Originally Posted by
bryantchan1
Hi There--
I'm currently a student pursuing a bachelors in business administration at an aviation university. I am also pursuing my flight ratings and will graduate with my commercial multi. I may or may not go for my MBA from the same institution directly after graduation, continuing to fly during that time. My goal is to go far in airline management (route planning/network capacity positions seem like a great starting point), but there's one problem--I have a burning desire to fly.
My question: Is there a way to be in management but be able to fly trips for the airline too in my "spare time" (weekends)? If so, is the best way to do this to start as a pilot for the airline and then apply for a management position, or get established in management and then somehow wiggle my way into flight operations on a special part-time basis?
Since I would be interested in going into management at a major airline, it would seem almost impossible to get into flying at a major airline with the big equipment without a substantial amount of flight time already accrued, and it seems like the only way to make that happen is by flying first.
I'll expand on my question as I get some answers, but any insight?
Thanks; I appreciate any help!
You'll definately have to fly the line for quite some time, and upgrade to be elgible for any sort of management position.
Along the way, you'll have to meet the current management types, rub elbows with them, impress them, and finally show interest in a job when a vacancy comes availible.
Not that I know everything, but I think the majors are going to want someone who has flown the line from both seats, and has a good working knowledge of the daily ops of the airline before they put them in a position to make decisions on their (the airline's) behalf. This experience takes time to acrue.
Once in the management role, you can fly on weekends if you so choose but most I think would avoid a 7 day work week. The few that I have known try to get out of the office (during the week) a least once a month to fly between 2-4 days. Some try and fail at this and will have to go out with a check airman to get current in the airplane again.