Originally Posted by
JamesNoBrakes
Not this again. Anyone that is trying to convince you to go out and get this quickly to "get on the wave" simply wants your money, that's it. They've been spouting the "wave" nonsense for decades. Don't take out loans, pay as you go, bite the bullet, tough it out. It's far more worth it in the long run and allows you to invest in things like property and funds that will benefit you far more than taking out a huge loan so you can get a CFI/regional airline job. No one knows the future.
This is what I have been telling people for many years.
However...if there was ever an undeniable and unprecedented airline hiring opportunity it's right now. IMO it would not be unreasonable to incur debt at this moment in time in order to get your seniority locked in sooner. It appears that hiring is moving along at a good clip, and regional & major new hire pay is rising significantly, if not dramatically, so you would most likely be able to pay off the debt in short order. This is in contrast to the lost generation who ended up making $800/month student loan payments on regional FO pay for about a decade.
But there's risk and you have to understand it. A catastrophic and sustained economic crash might cause the music to stop ( there are enough mandatory retirements that hiring will continue even if there's a mild downturn/recession).
A fast track plan involving debt would only be reasonably safe if you will be a good candidate for rapid progression to the majors:
- 4-year degree
- Good/decent grades (better than 3.0)
- Clean criminal and driving record
- No contentious history on social media
- Clean pilot training record (and can keep it that way)
- "Whole person" credentials. This means whatever the employer wants it to mean, volunteer, SJW, affirmative action, diversity, significant non-aviation accomplishments, etc, etc.
- Presentable, personable, have some initiative and can sell yourself
That last two are important. When you interview at a major, you'll be competing with fighter pilots who were HS/college athletes, valedictorians and went to colleage on a full ride. You'll have to somehow standout as something other than Joe Average Civilian Pilot. As hiring ramps up the competition *should* become a bit diluted, but better plan for competition if you're going to invest in the fast track.
Also you must have a normal personality. Regionals won't care but majors may be able to sniff out *quirky* personalities and won't want any part of it. Ultimately you need to be able to spend four days locked in a cockpit with other people, so you both need to be in the middle of the bell curve.
I believe Joe Average Civilian Pilot will get hired eventually, but it could be years down the line and it's much, much better to be on the front of the wave with lot's of cannon-fodder behind you (as opposed to spending years as furlough-fodder and junior reserve).