by Jordan Wold
Admit it. When you’re on the airplane, a part of you wishes you could trade places with the pilot. Like a lot of people, you want to know what it feels like to soar through the sky, manning a powerful and sleek aircraft.
But, alas, you’re probably not a millionaire. And that means you can’t afford such an expensive hobby, right?
Wrong. Aviation doesn’t have to be the exclusive hobby of the rich. The Federal Aviation Administration undoubtedly agrees. It’s possible to pursue your dreams of flying … even on a budget. So buckle up and get ready to make your sky-high dreams come true.
Do Your Research
Along with yacht racing and owning exotic pets, aviation is indeed an exceedingly expensive hobby. But it doesn’t have to be. Research is the key, writes Jamie Beckett in a post on General Aviation News. “We assumed that it was necessary to rent an airplane in order to learn to fly an airplane. So we did.” Beckett just expected the price tag to be substantial.
And yet, that’s not necessarily true. Writing a huge check is one option, but only one option.
You can also …
Be Social
This one might seem a little weird, but hear me out, okay? If you’re going to be learning how to fly, you’re going to be learning from someone who is (hopefully) an expert. Pilots have spent years accumulating in-air experience, and they’re a great resource for getting your wings. Instead of asking, “Can I pay you hundreds of dollars for you to teach me how to navigate a plane?” You should be asking, “How did YOU learn how to fly a plane?” And go from there. Talk to the person.
Also consider if you’re an expert in anything. Are you a specialist at woodworking, deep-sea diving or spelunking? If so, you could post ads on social media. Who knows? Maybe there’s a pilot out there looking to trade lessons. It’s not the most likely method of learning how to fly, but it’s worth a shot.
Save Up
In addition to looking for deals, discounts and other opportunities to save a buck, it may be wise to start saving for flying lessons. Although sounds like a longer way of spending the same amount of money, it really isn’t. If you’re saving for lessons over the course of a year or two, you won’t exactly break the bank at any given moment. Perhaps most importantly, saving over a longer period of time will help you find out if aviation is truly your next passion or just a fleeting interest. If it turns out to be the latter, then hey, you’ve got a few months worth of extra emergency cash lying around. That’s a win.
Aviation is by no means a spur of the moment hobby. It does require some capital and a lot of time. That said, if you’re meant to fly for pleasure, you will. So make it happen, because nobody else will.
Jordan Wold is a writer, comedian, and podcast host whose writing has appeared in BreakingModern and Long Island Pulse. He’s attending Boston’s Emerson College with an emphasis in screenwriting, and he thinks you might like to follow him on Twitter, @JordanWold1.