coming to work for a 6 a.m. flight block and taking off on that runway right there. >> reporter: at 21, gabrielle hooup hooupstra is teaching other prospective pilots how to fly. what do you love about flying? >> i love that flying bringing out the best of my character. >> reporter: he graduated from aeronautical university and working as an instructor pilot. had 250 flight hours at graduation and has already earned 600 more. but she still is not able to fly for a commercial airline. >> at first, it's a lot of money that you have to pay. it's a lot of time you have to put forward, a lot of work on the front end, but as a career choice it's a great path to choose. >> >> reporter: it's a path fewer are choosing. in 2007 the faa issued close to 67,000 student certificates. over the next six years, that