Seeing as you don't know anything about me, what makes you say that?

 

Not you. The OP.

 

To the OP,

read this....

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/re...ing-pilot.html

Granted, times are changing, and for the better, for being an "Airline Pilot".

But I know from personal experience (and many others can tell you), flying on an electronic leash is extremely unpredictable. Especially when considering Politics, the RLA, Force Majeure... the list goes on....

If you love to fly, do it. But know that you may regret it later if it has been your only goal.

 

I had two choices...."go to flight school or college".......I should have chosen the latter of the two first. Any dumb monkey can control an airplane, I think we have seen plenty of them out on the line, myself being one of them. But it takes commitment and drive to finish that college degree as I am finding at the ripe age of 32. Sure I have all the ratings, some good experience and the TT is finally becoming something, but with no paper saying that I have higher education.

Finish the degree first, then pursue the flying. The study habits during college will help immensely while pursuing your ratings and the "schoolhouse" when you go for type ratings down the road. Learning to prioritize the between what to study and when will be a huge help, something I had to learn on my own.

This industry is full of "what if's". With everything in the world going on we are one day away from another 9/11, recession etc....

Do the smart thing and grow yourself in more ways than just flying.

DH

 

If that were the case, why aren't "dumb monkeys" flying modern jets with EFIS?

Certainly management would rather pay peanuts (literally) to monkeys, than offer 15k sign-on bonuses?

Careful what you wish for...

 

I say get the degree in something other than aviation. At least you will have something to fall back on if you lost your medical, economic downturn, another 9/11 etc...

 

Flying is terribly addicting. Terribly. You have about 50 years of time to fill with commercial flying. I fly with a lot of guys that all they know is flying. The went to Riddle and its all they can do. When the company starts to F with them they take it because they can't risk losing their job.

I am a little different when the company has went after me, I have stood up to them. I have nothing to lose and my situation is not the normal. I have several in-demand college degree and have tons of side work outside of flying. I can literally say P!SS off if I need to and when I need to and have a higher paying job waiting for me. I love aviation since I was a youngin but the life is tough especially at a regional. It is actually garbage when I compare to my other jobs throughout my lifetime. That being said I still get a smile on my face when I grease the DCH8 on 1000 footers.

What I am trying to say is develop yourself because these airlines prey on my fellow pilots that are "stuck". There are wonderful hard working people but they only have piloting in their back pocket which has allowed people to work in unfavorable working environments.

 

4-6 months?

I recommend learning to fly at 16. Get your commercial and start building time as a CFI while you work your way through an online degree course. Get to a regional as fast as you can. In a few years you'll be a regional CA with a 4 year degree and little to no debt. And then you'll be a mainline FO in your 20's. If I could do it over, that is what I would do.

 

What I wish for? It's already here pal. $36 an hour to fly modern jets first year? Please........management is already paying peanuts for the meat in the seat.

DH

 

Bingo. If you have the drive to finish your degree this is the way to go. At 25 you'll have a four year degree and probably flying as CA with 4,500 hrs. The FO will be your alter ego that went to college and then chased the flying.