's license does not mean you will be immediately hired by a large international airline. Obtaining a certificate is not the most difficult thing you will have to go through. For any employer, what is much more important is how many flight hours you have, and this can cause problems. Quite often, young pilots are forced to earn the required flight hours in various flying clubs, paying for every minute spent in the sky from their own pockets.
If you see yourself in the captain's chair of a foreign company's airliner, it is advisable to study abroad. The requirements of many foreign airlines differ from Russian ones. In addition, it is much easier to obtain a foreign license than to convert our domestic one into an international one.
Of course, becoming a pilot, both military and civil aviation, is quite difficult, but nothing is impossible about it! If you are raving about the sky, and rising above the clouds is your cherished desire, then you just need to show persistence, and you will definitely succeed!
As children, many boys dream of becoming pilots and conquering airspace. This profession carries a certain amount of romance and is available only to real men.
But in order to sit at the controls of an airplane, you need to go through a rigorous selection process and receive a flight certificate that confirms your passage. special training. Where are flying licenses issued? And what qualities should a pilot have?
Any young man who decides to take flight training after school must understand that controlling a multi-ton aircraft in the air is not an easy task. The pilot needs not only to have perfect knowledge of air navigation and aircraft design, but also to have a quick reaction, excellent physical fitness, internal concentration, remain calm even in critical situations and be able to strictly follow all instructions.
Punctuality, responsibility, developed thinking are also important qualities that a pilot needs during flights.
To realize your desire and master the flying profession, young man it is necessary to undergo long and painstaking training. 
Today in Russia there are three categories of certificates, which are issued sequentially during the study process. The first is an amateur pilot, which allows you to fly “for yourself,” that is, for your own pleasure.
To work on commercial flights, you need to obtain the second category - commercial pilot. It allows you to fly a small aircraft or work as a co-pilot as part of a crew. To fly large aircraft in large airlines, a third category will be required - line pilot, which indicates extensive experience and good skills in air navigation.
If the first category can be obtained in ordinary flying clubs, then the second and third are issued only after training at flight schools and institutes. There are civilian and military educational institutions, so before enrolling, a young man needs to more accurately decide on his choice of profession.
In any case, enrollment is possible only after passing a medical examination and confirmation. There are aviation universities in many cities and regions of Russia - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ulyanovsk, Omsk, Ryazan and Saratov regions. The Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) is considered one of the best, offering students a wide choice of programs and areas of training.
A civil aviation pilot is a very responsible profession, because during a flight he is responsible not only for himself, but also for the lives of tens or hundreds of people. 
To get the opportunity to fly an airliner, after completing your studies at an aviation institute, you need to undergo an internship and fly a certain number of hours. But even if you receive a line pilot certificate, this does not mean that you will have access to all types of flights.
Flights are divided into many categories, such as long-haul flights or overnight flights. Admission to certain types of flights can be obtained only after completing internships or requalification with the appropriate mark on the pilot's license.
A military pilot is not only a responsible profession, but also quite dangerous. Young men who want to enlist in the military need to understand that in the future they may have to take part in combat or fly in extreme conditions.
The first step towards service in the Air Force is enlistment educational institution, and then – long practical training. After this, the pilot is given a direction to military unit, where he can sign a contract and start working.
If you want to become a test pilot, then you can only undergo training in special flight schools located in Akhtubinsk and Zhukovsky.
Young people have several paths to obtaining the profession of pilot-cosmonaut.
The first is admission to a military aviation university, followed by strict selection for medical and legal reasons. 
The second is mastering technical specialty at one of the aviation institutes with further employment at the Energia rocket and space corporation. Here you can learn all the intricacies of rocket science, and then submit an application to the commission responsible for training astronauts.
If you have firmly decided to connect your destiny with civil aviation, but do not know where to go to study to become a pilot, how much it costs and what prospects are open for young pilots, then in this article we will try to answer the questions posed.
Where to go to study to become a civil aviation pilot
Future civil aviation pilots are trained in specialized flight schools and in specialized courses.
There are only a few universities in Russia that teach this specialty, the largest of which is the University of Civil Aviation, located in St. Petersburg. On the basis of St. Petersburg University there are 8 faculties that train both pilots directly and ground specialists in this field.
The second major aviation university is located in Ulyanovsk - the Higher Aviation School of Civil Aviation, and the Moscow Aviation Institute, which mainly specializes in training technicians in aviation.
Where to study to become a pilot in Belarus
There is an aviation faculty at the Military Academy, located in the Brest region of the Republic of Belarus, which teaches not only to become an aircraft pilot-engineer, but also to become a helicopter pilot, as well as a military pilot and a specialist in the management of aviation radio-electronic systems. The duration of training in all specialties is 5 years.
In addition to the military academy in Minsk there is the Belarusian state academy Aviation" (MGVAK), where there is a faculty of civil aviation, within which there is a specialty "Aeronautics", having entered there you may be sent to study on the territory of Russia at the Ulyanovsk Higher Flight School.
In the Republic of Belarus, you can learn to fly in private helicopter clubs, where you will be individually taught all the intricacies of helicopter piloting under the supervision of instructors. To study in the club you do not need experience, training takes place “from scratch”, the main thing is that you have a secondary specialized or higher education in any specialty and your health allows you to pilot a helicopter (a special certificate is needed).
The course lasts 40 hours, which includes training in the theoretical part of piloting and control. by air and the practical part (direct flights).
Upon completion of the courses, a diploma is issued.
How much does it cost to study to become a pilot?
If you are currently serving in the army, then admission to the military faculty is free for you; after studying at the Military Academy or at the Moscow State Higher Educational Institution, you will be awarded the officer rank.
Admission to civil aviation can be paid, so in MGVAK (with study in Ulyanovsk) the fee will be 119,060 Russian rubles per year. Education at the military school is free.
Prices for pilot training companies vary, as it all depends on how many hours you want to fly; an hour of flight costs from 10,000,000 BYN. RUB, theoretical part from 5,200,000 BYR, notes from 2,500,000 BYR.
How long does it take to study to become a pilot?
In flight schools, training lasts 5 years, in private schools 40-45 days.
Conditions for admission to flight schools
In all educational institutions The requirements for a future pilot are very high. Must have good health, you should not have any chronic diseases, and your psyche should be stable. Honey. the certificate is issued by a special medical flight commission (VLEK), accompanied by a certificate of passing a psychological examination (PO).
Without a health certificate you will not be hired even private school.
The military academy has gender and age restrictions: girls and people over 23 years old are not accepted.
Is it worth studying to be a pilot?
Due to the rarity of the profession and strict selection, already at the stage of studying at the school, an employer (most likely an airline) will find you if you have entered military school and graduated from it, your entire subsequent life will most likely be associated with serving the state.
Many people in love with the sky are trying to conquer its vast expanses. How to become a professional pilot? It's not easy. However, endurance, willpower and a great desire to move forward will allow anyone to learn this difficult profession.
Russian legislation gives the right to issue flight permits in three categories:
- amateur pilot;
- commercial pilot;
- line pilot.
How to become a pilot? This question haunts many amateurs and beginners in the field of aviation. To realize your dream, you need to accurately understand and realize all the difficulties and problems that a pilot may encounter. Learning to fly is a long and labor-intensive process that includes the following:
- receiving special education at the university;
- training at a flying club;
- obtaining a pilot's license.
Studying at a university
How to become an airplane pilot? Complete training at a flight school or university. This process is the longest and most labor-intensive, on average it takes five years. In Russia there are two flight public schools, which are located in St. Petersburg and Ulyanovka, the remaining institutions are branches.
To enter such institutions, a potential pilot must have exceptional health and endurance, so the first step on the path to training is passing sports standards: timed running (100 m and 1000 m), pull-ups on the horizontal bar. If the commission is satisfied with the student’s results, then he enters. It is important to note that if health conditions deteriorate during training, a potential pilot may be expelled from the university.
Mostly in schools they study theory, which is taught according to various directions: aircraft design, flight manual, aircraft navigation, aviation medicine and more. Upon completion of the course, the pilot is issued a diploma.
Having received the necessary knowledge, a person begins to practice. To get a job as a pilot, a graduate needs to fly about two hundred hours on an airplane.
Training at the flying club
How to become a pilot? Any specialist must constantly improve and improve their skills. This is where various courses organized in flying clubs come to the rescue, where experienced teachers will talk about new products in the field of aviation and supervise test flights.
If a person intends to become an amateur pilot, then he only needs to pass full course at the flying club without primary education at the Academy of Civil Aviation. However, the Federal Air Transport Agency requires a large amount of practical and theoretical knowledge from flying club pilots.
At the very first lesson, the beginner will be asked to make a test flight together with the instructor and will be told about the operation of the main instruments on the aircraft control panel.
The pilot will have to master theoretical training on his own, since training in flying clubs is largely aimed at practice and flying hours.
At the end of the course, the newly qualified pilot undergoes a medical commission of VLEK GA (medical flight expert commission) for professional suitability.
It is important to know that only flying clubs that have all the necessary certificates and licenses are granted the right to carry out professional activities within the framework of the current law.
Documents
An amateur pilot who has completed training at a flying club receives an appropriate certificate, which gives him the right to fly solo flights on light aircraft, but limits employment.
A flight academy graduate receives a commercial pilot certificate, which allows him to become the pilot of single-engine and multi-engine aircraft.
The most difficult thing for a line pilot is to obtain a flight license of the appropriate level. The total flight time must be one and a half thousand hours, and the health requirements are increased.
Commercial and line pilots are divided into classes, of which the third is the lowest, the second is the middle, and the first is the highest.
How to become a civil aviation pilot?
A specialist with a commercial flight certificate has the right to apply for work. How to become a civil aviation pilot is explained to him at the airline where he is going to work. The procedure for recruiting a pilot into the workforce in most cases does not undergo changes.
After training at a flight school, a newly minted specialist can only apply for the role of co-pilot of the crew.
How to become a civil pilot:
- A commercial pilot license is required;
- passing exams: theory and practice;
- medical examination;
- availability of the required hours of flight time.
To become a line pilot, achieve the highest category and get a job with major airlines, you must have extensive experience in flying commercial flights, both as a co-pilot and as a crew chief.
How to become an Aeroflot pilot?
Aeroflot is the largest airline and national carrier of Russia, operating domestic and international flights around the world. It is prestigious and honorable to work there. The airline strictly selects its employees, as it requires only highly professional personnel.
How to become an airplane pilot? Aeroflot has established its own flight schools and developed personnel retraining programs. When starting a job, a pilot must have a commercial license with him.
The first stage of the one-and-a-half-year training takes place at the Ulyanovsk School of Civil Aviation. Aeroflot's school then spends six months preparing the pilot to obtain a Commercial Pilot License or Multi-crew Pilot License.
The cost of training in the amount of twenty-seven thousand dollars is paid by the pilot himself. Aeroflot provides its employee with a loan for this amount on the condition that he must work for the airline for five years. From monthly wages he will be deducted an amount of $450 to pay off the loan.
To save money cash the company decided to train its cadets on a light twin-engine Diamond Aircraft aircraft of Austrian origin. Also, the Aeroflot school is equipped with the latest simulators, which allows you to carry out many manipulations on the ground.
The airline offers accelerated retraining courses worth $100,000. Down payment The cadet pays for the amount of 55 thousand dollars on his own, and Aeroflot provides a loan for the remaining amount.
Helicopter flights
How to become a helicopter pilot? In many Russian cities there are centers for training pilots to work with various brands helicopters. Almost everyone dreams of flying a rotorcraft, but not everyone succeeds in becoming a professional pilot.
Anyone who enrolls in such courses masters a theoretical and practical knowledge base. Helicopter control training takes place individually with an experienced instructor.
The pricing policy for rotorcraft pilot training courses consists of a number of factors:
- presence or absence of primary aviation education;
- preferred type of helicopter (Robinson R44, Eurocopter, Bell, Agusta and others);
- quantity practical classes and general raid.
Several teaching methods have been developed in schools: for beginners and virtuoso professionals who want to take an advanced training course.
Upon successful completion of training, the cadet is issued a state-issued civil aviation amateur pilot certificate.
Fighter piloting
How to become a fighter pilot? Currently, the most popular Russian fighters are the MIG-31 and Su-27. They are also where pilots are trained.
Fighter pilot is a very risky and adrenaline-filled profession. At the flight school, cadets practice techniques and methods of correct and accurate flight. On average, each pilot must fly one hundred hours during the year.
The practical training course includes the following:
- flights according to the combat training plan;
- restoration of lost skills of flight personnel;
- performing various types of tasks from the military crew;
- program for refueling aircraft in the air during the day and at night.
It is very important to master the technique of refueling fighters in the sky, since this is quite difficult to do: at a speed of 600 km/h you need to get into the fuel tanker hose. With the help of refueling, the flight duration increases to five hours.
All tricks and interception methods are practiced on the latest simulators
Fighters that accurately repeat all tactics and movements.
After five years of hard work, professional first-class fighter pilots graduate. They join the Air Force.
Military pilot
How to become a military pilot? It is necessary to graduate from the civil flight school, and then from the Air Force Academy. Yu. Gagarin.
It is important to know that working as a military pilot is a service in the Russian Air Force, and it includes all government benefits and programs.
Young people over 18 years of age, after a full medical examination, can begin military service. In addition to a medical examination by doctors, the cadet will have to undergo a neurological and psychological examination. If he fails to meet at least one of the criteria, he will not be accepted into the Air Force.
Any potential military pilot must have the following qualities:
- bravery;
- responsibility;
- endurance;
- high intelligence;
- stable psyche.
Undoubtedly, the profession of a pilot is prestigious and honorable. You can learn about how to become a pilot and a truly professional in your field at specialized institutions, having discussed all the conditions and rules for admission. The most important thing is that the pilot must be truly in love with the sky, constantly develop, improve and go towards his goal in spite of all the difficulties that arise.
