August 16 (1969) is my first son's birthday.
As to flight training options...
Training does not expire, although there is a requirement
for a certain amount of training during the 60 days prior to
a practical test.
Your son can fly gliders.
He can begin powered aircraft training and solo on his
birthday, when he is 16. He can then continue to build solo
and dual experience toward the private and instrument rating
on his 17th birthday. Then he can continue into commercial
training and build the experience so he can take the
commercial and add-on the multiengine rating when he turns
18.
He should also be looking at his college plans and high
school grades with math and business in mind. Whether he
wants to be an engineer or an airline pilot, those will
stand him well. He should also do some mechanic training,
either in an auto-shop in high school or maybe with some
homebuilders in the area.
He can work toward the ATP experience and can even take the
practical tests before he turns 23, but the certificate
won't be valid until his 23 birthday.
To keep his interest and assuming that paying for training
[experience] is not the issue...
aerobatics, seaplanes, multiengine, mountains, bush pilot,
skis, type ratings (jets -large aircraft), and of course CFI
ratings. He can then work his way through college as a
flight instructor which is a better career move than
flipping burgers (even if the pay is less).



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3fUig.26692$1i1.20490@attbi_s72...
| My son is 15. He'll be turning 16 in August, and starting
his Junior year
| of high school.
|
| He's been flying since he can remember, and has many hours
in the right
| seat. (He's got over 1500 hours as a passenger with Mary
and me.) His first
| dozen or so hours behind the yoke were "IFR" -- because he
couldn't see over
| the panel! He can do everything except land the plane --
and I'm fairly
| certain he could do that, but I'm not about to risk our
lives (or my plane)
| to find out.
|
| We both agree that he's ready to learn to fly "for real".
So, last week we
| sat down with a local flight instructor to check out his
options on learning
| to fly.
|
| Our options are simple.
|
| 1. He can take flight training this summer, and solo
before school starts in
| the fall. Unfortunately, he is then stuck for an entire
year before he can
| take the check-ride.
|
| 2. He can hold off until next summer, 2007.
|
| Prior to age 37, I could only walk around on the ground
looking up enviously
| at aircraft flying overhead -- so I have no frame of
reference on this
| issue. For those of you who were lucky enough to train as
teenagers, did it
| work for you? Should my son wait a year, so he can go at
it full-steam and
| get the ticket?
|
| Or should we strike while the iron is hot?
| --
| Jay Honeck
| Iowa City, IA
| Pathfinder N56993
| www.AlexisParkInn.com
| "Your Aviation Destination"
|
|