Aviation Resources for High School Students
Find valuable resources and activities to inspire high school students who are considering a career as a professional airline pilot.
Airline Pilot: An Exciting Career in the Skies
Do you love to fly? Do you want an exciting, rewarding, and challenging career with great travel benefits? Join the club!
Every day, more than 45,000 commercial flights take to the air in the United States, carrying 2.9 million passengers and nearly 122 million pounds of cargo.* While it takes a team of aviation professionals working together to make this happen safely, a professional airline pilot is at the controls of each plane.
Anyone Can Be a Pilot
Flying domestically and internationally for regional, mainline, or all-cargo carriers, commercial airline pilots navigate the skies to deliver goods and ensure travelers reach their destinations safely and securely. You can join them and become a professional airline pilot, traveling across the country and even around the world to connect people and products.
Anyone with a passion for flying and the aptitude to meet the necessary requirements can become an airline pilot—regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. There are several pathways to achieve this dream. With the right attitude, planning, and perseverance, you can make it happen.
*2019 Federal Aviation Administration data
Start Exploring the World of Aviation
These are growing lists of activities and information for high school students. Send your ideas to Education@alpa.org.
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Request a pilot visit at your school or club event.
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Talk with the pilot on your next flight.
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Take a discovery flight.
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Visit your local airport.
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Join the aviation program at your school or in your community. (Or start one!)
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Take an aviation class.
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Build and fly model airplanes.
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Visit your local aviation museum.
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Become a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol.
Take it a step further and learn about:
- The theory of flight.
- Aircraft systems.
- A day in the life of a pilot.
- Navigation and developing a flight plan.
- Meteorology.
- Air traffic control.
- Federal aviation rules and regulations.
Booklist for Aspiring Aviators
While there’s no shortage of good books about flying and being a pilot, below is a list of some of our pilots’ top picks.
This booklist was brought to you by ALPA's Education Committee.
Although many of these books can be found at your favorite bookstore or online retailer, several of the career and technical manuals are more likely to be located at sites such as Aviation Supplies & Academics, Sporty’s Pilot Shop, MyPilotStore.com, and The Airline Transition Manual.
These suggestions are offered for your information and convenience. ALPA does not endorse any specific book or retailer.
More Resources for Aspiring Aviators
Aviation Resources for K-8 Students
Find aviation activities to inspire and educate kindergarten through eighth-grade students about piloting.
Aviation College Program Information
Valuable info about attending college to become an airline pilot, including a list of accredited aviation programs at colleges in North America and abroad.
Scholarships for Aviation Students
There are a number of aviation-specific scholarships available for aspiring aviators who need help financing their education and training.
Bring a Pilot to Your School
Want to hear about life as an airline pilot? ALPA pilots volunteer their time to provide interactive presentations for schools. Inspire your students about aviation—bring an ALPA pilot to your school!
Become an Airline Pilot
Anyone with a passion for aviation and the desire to fly can pursue a career as an airline pilot.
Get Started
Learn about the qualifications and training pathways to becoming a professional pilot.
Types of Pilot Jobs
From flying passengers to putting out fires, the piloting profession offers a diverse range of career paths.
A Day in the Life
Five ALPA members share their unique experiences flying for different types of carriers.