I am a 16 and I am planning a career in aviation. My plan is to join Air force ROTC after graduation. My dilemma is that my father and grandfather were both military pilots and don't believe "females belong in the cockpit." My mother works for MWA and has encouraged me to follow the commercial route vs. cargo. In her opinion, "The airline industry treat women with more respect than the cargo side." My mother has stated that the vacation, time off, and NR perks are better. Are these statements accurate? I would prefer to work for Brown or FedEx. I have more faith in job security with the cargo side. I have been able to find info about pay but not vacation and flight privileges. I would appreciate any information.
Thanks!

 

For starters, I think you mean pax versus cargo. Both are commercial.

 

This is America. Follow your dreams.

While you're here, take a look at the pay scales on the site and figure out how much more traveling you could do on cargo pay versus pay at a major. I don't think your mom really knows what she's talking about regarding the pay and bennefits. 10 years ago this was the case, but it's not any more.

Also, there are a number of women on here that fly for both cargo and pax airlines. I think I'll leave the equality thing to them.

 

Apply to United now!!!

 

Oh boy....first off, I think that your Dad and Gramps are living in the stone age. Time for them to join the 20th...er 21st Century, and pull their collective heads out of the sand. Women have been flying in the military for years, and they've been flying commercially (pax and cargo) for years. Get used to it...they aren't going to disappear anytime soon.


Bum gouge. Ask her what the pay/benefits/retirement are over at NWA (I assume this is who you meant) compared to UPS or FedEx.

Hold that thought. You sound a whole lot smarter than any of your immediate family. Best of luck to you.

 

Tell your mom that UPS treats it's women very well. She probably thinks we all hang out on some old time loading dock between flights

 

Airbuswantabe - Please read Archie's advice - he is right on the money! He and I both work for UPS and I can tell you there are plenty of women flying cargo; hopefully Mega will chime in here, she is one of Brown aviatrixs.
I'd say contact women-in-aviation (www.wai.org) and ask for a sponsor who works for a cargo airline. That way you'll be able to hear more about the pro's and con's of the lifestyle. Your mom is very wrong, she lives in the old "pass benefit" mentality where the travel benefits one can get at most passenger airlines were seemingly more important than any other benefits including: pay, retirement, health insurance, etc., etc. She is wrong, she just doesn’t know it and probably never will. As far as your dad and your grandfather? Wow, thanks for their service to our country but unfortunately they are wrong too.

Id' say focus on flying and once you become marketable to the airlines, you will know exactly where you'd like to end up.

Now the best advice I can give you though is this. Immediately change your call-sign to Boeingwantabe and your life will be so much brighter! As a pilot you should always remember this: speed and altitude are your friends - so is your rudder! Sorry airbusluvers - couldn't resist!

 

My $.02, you want to fly. That is the most important step. Check out the ROTC programs, and civy stuff as well. Find one that suits you and which environment suits your learning the best. Then work your butt off learning all you can and gather as much experience as you can. By the time you are ready to come out and get a job on the civilian track, the airlines (cargo and pax) will be a different place than today. If you are on the military track, that will be even further down the line. Just watch the industry, and study the companies and then make your best guess.

We all have people that don't believe. All that matters is YOU believe and YOU are determined to do it.


Good Luck, study hard and fly right.

 

Shut up! Fool! Can u be serious? She's 16 for Pete's sake. What a way to introduce her to the piloting profession. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Don't listen to this one.

 

Now.....to answer your questions....

Listen to everyone that's posted so far except Whaledriver101 because I think they are all right and I don't want to repeat the same stuff they wrote. I agree with them 100%.

If you want a female's advice, PM me. I work for UPS.

And whatever you do....IGNORE YOUR FATHER AND GRANFATHER!!!! DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT let them discourage you. It's your life to live, not theirs, live it how you want to.