What is it like to be a Student Pilot? 

For anyone to fulfill their dreams and become a pilot they have to procure certain ratings which we talk about in another article. The way to obtain these ratings can vary greatly but what is required regardless of the route taken is that for each rating a student must pass a written and practical test after meeting certain requirements (there are some exceptions to this). While we do not have the time or foresight to break down every flight program that exists, we can take a close look Axiom Aviation’s’ program and what it is like to be a student pilot at Axiom. 

Weekly Commitment

The standard weekly time commitment for full-time students at Axiom is 5 days per week and 6 hours per day. The 6 hours are typically broken up as follows: 3 hours will be spent at Axiom which is further broken down into 1 hour of ground instruction with a flight instructor, and a 2-hour flight block. The other 3 hours are spent studying. Students may study at Axiom or at home. The choice is theirs but we encourage studying at the school as it helps limit distractions and other students and instructors are always willing to help students with any questions they have.

At 5 days per week, students can expect to commit at least 30 hours per week towards flight training which does include time spent studying. (Note: These hours are averages and will fluctuate from day to day). In addition to this minimum commitment, Axiom offers weekly ground school for students which is optional to attend but is strongly encouraged. These group grounds offer students a great way to refresh their knowledge and study with other students. It is important to understand that these classes do not replace the ground a student does with their instructor. 

As far as a daily schedule is concerned, the details of each day are worked out between an instructor and their student. This means that an instructor makes the schedule but communicates with the student to ensure that it works for both of them. For example, if a student can meet anytime before 1400 the student can expect to complete their daily training at the school by 1400 every day with the exact details being worked out with the instructor. 

Note: Students can fly more than 5 days per week if they wish but it should be noted that for each flight hour a student flies, they will need to spend at least 3 hours studying. This is not a firmly enforced number but is the standard. 

Part-Time Students

The majority of students at Axiom are full-time, but not everyone can commit 30-40+ hours per week to flight training. For those students, Axiom offers part-time options. The daily time commitment remains the same for these students, but they generally do not meet as often. These students can choose how many days per week they meet with their instructor ranging from a minimum of 2 up to as many as 7 days per week. 

For example, if a student wants to do 3 days per week they can expect to commit 6 hours per day for each day they are scheduled to fly. Let’s say a student wants to meet with their instructor on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Every Monday they can expect to meet for 3 hours. The 3 hours they need to spend studying can occur the same day but this student could do their studying on Tuesday if they wanted to in preparation for Wednesday’s lesson. 

Can I have a job while I attend flight school? 

Unlike many other flight schools, Axiom does not restrict its students from working while in training. While everyone is different and has unique life circumstances, in general, full-time students following the standard pace of 5 days per week are typically able to work a part-time job throughout their training. Occasionally a student will work full-time and do school full-time. This has been done successfully on multiple occasions but will generally result in the program taking longer than anticipated.

Conclusion

Everyone has a unique schedule and personal circumstances that will affect the amount of time that they can dedicate to flight training. Only the student can know exactly what they can commit but we strongly encourage students to pursue full-time training if at all possible as the more a student puts into their training the more they will get out of it, resulting in them retaining more information and finishing school faster. 

Have questions about Student Pilot Life? Reach out to us at 262-297-4568 Or shoot us an email at info@flyaxiom.com 

The post The Pilot Life: Life as a Full-Time Student at Axiom Aviation appeared first on Axiom Aviation.

Programs Offered

The flight school offers four training programs. The first is the Zero to Hero Program. This program takes students with little to no flight training and gives them the knowledge, skills, and ratings needed to become an airline pilot. This program is offered at both the St.George and Ogden locations. Students can expect to complete this program in under a year if they attend full-time. Meaning they attend school five times per week.

Axiom Aviation also offers flight training for students who already have a PPL and are looking to earn the remaining ratings needed to prepare them for the airlines. This program, known as the Private Credit Program, can be completed in under eight months.

For those looking to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL), the school offers a program for this as well. In under three months, dedicated students may earn their wings and fulfill their dream of becoming a pilot.

Axiom Aviation also offers a unique Accelerated Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Program. This program prepares commercial pilots to become some of the best instructors in the industry. It is available to both pre-existing Axiom students and those from other schools. This offering makes Axiom Aviation one of the only flight schools in Utah to offer a CFI program to outside students. This course may be completed in under a month.

For students in unique situations, Axiom offers the ability to tailor training around a student’s specific requirements. 

Financing

Full tuition financing is available to Axiom Aviation students through our several financing partners. All programs may be financed. Even students using tailor-made programs may take advantage of this financing option.  

SkyWest Partnership

Axiom Aviation has a top-tier partnership with SkyWest Airlines. As the nation’s largest regional airline, SkyWest offers new pilots the perfect opportunity to fulfill their dreams while making a living. The airline has a strong presence at the flight school by providing regular seminars and assigning each student an airline mentor. Students will be automatically enrolled into the airline’s cadet program, giving them a seniority number to help better their situation once they reach the airline.

Meet the Fleet

Axiom has one of the most capable fleets of any flight school in Utah. The fleet primarily consists of Cessna R172K XP airplanes. These Cessna’s are similar to what other flight schools in the region fly. The primary difference is that the XP’s are equipped with High Performance 210 Horse-Power engines. These enhanced engines give the 172 Skyhawk added performance that is critical in the summer months for high-altitude mountain flying. Just take a look at any airfield in Utah, and you will notice Axiom’s planes outperforming other flight school fleets time and time again. 

The school uses a Piper Twin-Commanche for its multi-engine training. The twin-engine aircraft provides vital training for anyone looking to become an airline pilot.

Final Thoughts

Axiom Aviation Flight School provides a world-class experience for anyone looking to acquire flight training in Utah. Locations at both ends of the state provide easy access for anyone with the courage to follow their dreams. The professional CFIs at the schools do everything they can to give the students the best learning experience possible while they attend Axiom. All programs include access to the school’s first-class ground school, WifiCFI. 

Regardless of how much or little flight training you may have, feel free to contact us about starting or continuing a memorable path through the skies. 

Interested in learning more about becoming a pilot? Give us a call or send us a text at (262)297-4568. Or email us at info@flyaxiom.com 

The post What Axiom Aviation Offers Aspiring Pilots appeared first on Axiom Aviation.

Basic Requirements

To understand what is required for a person to begin flight training, we must first examine the firm absolute minimum requirements to become a pilot. 

Dual Received- When a person receives flight training from a flight instructor, they may log it as dual received in their log book. This is the most rudimentary level of flight training. There is no age limit regarding logging dual received, meaning that, in theory, flight training can begin at any age. 

Pilot in Command- A pilot may log flight time as Pilot in Command (PIC) once they have a Private Pilot License (PPL) and are certified in the aircraft they are flying or they are a student on a solo flight.

Most flight instructors (CFI) won’t begin training new pilots until they are at least 16, as that is the minimum age to fly an airplane solo. 17 is the minimum age required for a student to obtain a PPL. A couple of other important age limits to note are that the minimum age to obtain a Commercial Pilot License (CAX) is 18. The minimum age to obtain a restricted Airline Transport Pilot License (ATP) is 21. The unrestricted ATP license requirement is 23. 

To aspiring pilots in their teen years, don’t let the age restriction for ATP pilots discourage you. It is recommended that you get your PPL as soon as you can. The Aviation world is a small one where everyone seems to know everyone, and experience means everything. If you plan to become a pilot, get into the industry as soon as possible and start building those flight hours. Be sure to smile and get to know as many people along the way as you can. 

Education Requirements for Starting Flight School

There is no official education requirement for a student to begin flight training; however, most structured flight schools do have select requirements. These requirements typically pertain to students looking to undergo the entire flight training program, which prepares them to become airline pilots. Most airlines no longer require a bachelor’s degree; however, it is highly recommended. Most only require a high school diploma aside from flight training. 

Flight schools associated with public universities will have their own requirements, but most schools, such as Axiom Aviation, only require a high school diploma or equivalent to start flight training. But, obtaining a college degree beforehand is recommended as it makes a candidate more competitive when applying to airlines, and it helps them prepare to undergo the difficult flight training process. Most schools will make an exception to the diploma rule for those still in high school. 

Knowledge Requirements

Most students question if they are mentally prepared for flight school. They wonder what and how much they should study beforehand. Different schools have different requirements, but what is shared between them is the agreement that you should get as much training as possible before you begin, specifically on ground material (general book knowledge, not flying). 

If your school has specific study material like Axiom does, be sure to master that before beginning flight school; it will make a big difference in how difficult the first few months of flight school are. Other sources such as youtube and other ground training materials can be beneficial; just make sure to cross-check them against FAA materials, as humans make mistakes and regulations are constantly changing. 

Some flight schools require students to pass their PPL written test before attending flight school. Axiom’s instructor-led ground school is a great way to prepare for this test, so you can study with the same instructors who will be training you in the airplane. 

It is important to remember that becoming a pilot is a challenging but achievable goal. Flight school requires a student to spend a substantial amount of time every day studying and practicing in the air and on the ground. The more you can do before you start training, the better. I tell all new students to treat flight school like medical school, and you will do just fine. 

For questions regarding flight training, give us a call at (262)Ax-Pilot, or send us an email at info@flyaxiom.com 

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For years aspiring pilots have continuously heard about the ongoing pilot shortage as it seems to be the excuse for every shortcoming in the airline industry. Fortunately for aspiring pilots, it is the cause of many problems. Because of this, opportunities are opening for new pilots at a dramatic rate. Employers also have to pay pilots more to attract new candidates and retain their existing staff. But why does the shortage exist? How long will it last? And what does it mean for aspiring pilots?

Current State of Things

Across the country, airlines are increasing pay and benefits for pilots. The most significant pay increases came last year when most regional carriers doubled pilot pay. Major carriers have also increased pilot pay dramatically by giving all pilots substantial bonuses of up to 30%. Major carriers, such as Delta, United, American, Southwest, and Alaska, have also been lowering their hiring minimums, making it easier for young pilots to move up to a major carrier.

Regional airlines, on the other hand, remain the entry point for most pilots. With the minimum flight hours set at a firm 1500, these regional carriers are struggling to acquire and retain a sufficient number of pilots. While some pilots stay at a regional airline for their entire careers, most move on to larger carriers; because of this, many major carriers have been able to reduce their internal hiring requirements to only 2500 or 2000 hours. By doing so, they drain the regionals of their pilots but temporarily fix their own problems.

This is great news to aspiring pilots as all airlines are increasing pay and doing whatever it takes to acquire more pilots. New pilots now have countless opportunities that were not previously available. Many of these opportunities lie outside of the airlines also. With airlines paying more, many other pilot job positions, such as flying charter and corporate, are opening up as many of their pilots are leaving to make more money at an airline. There is no better time than now to start an aviation career.

If Being a Pilot is so Lucrative, Why is there a Shortage?

Since the Wright Brothers first took to the sky, countless individuals have dreamed of flying. Many fulfilled those dreams in the First and Second World Wars. Following the wars, the airline industry was born with thousands of surplus pilots and planes. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, airline pilots were seen as heroes, and the air transit industry grew continuously.

That was until September 11th, 2001. Following 9/11, the industry came to a halt, with only a fraction of the country’s frequent fliers taking to the skies. This led to a massive downturn in the industry. However, after a few years, the industry recovered just in time for the economy to go through a recession in 2008. Again the industry was shaken, and many pilots were laid off.

However, the hit was not nearly as hard on the industry as the one following 9/11, which meant that recovery was quicker and smoother. Within a few years, airlines were back to setting records in passengers carried and profits made. But there was an unforeseen consequence from the years of hardship. That consequence was the looming pilot shortage.

For decades there was a surplus of pilots as it was a lucrative career. However, during the 90s, it began to lose some of its appeal as aviation was less glorified by the media. This was followed by the economic turmoil of the early 2000s, which made much of the public perceive that the airlines could not provide a stable career. For these reasons, the number of pilots entering training slowed considerably.

In 2013 Congress introduced a requirement that all aspiring airline pilots must first acquire 1500 flight hours. This pushed the pilot hiring process back considerably.

For years aviation experts have warned of a coming pilot shortage. In 2019, many of the first signs began to arise as airlines missed their recruitment goals, albeit by small margins. At the same time, many of the pilots who joined at the tail end of the “Golden Age of Aviation” were starting to retire.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Once again, air travel came to a screeching halt, and airlines were left with a surplus of pilots. Pilots within five years of retiring were typically offered early retirements during the pandemic, and many took them. This temporarily helped with the pilot surplus issue. However, after two years of limited travel, the US and most of the globe reopened to air travel.

Last year the airlines encountered a wave of demand they were unprepared for. At this point, the pilot shortage was no longer on its way, it was here, and the airlines took the brunt of it.

Future Predictions

While the job market for pilots is the best it has ever been, many question how long it will last and what the future holds. Unfortunately, no one can truly predict the future. However, aviation experts speculate that the shortage will last for roughly five more years.

Following the current trends in air travel demand, pilot retirement dates, and pilots in flight training, most airlines believe the dramatic shortage will end around 2028. This does not mean that airlines will stop hiring or that there will be little room for new pilots; it simply means that they don’t expect to be as desperate for new pilots at that time.

To all aspiring pilots, there has never been a better time to start flight training and become a pilot, as the industry will only be getting more and more lucrative for the next several years. Beyond those years, it will likely always offer consistent opportunities for growth, making for an excellent career path.

Have questions about flight training? Call us at 262-297-4568. Or email us at info@flyaxiom.com.

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