Expert: David A. NewMyer - 8/3/2007

Question
aviation flows in my viens.i want to be pilot please tell all i need to know.i mean age,education,finances,scholarships,loans.i'm a nigerian where can i obtain my trainning.THANKS.

Answer
Hi,

Your question is very broad......I will do what I can with it.  As for where you can obtain your training, please check via google or yahoo search engines by plugging in such key words as "flight training Nigeria" or "flight training Africa" or "flight training Europe" to find out where you might go for flight training and how much it costs.

As for scholarships and loans, there are two good websites that I am aware of:

www.avscholars.com  which contains a listing of aviation scholarships and some excellent aviation-related financial aid and scholarship advice

AND

www.uaa.aero  which contains a listing of collegiate aviation scholarships and loans

Also, the above website, www.uaa.aero has available THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE which is an excellent guide to colleges and universities that provide aviation degree programs.

As far as education, it is true that many airlines might hire you with less than a baccalaureate degree, but, you will be far more competitive with a BS or BA degree.  I would recommend that you get a baccalaureate degree, and, if possible, do so while majoring in aviation.  (see Collegiate  Aviation Guide ordering information above).

As far as age is concerned, in most nations you have to be 16 years of age to begin flight training....and, you can fly as a commercial airline pilot in most nations until the age of either 60 or 65, depending on the nation's laws.

I hope that this answer helps.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu