Originally Posted by
Shootah
-I understand that this thread does not completely fit within this subforum, and for that I apologize. However, if not here, I don't know where else.-
I'm fifteen, and in two days I will begin flight lessons that will reportedly be as frequent as "three to four times per week until you finish high school".
I'm not completely clear on how licenses/certifications/ratings work, but I have a general picture. That general picture tells me that I could have my PPL, CFL, IR, CFI/I and have 500+ hours by eighteen. I don't know how the MEI fits into the picture, but I do know that I'm not eligible for the ATP until 23.
(two to emphasize my disappointment)
Does having all of that for five years make a difference in my eligibility at twenty three to be picked up by a regional carrier?
How many years could I expect to wait from my ATP at twenty three to being picked up by a major airline?
How far would a good reference (say, a dad's friends or contacts or a dad of a good friend) go?
Will this career path even be worth taking in seven years?
If I could give you one piece of advice, take one day at a time and enjoy yourself along the way.
Keep your record as clean as possible ( No Drugs, No DUI/DWIs )
If you study diligently and pay attention to your instructor you shouldn't have any problem achieving your goals. When 2012 hits, the need for pilots will slowly pick up pace at a tremendous rate, so as long as you can keep your record clean and safe I don't see why you shouldn't be able to lock in a long term career as a pilot.
Definitely, you want to have a back up plan though, that can be said about any career path out there, so always keep that in the back of your mind. With that being said don't let anyone dissuade you from your goals.
Good Luck.