HercDriver130,

If you have been on strike, downgraded, and furloughed or company went out of business, then yes, you have made it!:D

Check 2 of those in my favor then.....LOL

30 plus years in this paid hobbie of ours, currently a 76 captain. Don't really know the answer, what constitutes making it in this business?

If there is no conflict at work or home with the job, and you still have money left for Corona at the end of the month....well, how can you go wrong?

+1............

I instructed in college and started at my regional before walking the stage by a month, 3 years at regional before going to nwa now delta. So it is possible to do it quick but it takes alot of luck, timing and sacrifice. Good luck

+2..............lol, make it Becks please.

commercial to Legacy was 8 years. 135/121 long haul in between among others. I feel pretty lucky.

I went tom USU, but finished at ERAU. I was at USU in 2003 and their flight program was abismal. Virtually every flight I had in the winter was canceled due to weather, and winter there lasts from October through April. since then the fleet has been upgraded. My instructor while at USU is still right seat at SkyWest. I flew Metro with 3 guys who went through the USU program and all of us are flying turboprops either for charter or part 91. My honest opinion about USU is that you won't get what you pay for.
My career progression however my be different than others. I instructed from 207-2010 and have been flying turboprop air ambulance since then. Some of my USU classmates are jet captains, but I have opted to be less flexible with where I move as I prefer to stay in the northwest. I also have opted it to go part 121, which is not entirely out of the question, but I'd prefer 91 or 135. Everyone's career progression will be different depending on you goals, family and flexibility.

Note: my experience with USU is 9 years old, so things may have changed.

First official lesson to start my track as an airline pilot - August 2006
First entry as a regional airline pilot on a -145 - October 2011

I often fly over the small single runway, uncontrolled field where I got my private, remember just a few years looking up at the jets fly over thinking "someday."