I have always been impressed that pilots can control aircraft's by operating the directional flight controls.
I don't really know much about flying planes. What type of schooling or training is required to be a pilot?
I am not sure, but I think it is 500 hours of flying so they can be safe.
How long does it take  in classroom time to get a basic license? Are there different levels?
Pay to fly
Pay-to-fly or pay-to-work programs, sometimes referred to as "pay-to-fly" or "p2f", also known as 'self-sponsored line training', are an aviation industry practice whereby a professional pilot operates an aircraft on revenue-earning commercial operation by paying for it.
Prices range from around 14,000 euros to sometimes over 85,000 euros for a 'flight hour package' of generally 500 hours on an airliner, no salaries involved. When remuneration
, "It never really was me." In 2006, Earnhardt told Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports: "We live in a country where you can speak freely and do as you may. I don't know (if) what that flag stands for is the same for me as it is the guy who might have it flying out there. I am not going to agree with everything everybody does all my life. So I don't have any control over it." Following the Charleston church shooting in 2015