ryfitzger227

I'm currently 14 years old and I have around 40 hours of flight time in a C172. I've been flying since I was 12 and have had my life planned out since I was 9. Haha. I would like to have an airline pilot's decision regarding my "plan" of becoming an airline captain.

I will continue flying until I get my private. I can't solo until I'm 16, and can't get my PPL until 17. After I get my PPL, my gift will be a down payment for a Cirrus SR20. So I'm going to continue gaining hours in that, but I'm also going to stay away from getting certificates. (As requested from the college I want to go to). Next, I'll enroll into Liberty University's School of Aeronautics, in Lynchburg, VA, to get my Bachelors in Science of Aeronautics - With my concentration on Corporate/Commercial Aviation. While I'm attending LU for 4 years, I will be going to the Air Force ROTC Program based out of the University of Virginia. When I get out of college I will have my CPL and hopefully my CFI. I want to go into the Air Force for how ever many years it is... I've heard from one person it was 7, and another 4 years. Hopefully flying Cargo jets (C5, C17) or the B52, or even the KC135.. Ya know,... heavier jets. Then I'll come out with putting in applications for Delta, United, American, etc.

My main question is.. How good is this plan? - How far will it get me?

Now, I realize I won't come out flying the 777/747s, but just like any other pilot, my goal is to HOPEFULLY one day fly the 777/747s. By using this plan, will I get accepted pretty quick in a major airline? Will I come out flying the 737 or higher? Will I start out as a Captain or F/O?

I have also considered corporate.. The only reason why I did, however, was for their scheduling. (Only working like 9hrs a month and getting payed $95,000 a year!). Airline's pay are a tad higher. I could score a 737 job flying for about $100,000 a year as a Jr. Captain with a major airline. How cool is it to get payed that much, for something that you love doing?! Anyways, the next question is, how is airline scheduling? I understand your schedule comes out a month before, and in order to make changes you need have more seniority, but how much CAN you change your schedule as a Jr Pilot? And, on AVERAGE how many days out of a month are you gone? ... around 20?

I know this post has a bunch of questions, and is fairly long.. But please answer back. I'm looking to get as much answers as I can. I love to look at different opinions from different pilots. That's why this plan has been changed so many times! But I'm trying to figure out what I need to do to get my dream to come true.

Thanks!
- Ryan

Riddler

- USAF pilot training commitment is 10 years... Assuming that you make it into and through the program.
- Consider the Guard or Reserves - you could apply and get hired directly into a unit that flies C-5/17/130 or KC-10/135/43. If you go the normal pilot training route, you could end up flying anything including RPAs.
- need to be medically qualified as well.

If I was 14 years old and had enough money for a downpayment on my own airplane, I'd go to law school and fly for fun. Who knows what the industry will look like in 10 years, but as of now, you'd make more money at McDonalds than being an airline FO.

Just my 2 cents. USAF C-17s and furloughed CAL 737s.

DALFA

You can go in the Air Force and end up flying one of these...

Thedude

But where does the pilot sit....it looks so small and no windows.....

LowSlowT2

And just to be clear it's wings+10 - that's 1 year of UPT and 10 years of service = 11 years of your life.

I applaud you for thinking this far in the future. It's a long road in front of you and you're better prepared simply by knowing what you want to do. I didn't have a clue for a long time and while I didn't quite 'fall into' aviation, it wasn't what I thought I'd do when I was your age.

Study hard, do well in school - nobody can take away your education, but they can take away your job. You can also lose your medical for any number of reasons once you are no longer invincible like you are when you're young.

Good luck!

SuperConductor

I am not a prophet. Therefore I can only give you advise based on the present and the past.

Don't walk, RUN away from the thought of being an airline pilot. "The Dream" has destroyed my life. Not figuratively. Literally.

FlyingNasaForm

Get an IFR C-152 (or something similar, maybe even a tail dagger). Piston single engine flight time is piston single engine flight time. A C-152 is much simpler so it will not break as often, will be less expensive to insure, maintain, and fly due to low fuel consumption.

You need flight time and low costs, not speed and looks.

You'll be a much better instrument pilot if you learn and teach on a 6 pack with no moving map. I've flown with people who have never flown anything but glass, they can't revert to basic navigation when the computers mess up or fail.

A 4 year degree is a 4 year degree. No one cares if it's in aviation. Get a degree in something other than flying as a backup. You could also consider getting your A&P.

Good luck!

Rama

A Cirrus is really not an airplane for low timers. Buy a cheap plane, get some experience and then maybe trade up to a cheap twin (Apache etc.) You really want a forgiving airplane to cut your teeth on, not a high performance, high dollar, high cost airplane.
Flying Nasa form had lots of good advice. A two-year A&P would be a great start to be finished up with some kind of 4 year degree. An A&P may open some doors for you particularly on the corporate side.

chrisreedrules

Yea good on you for thinking ahead that far. It might seem a little silly now, but take it from me... its smart. My buddy was about your age when he decided he wanted to be an Air Force pilot. Now he is about to transition to the venerable MudHen (F-15E). It took him figuring out at the age you are now that he wanted to fly a fighter jet because you have to start working on it early. Get good grades, be active in sports, be in a club or two... make yourself MARKETABLE. Get in the Air Force Academy and see where it goes from there. The point is, you are the age now where you have to start figuring this stuff out. I wish I was so smart at your age.

galaxy flyer

Get a degree in something outside of aviation, so if it doesn't work out, you'll still be OK

GF