Originally Posted by
Tjlesatz
Pros:
1. I will get to fly for a living while I train to... well... fly for a living.
2. I will get to experience flying the line before I invest a LOT of money to become qualified to ride in the flight deck.
3. I will get to build connections with the flight crews.
4. I have a friend who works for Air Wisconsin (one of the two airlines I'm thinking about applying at) as a crew scheduler who told me he will try to hook me up with the recruiter.
5. I'll have even more experience (in addition to my year of ramp experience) for when it comes time to drop my pilot packet.
6. I will be making more than twice what I make right now.
I knew several FA's who were doing flight training when I was a CFI. The flexible schedule was helpful in their training.
Originally Posted by
Tjlesatz
Cons:
1. I'm not always, but I can tend to be socially awkward and/or shy. However I do get more comfortable as time goes on
Get over it. Being an FA might help.
Originally Posted by
Tjlesatz
2. I'm only 19 and there are only two airlines who hire people my age. One is Air Wis and the other is Compass.
If you're going to do it, don't waste your time at a regional. Work for a major that would be a good final career destination (no regional qualifies). That way you'll have an in and hopefully some pilot recommendations when you're ready to apply to majors.
Originally Posted by
Tjlesatz
4. I am in the Army National Guard, so I would need to have time in order to get back to my unit and then to do drill
Essentially all airlines readily accommodate military reserves.
Originally Posted by
Tjlesatz
6. I don't know about Compass, but Air Wis has an UNPAID three week training course, and I'm worried about surviving during that time with no income.
See #2
Also...at age 19, I suspect you don't have a college degree. You WILL need a 4-year degree to enjoy an airline pilot career. Maybe you should do that first. There's almost no way around that little fact.