Originally Posted by Indyflyin

Hi I am 16 and am interested in a career being a pilot and had a few questions regarding the profession. I haven't had any formal flight training yet but I am hoping to have some soon and I don't know many pilots that I could talk to so I came to this forum. Even if you cannot answer all of these questions, please answer the ones you can because all of your answers would be awesome and greatly appreciated!

1) Does the college degree you receive impact airline hiring decisions? I heard getting a degree is just proof that you can make a commitment to airlines, is this true?

Nope. They have lots of applicants so the easiest way to weed some out is to require a 4 year degree. Get it. Go to a state school, dont spend a lot on it, and enjoy your time there, Stay out of trouble with booze and drugs, make someone else drive.

2) Do well know aviation colleges such as Embry Riddle influences hiring decisions?
-Follow up to #2: If you went to Embry Riddle, can you tell me which one you went to (Daytona Beach or Prescott) and your overall impression and experience in college? Also, if you went to Embry Riddle Prescott, where was the airport you trained out of?

Nope. State school, as little debt as possible, fly before or after or on the side.

3) Could you go through your typical schedule on a work day? (Hours in advance you prepare, get to the airport, preflight check, and flight.)

I don't live where I'm based, so I have to so I have to commute by airplane(jumpseat) to my base to start a trip. Sometimes I leave home the day before. Trips are usually 3-4 days. As many as 4 flights/9 hours of flying per day but usually 5 to 6 hours.

4) Layovers constantly allude me; what is a typical overnight stay like? do you have time to visit and travel around and how long is a normal layover (Overnighters and not-overnighters?) Do you pay for your housing or hotel on a layover or is that based on your airliner? Is the hotel usually descent? How would an international layover differ from a regional layover?

Between a minimum of 10 and a max of about 30 hour layover. Sometimes just dinner and bed, sometimes seeing the town, sometimes it's a crew you want to hang out with, sometimes it isn't. Airline pays for lodging when you're on a trip. Higher paying major airlines have better hotels, regional airlines have crummier ones. But none of them are home, no matter how nice.

5) Could you describe your experiences after college? How many years you had to work before you got a job as a pilot, how long it took you to become a captain, and how long it took to get hired by a legacy?

private license in High School. 4 year business degree, then ATP flight school to finish up my ratings, flight instructor for 2.5 years, 2 regionals flying turboprops for 2 years as an FO, 2 as a captain, then JetBlue called. Probably pretty fast, as I had 3000 hours and was 28 when a 'major' airline called.

6) My parents are really skeptical about me becoming a pilot and the initial investment we need to put forth for a profession that may soon die off. Has advancements in computer technology posed a risk for pilot jobs in the near future or is a transition to a fully automated cockpit a long way away?

Two pilots are cheaper than redesigning an airplane or trying to establish a really secure ground link. Also tragedies like the Germanwings crash show why it's important to have two people up there. Drones and UAVs are great for doing some military or civilian missions but Not for airliners. My 2 cents.

7) What do you do while you are flying? Are you constantly sharp and checking your dashboard or is it ok to relax a little by listening to music?

I do a lot of shorter flights less than 2 hours so there isn't a ton of down time but I talk to the other person about things other than work or maybe read for a little bit at a time. If I get too engrossed in something else I miss radio calls or become a crummy pilot.

8) Why did you become a pilot and what pushed you to investigate a career in aviation?

airplanes always had a weird and constant pull for me.

9) Do you regret becoming a pilot? If you were to go back in time, would you still want to become a pilot when you get older?

Wouldn't trade it for anything. I was a B and C student most of the time because that took little effort. Aviation was the only thing I was disappointed if I didn't get 100%.

10) What were some of the biggest surprises (good and bad) that you encountered as an airline pilot?

The schedule can be amazing or horrible. You have to take the good with the bad, sometimes you're in training on a new airplane and don't see you family for 6 weeks or you miss birthdays and holidays. Other times you'll lie to your neighbors instead of telling them how little you work. This job can take from you but it can also give.

11) What recommendations would you give to a 16 year old to help him become a pilot if he hasn't had any experience flying a plane?

Take a discovery flight at a local airport with a good instructor, most pilots are hooked quick.

Thanks you so much for your answers, you don't know how much these answers will help! Happy holidays and sorry that this post was so long!