given

Hello all,
This is my first time posting, so bare with me. I am a senior in HS with about 40 hours in a C172, about to get my PPL. I have been reading the forum for awhile, but I have never had anything to post. I love flying, I always have since I picked it up about a year ago and even before that. I am thinking about going to Indiana State University for flight training, to eventually become an airline pilot. I was also looking into going to Indiana University and studying something other than aviation, and not going into the aviation industry whatsoever, or maybe getting all of my training done after college and then going into the aviation industry. I just have a few questions for all of you experienced with the industry:

1. Would you recommend getting into the industry as a pilot, based on what you have experienced?
2. If you would recommend becoming a pilot in the industry, how would you recommend I go about my training? During or after college?
3. Is the quality of life as a pilot really as bad as I read from some of the users on this forum?
4. Should I continue my passion for flying even if I have doubts about how much I will enjoy it in the long run?
5. Will there truly be a spike in the pilot hiring process that will require more pilots needed than supplied?
6. Would you recommend and airline or corporate pilot job?

SeamusTheHound

1. Would you recommend getting into the industry as a pilot, based on what you have experienced?

The next 10 years in the aviation industry are going to be very dynamic, to say the least. There are a lot of unknowns, but there will certainly be a lot of opportunities.

2. If you would recommend becoming a pilot in the industry, how would you recommend I go about my training? During or after college?

I would recommend completing your flight training before or during college so that you have the opportunity to instruct while in school. As far as college, I would recommend getting a degree in something other than aviation.


3. Is the quality of life as a pilot really as bad as I read from some of the users on this forum?

It can be. However, if your "experience building" years pay off, you may look back on some of that time as "the best of times and the worst of times." Don't let crappy working conditions either scare you or dampen your enthusiasm.

4. Should I continue my passion for flying even if I have doubts about how much I will enjoy it in the long run?

Always remember, one option is to pursue another vocation and spend some of your fortune on flying as a hobby. "Corporate flying" has a different meaning for the guy in the back of the jet.

5. Will there truly be a spike in the pilot hiring process that will require more pilots needed than supplied?

That's what the numbers say.

6. Would you recommend and airline or corporate pilot job?

They each have advantages and disadvantages. You are not locked into any career path, especially when you are starting out. For most pilots, their careers are shaped by the opportunities that present themselves.

given

Seamus thank you very much for the advice. I appreciate it.

rickair7777

What I have experienced is probably not the answer you're looking for. My aviation career has been much flater than I anticipated. I've enjoyed the flying and the schedules for the most part, but had to rely on outside employment and business opportunities in order to finance a reasonably upper-middle class lifestyle...ie I would have quite a long time ago without non-aviation sources of income.

I would recommend you get a PPL, and preferably an instrument rating before deciding. You have to really like flying, if you don't an aviation career is a bad idea. Sounds like you have enough flying time to have an idea at least.

Since everything is seniority, I would get going sooner if (and only if) it's feasible to do so without distracting you from getting good grades in a non-aviation major (for career backup purposes). It would be OK to major in aviation-related engineering, there will always be engineering jobs even outside your degree specialty.

No it's worse. You can avoid some of that by carefully selecting an airline for domiciles and work rules, and then staying an FO forever. Of course you'll max out at $40K doing that.

Seriously there is a tradeoff between QOL and career progression. If you're always changing airplanes, moving on to better airlines, and upgrading to CA at the first opportunity in order to chase money and career progression, you will be stuck perpetually in the worst QOL.

We can't answer that. Moving on to bigger and more complex equipment will keep it interesting for a while, but any turbojet airliner is much like any other...once you fly your first RJ it won't get any more interesting unless you get on with NASA. Actually turboprops are more complicated than jets.

Hopefully you can find a good hobby or outside business activity to entertain you.

There is only a shortage of ATP's with turbine experience willing to work for $20K.

If the airlines get really desperate they will spend a little money (as little as possible). Thing they might spend money on...

- Influence their "friends" in congress to relax the ATP rule.

- Setup their own pilot academies (like europe).

Both of these would allow them to hire young, inexperienced pilots for cheap. The last thing they will do is raise pay..but if they do it will solve the shortage and make the jobs as competitive as ever.

Apples to oranges. Many corporate pilots swear they would never go the airlines...but I bet they would all jump at the chance to be a senior widebody CA making way more than essentially any corporate pilot. But are you willing to pay the dues to get there?

Corporate has the advantage that you are less likely to get locked into a seniority system, so $100K corporate pilot might eb able to change jobs and still get paid $100K. A $300K airline captain who loses his job would have to start all over as a $30K FO in the airlines.

block30

Don't rule out getting your flying fix by owning/partnering in a plane and flying for FUN! Food for thought. Good luck!

JamesNoBrakes

Does "passion for flying" mean you have to be an airline pilot? There is so much more commercial flying out there, and some of it is downright fun, compared to flying the same type of plane to the same place over and over.

JohnBurke

I graduated high school with a private pilot certificate.

My first job after high school was ag (crop dusting).

Never looked back.

Were I do go back and do it again, I'd do it the same.

block30

How does one get those jobs? I think that it's easier to get into many other flying gigs than it is aerial application. I'm not being a wise a.. I'd seriously like to know the process.

To the original poster-also think about buying a used Cessna 150 (etc.), training/experience building with with it, and maybe selling the aircraft when done. Of course if things work out, just keep it.

At this point in your life it's probably hard to *really* know what's important to you long term. For example, being home every night, steady income, being near family/a specific town, adventure, a spouse, etc.

Right now your life could very well be, "I want adventure-I wanna get out and do awesome things etc." Then in a few years you might find, "I just wanna come home and see my family and friends plus sleep in my own bed every night!" Hard to predict. Choosing to be an airline pilot means choosing a life on the road. Be prepared for that. Certainly if your seniority works out, and your potential airline's base works out, your time on the road is minimized.

rickair7777

Crop dusting has probably changed a lot since JB did it. Now there are a variety of complicating factors, all of which will effectively mean you need some significant flight experience, probably including bush and/or turbine experience.

galaxy flyer

Don't forget the military could give you the training for free, plus, perhaps, a education.

GF