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Perhaps you could become a commercial pilot, flying passenger aircraft or cargo planes. Or a small operator, spraying crops, ferrying people to out-of-the-way places, conducting aerial surveys or towing long banners advertising suncream over holiday resorts.
Maybe you could become a pilot in the Royal Air Force, flying a Tornado in a ground attack; a Hercules transport aircraft delivering troops and supplies anywhere in the world; or a helicopter, rescuing people lost in the hills or taking soldiers to a battle zone.
In World War II, the skies were filled with hundreds of fighting aircraft and when the war ended, there were plenty of young aircrew who, after a short conversion course, could use their skills in the commercial world.
Becoming a pilot in the armed forces is still one of the routes into flying as a career. The Navy, Army and the RAF all use pilots, and RAF officers are paid from £24,860 to £72, 080. You have to sign on for a set period of service, usually around 12 years, during which you learn to fly. If you then decide to leave the forces, you can convert to commercial flying.
It's not easy to get in. The RAF, for example, recruited only about 180 aircrew last year, and that number is likely to go down. But it's worth having a go if you're between 17 and 24, have at least five good GCSEs, including Maths and English, two A-levels and/or a degree.
You can apply through your local Armed Forces Careers Office (AFCO). Find your local office through the website of the force you are interested in joining, see Careers advice. There is a very tough three-day selection process, and if you pass that, you're in. If you're still at school, you can improve your chances by joining an Air Training Corps, or a Combined Cadet Force. Students can join their university Air Squadron or Naval Unit.
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If the armed forces are not for you, and you want to be paid to fly, you must have a Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) or an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (ATPL). With the CPL you can fly as a single pilot on commercial cargo planes, but for passenger aircraft you need the ATPL. In commercial aviation, co-pilots earn from £30,000 to £40,000 as basic pay, and the captain from £55,000 to £70,000.
To get the right qualifications, you have to go on a training course approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Courses last from 9 months to 36 months, and include at least 150 flying hours for the CPL and 195 for the ATPL. Applicants need a sound knowledge of maths and physics and must be Class 1 medically fit, to standards approved by the CAA.
The courses costs about £50,000 to £60,000, but some airlines offer sponsorship to help people to become pilots. There are not many places and the competition is fierce. The website of The British Air Line Pilots' Association (BALPA) has lots of information about scholarships and sponsorships. BALPA's downloadable booklet, How to become a commercial pilot, also has lots of useful information.
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Being a military or commercial pilot is a great career, but training takes time, money, commitment and determination. Before you think of applying to train, it makes sense to check that you are fit enough and have a good aptitude for flying. A Class 1 Medical costs about £400, and an aptitude test costs about £150. The BALPA site can tell you where you can get these tests.
The information in this article was provided by Learn Direct, www.learndirect-advice.co.uk.
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Army Careers
www.army.mod.uk/careers
British Air Line Pilots' Association
www.balpa.org.uk
Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators
www.gapan.org
Royal Air Forces Association
www.rafa.org.uk
Royal Air Force Careers
www.rafcareers.com
Royal Navy Careers
www.navy.com/careers
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