4 Reasons To Support Your Teen's Decision To Go To Aviation College
Posted on: 21 October 2015
Has your teenage child mentioned an interest in aviation college? Are you unfamiliar with the aviation industry and skeptical that this life course is right for your son or daughter? If so, put your mind at ease with these 4 great reasons to support your teen's interest in becoming a pilot.
The Aviation Industry Is Safe
You've probably heard plenty of times in your life that flying is safe, but when your child is considering a future career in the flight industry, you want a more specific explanation of just how safe it is.
The average person has roughly a 1 in 14 million chance of dying in a plane crash; 2014 saw the highest air traffic fatalities since 2005, with 1,328 people losing their lives on planes. To put this in perspective, death by hippopotamus is more than twice as likely a way to go, with the aquatic beasts killing 2,900 people per year.
Of course, pilots spend more time in the air than the average person, so they have a slightly increased risk of suffering a fatal crash. How much additional risk? For every 12,070 km (7,499 miles) they travel, their odds increase by 1 in 1 million. If your teen-turned pilot spent that air travel time in an automobile instead, their risk of sustaining a fatal injury would increase by 1 in 1 million for every 370 km (just under 30 miles) traveled.
Pilots Have Loads Of Career Options
If your worry lies in the fact that there are only a limited number of major commercial airline job openings, don't fret. There are plenty of other career options your child's aviation college degree will prepare them for.
Other pilot jobs include mail and cargo delivery, air ambulance pilot, agricultural crop duster, banner advertisement tower, flight instructor, and aerial photographer. The national average salary for all types of pilots combined is $79,798.
All The Benefits Of Travel, For Free
The majority of American business leaders attribute a well-traveled past to success both at work and in life. Why? By traveling to various places, one learns how to adapt to differences and communicate through cultural barriers. Traveling also teaches time management skills and provides the opportunity to network to a greater extent than possible from a stationary location.
There is no doubt that traveling has benefits, but most people find themselves limited to what their budget will allow. If your child pursues a career as a pilot, they won't need to worry about affording the benefits of travel; they'll actually get paid to visit new lands, meet new people, and expand their skills while they're at it.
There Is Financial Support Available
The cost of flight school can be expensive, but don't worry about having to come up with the money out of pocket if you can't afford it. As long as you stick with an accredited aviation college, your child will be eligible for income-based federal grants and low-interest government loans. For more information, contact a professional aviation school, like those found at http://www.parkland.edu/aviation.
Furthermore, you can find a list of aviation scholarships, as well as tips on how to gain an edge over other aviation scholarship applicants online. The country's need for trained pilots is expected to rise by 11 percent in the next decade, so now's a great time for your child to get certified and get some training under their belt.
If your teenage child has expressed an interest in going to aviation college, support them. The aviation industry is safe and stable, and it has flexible job options. Becoming a pilot is a rewarding experience, so start filling out scholarships and financial aid forms, and help your child prepare for the take-off of their future career.
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