usafa2022
Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2015
- Messages
- 113
This is a bit of an odd question, so here's some background. I recently turned 17, the legal age to earn a pilot's license. I grew up flying with my dad in our family's airplane and picked up a lot of flying ability over the years. For a long time I figured I would follow the traditional flight training progression (solo at 16, PPL 17), but I've never been able to find the time to formally train for it and still haven't soloed. The main reason is that I run xc and track, which requires year round training and doesn't allow me any free time during the school year, save Sundays. One day a week of flight training is not sufficient to earn a PPL; it takes consistent training about four to five times a week at minimum.
This year, my junior year, I've been thinking about possibly skipping cross country season to make time to finally earn my license. I already have an aircraft and could easily hire an instructor, and without xc I would have many free afternoons to go to the airport. This way, I could start running again in the late fall and winter, when the weather is too bad to fly, and rejoin my team for track season in the spring.
Explaining this to my coaches and teammates is a totally different matter, but what I want to know is how this would affect my USAFA and AFROTC scholarship applications. Would it show a lack of dedication to my sport? Or would the benefits of having a pilot's license outweigh that? Earning my certificate is something I've dreamed about for a long time, and honestly I don't see myself getting it done unless I can take few months to work at it consistently.
(Side note: I was also wondering when the latest possible season to earn a varsity letter would be. I have not lettered yet and want to before completing my applications. Would it be spring of junior year? Fall of senior year maybe?)
This year, my junior year, I've been thinking about possibly skipping cross country season to make time to finally earn my license. I already have an aircraft and could easily hire an instructor, and without xc I would have many free afternoons to go to the airport. This way, I could start running again in the late fall and winter, when the weather is too bad to fly, and rejoin my team for track season in the spring.
Explaining this to my coaches and teammates is a totally different matter, but what I want to know is how this would affect my USAFA and AFROTC scholarship applications. Would it show a lack of dedication to my sport? Or would the benefits of having a pilot's license outweigh that? Earning my certificate is something I've dreamed about for a long time, and honestly I don't see myself getting it done unless I can take few months to work at it consistently.
(Side note: I was also wondering when the latest possible season to earn a varsity letter would be. I have not lettered yet and want to before completing my applications. Would it be spring of junior year? Fall of senior year maybe?)