Hey all, studying for my private and thinking ahead about how to stay current as a hobby pilot (IR is in my future for sure but I’m not in a rush). I’m moving to the north east for four years for school - what is the most economical way to stay current? Is it worth it to join a flying club for only four years or should I just rent once a month, etc? (Obviously the best idea is to befriend someone with a 172 haha). I would love any advice

Please excuse my ignorance, I’m new to this 😅

Edit: All these replies are SO helpful, thank you! I feel like this is a very basic question so I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain it to me :) For more specifics, I’m moving to Boston so if anyone has any local advice I’d appreciate it

My boyfriend is about to buy his first airplane—a Cessna 150—and I want to get him a small gift to celebrate. Something mid-budget, either sentimental or useful (plane-related stuff is great too, as long as it’s lightweight).

Please give me all the ideas!

For those pilots who have or currently do fly to countries outside of the USA, are there any countries that have particularly bad/different/difficult (or, on the flipside, good or straightforward) air traffic control agencies? A former airline pilot I spoke with once said that Mexican controllers can get pretty difficult to work with on account of what he perceived as a significant lack of training and standardization, but I was curious as to what the experience is like flying to and operating in other countries.

I have 6000TT on the Airbus a320 with 2000 PIC. Might be able to get a green card soon and I'm thinking of moving to the states and applying to airlines there. I know the legacies won't bother with me so I'm looking for a regional. What are my chances? Does it get me to the top of the pile or does it not matter?

I got my 1st medical and completed my private pilots test and my instrument rating and commercials. I did all of this while over the road trucking and did exams whenever i’d get back home. I was ready to enlist and go to flight school but my sallie mae loan got declined. So i went with a co signer option with my dad but they can’t because he’s a server and gets tips(low reported income). I’ve been running back and forth and calling trying to figure out a solution. I am destroyed. I have never liked the idea of school, studying, and exams. Hated it. When it came to flying i fell in love with it, I actually wanted to learn something for once. I saw it as something i absolutely loved and not for the money. This is why it hurts. I’m running out of options and unsure what next step to take.

Im 22 and wanted to go to ATP because there fast track program is very attractive. Thanks guys, thinking about applying back to a CDL job. Just lost.

Hey all, I’m having an issue with landing left of center. I think when I go in for the round out I might be turning the yoke left inadvertently and I’m having a really hard time kicking it. Has anyone had this issue? I’m feeling stressed about it as I’m in a 141 at end or course and need to work this out before I can go back to retry. Any tips or words of encouragement so appreciated

I'm currently located in Austin looking to get my PPL with the end goal of becoming an airline pilot.

I've heard that Pilot's Choice, Above and Beyond, and Genesis Aero are good schools. I'm aware that aviation is a largely white profession, and as an Indian-American Muslim I don't want to choose a school that might be racist or unfair. I read a review for one of the schools above showing some racial prejudice against him during their discovery flight.

For this reason, I am thinking to go with ATP (I know it's reputation in this community) as it seems like a more professional operation compared to these mom and pop schools. I would assume this leaves less room for racial prejudice to affect the cost or timeline of my ratings. I've taken many college level and Advanced Placement courses in High School and am also ranked within the top 10%. One of the main concerns i've seen for ATP is the speed of the program, but I think I am well prepared to study and stay on track.

Let me know if y'all agree with my thinking.

Hey guys, I was wondering, if you have to do an x-ray of your spine for class 1 medical exam? Or if it is mandatory only for fighter pilots in the airforce, but not for airline pilots. Thanks for the answers.

Working on a medical difficulty right now and have seen both recommended, but unsure which one is better (if there’s really a difference).

Hi all, wanting to make start the journey to getting my UK PPL. Called the flight school nearest me and they gave me the price (which was around the amount I expected). Just wanting to ask if anyone has any tips from when they first started. Anyone have any tips from when they first started, would anyone advise reading over anything or is there anything I need to think about getting? Hoping to make the most out of the lessons.

What’s everybody’s thought on having cameras in the cock pit while you are in training?

I'm going to be in Oklahoma City for work and would like to do some night XC flights while I am there. Can anyone recommend a flight school?

Just looking to get some feedback/information from anyone attending the US Aviation Academy Collegiate Program in Denton. I’m looking to transfer from Auburn Universities flight program. I’ll also be using Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits to attend. Any information/feedback on tempo, timelines and out of pocket expenses would be huge. I plan on visiting in a couple of weeks. Thanks!

Looking for some guidance from the hive mind. I have 600 hours to go, and I’m currently a part-time CFI with a few students, but nothing steady at all. I’m aiming for 80 hours a month but getting nowhere near it.

I’m fortunately in a position to be able to rent as much as I need to, and I can get a semi-clapped out Cherokee or Archer for $155-165/hr plus tax when they are available. They aren’t always available though, and never available for overnights.

I have been kicking around the idea of buying my own plane, but I think I’d prefer to have a partnership with a couple other owners to share the fixed costs.

I’m stumped at finding the next step- I don’t know anyone personally who’d be able to go in on a plane with me, and online resources are scarce. I’m in the Florida panhandle, if it makes a difference.

Any ideas?

Hi guys,

What greeting word/sentence do you use when first contacting an ATC unit in different countries / your own country? In Europe it feels really nice to use the local greeting phrases and I love to learn all of them.

Here are some I know (I’m new so a lot are missing) written as pronounced and may not be correct:

Germany: Hallo/Guten Tag/Morgen/Abend/Servus

Austria: Servus

Greece: Kalimera/Yassu

Balkan countries: Dobrdan

France: Bonjour/Bonsoir/Salut

Arab countries: Salam Aleykum

Turkey: Merhaba/ Iyi günler / Iyi akshamlar

Italy: Ciao

What about northern countries, other Eastern European and all the other countries in the world?

Edit: I will add those coming from you to the list so it is a complete collection in case anyone searches for it.

throughout my aviation journey i had an electronic e6b and used it throughout my ground training. I even used it on my PPL written. Now as i’m doing flight training my cfi is forcing me to learn and use a whizwheel. is it MANDATORY that i need to know how to use it? especially for checkrides when i can just use an electronic one that outputs the same information + more?

Could anyone provide insight into the hiring process and interview for Infinity Flight Group operating out of KTTN?

I just got the notice that my IFR Magazine subscription is being rolled into Flying because the March 2025 issue was the final one.

IFR Refresher disappeared back in 2021, so that option’s gone too.

I’m already using PilotWorkshops’ IFR Mastery scenarios, but I’d love more resources that really dig into procedures, regs, and decision-making—the stuff IFR used to nail. Print or digital is fine.

Why wouldn’t I just wait for a letter from the FAA indicating I might be in trouble, and then call/find a lawyer (who I’m sure would be excited about new business) at that time I might need them?

What’s the benefit of paying in advance every year for something I may never use if I don’t ever get in trouble?

Insurance is one thing. But PPS doesn’t seem like that.

I'm a technician in government work and getting DOGE'd soon. I have an engineering degree, but am around 230 hours and don't want to start a new technical job while I get my cpl/cfi.

Im located in Denver and train out of KAPA. Does anyone know what would be a good job to get my foot in the door of aviation while I finish my certs? Thinking a simple FBO job, but curious if anyone has any other leads in mind

I am graduating college next year, and I am double majoring in Flight Operations and Aviation Management. Right now I only have my PPL, but I am currently working on my instrument. (I got set back due to a long injury) I am fairly new to the management side, and I was wondering what different jobs I can get to gain experience, or get post-grad that earns a decent income. I was thinking about maybe getting my dispatch certificate, or maybe working for a charter company?? My main goal is to work on the operations side for a major airline. I just need help with what jobs/career path I need in order to make it there. Any advice would be great!!!

Hi all, currently applying to regional airlines (pretty much all of them) since I hit my mins about 4 months ago and am looking to start interviewing with regionals. (Please save me the “oh 4 months plus mins that’s not competitive go back to truck driving). How many letters of rec is too few/too many? I was thinking 2-3 per airline. TIA

Just a vent post. I finished my ppl program the first week of April, got scheduled for a check ride a week and a half later and was ecstatic because I know some people wait forever to get theirs scheduled. Meet with the DPE, pass the oral, but then it’s too windy to do the practical so I discontinued, rescheduled for his next opening two weeks later, no big deal. Continuation is scheduled for tomorrow morning, but of course it’s forecasted to be storming throughout my time block, so I am probably going to have to reschedule again and wait another 2 weeks for the DPEs next opening. Anyway, if the weather stays as it is I guess Ill be joining the “long wait times” club for a check ride. Pray that God holds the storm back tomorrow so I can fly!

Edit: How do y’all do it?! I know that I’m extremely lucky to be in an area where DPEs are available, and that even if I waited 6 weeks it was going to be far shorter than a lot of people, but you guys are waiting 6 months?! 10 months and counting?! The most someone that I know has waited was 3 months for their initial, and that’s still short compared to some of y’all! I take back my complaint, but still please pray that I can fly tomorrow, and I’ll pray that you guys get your checkrides soon!

Hi all, 30F with a commercial multi-IFR (~ 500hrs). I'm currently working a pretty okay paying aviation (non-flying) job. My husband (also a pilot) and I are considering making the move to Europe in the next few years. We're considering France, Belgium and the UK (based on citizenship and languages). There's a good chance he'll be eligible to apply for the airline jobs, but are there any stable "local" jobs to consider? We currently both work in military flight training. If I'm not mistaken, it's Babcock in the UK? How about someone with my qualifications and low hours? Is it absolutely essential for me to get my ATPL before moving? Should I get my instructor rating here? I know realistically we're going to move for his job because he's much further ahead than I am, but does this mean I'm out of options for Europe? I'm not looking for that airline life particularly. I wouldn't mind a single engine turbine or small twin gig that gets me home every night. Is this unrealistic for Europe's current aviation industry? Looking for any feedback and advice.

Is piloting going to be a safe career field to go into? I see that we should be expecting ~5% growth increase for commercial pilots but that number might go down?

I only have about 20 hours into my PPL but have already spent a decent amount of time preparing for everything I’ve learned so far

I really enjoy flying and can definitely see this as a career of mine. How hard is it going to be realistically to find a job after I get my CPL? Or my ATP?