Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Career Builder > Flight Schools and Training
Best way to become an airline pilot? >

Best way to become an airline pilot?

Notices
Flight Schools and Training Ratings, building hours, airmanship, CFI topics

Best way to become an airline pilot?

Old 03-22-2019, 12:13 AM
  #1  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 18
Default Best way to become an airline pilot?

Hi,
My name is Hamzah and I’m almost 18 years old. Becoming a pilot has been the dream for me since I can remember. Over the past year I’ve been searching the ways of how it can be done.
In your opinion what is the best way to go from zero to a pilot flying for the majors? From A-Z including every single detail that’s going to save me time and money and any recommendations that you figured out after trying out yourself. And I am an American citizen, if that’s going to help you answer the question, since some of the advice would depend on the country I live in.

And please don’t mention the military path, as I know it is the best way, but not considering it.

Thank you,
Hamzah
Hamzah is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 03:46 AM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 307
Default

1. Learn to fly
2. Get an entry level job
3. Get promoted to a job with more responsibility
4. Apply to dream job
DontLookDown is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 04:47 AM
  #3  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 144
Default

Originally Posted by Hamzah View Post
Hi,
My name is Hamzah and I’m almost 18 years old. Becoming a pilot has been the dream for me since I can remember. Over the past year I’ve been searching the ways of how it can be done.
In your opinion what is the best way to go from zero to a pilot flying for the majors? From A-Z including every single detail that’s going to save me time and money and any recommendations that you figured out after trying out yourself. And I am an American citizen, if that’s going to help you answer the question, since some of the advice would depend on the country I live in.

And please don’t mention the military path, as I know it is the best way, but not considering it.

Thank you,
Hamzah
This is like the 4th thread you've started asking for the same type of information.

There's no single best way. The best path for you has to do with A LOT of factors.

Have you ever flown before? At the controls, not as a passenger.
What kind of financing/savings do you/your family have?
What are your college plans?
How did you do in High School?
Do you have any medical/criminal/mental health history?
Why do you have such a strong aversion to the military path?
Have you ever worked a regular job before? What have you done?
What are your expectations? How much income do you think you'll make as a pilot and how soon do you think you'll be making it?

Answer these and I'll offer some specific advice for you.
JayMahon is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 05:39 AM
  #4  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 18
Default

Originally Posted by JayMahon View Post
This is like the 4th thread you've started asking for the same type of information.

There's no single best way. The best path for you has to do with A LOT of factors.

Have you ever flown before? At the controls, not as a passenger.
What kind of financing/savings do you/your family have?
What are your college plans?
How did you do in High School?
Do you have any medical/criminal/mental health history?
Why do you have such a strong aversion to the military path?
Have you ever worked a regular job before? What have you done?
What are your expectations? How much income do you think you'll make as a pilot and how soon do you think you'll be making it?

Answer these and I'll offer some specific advice for you.
I’ve posted three threads previously, which are:

1. BA to work in major airlines?
2. How much should I spend on flight school?
3. Help me find the right flight school.

You’ve said that this is the 4th thread I’ve posted about the same type of information and then started answering my question, so I don’t see the logic in that. Anyways.......

I haven’t taken the control of a plane.

I’m looking for something good, so let’s say I go to a flight school and pay 50k instead of 80k and don’t get hired, what’s the point? So I would rather know what my situation will be after completing a certain course. Meaning that money isn’t the most important factor, it’s what will I do afterwards.

College is part of the question, should I go to college first and then start flight school or go to flight school and get a job at a regional airline and then get an online degree?

I can answer your question “why do you have such aversion from the military path?” With I’m just not the type for military, part of it is that I would be involved in “ killing people” and I’m not the type for military if that makes sense.

I did ok in high school, I always took physics and math.

No medical/criminal/mental health history.

I have worked a normal job.

Being a pilot for me isn’t about the money it’s about doing what I love, meaning that money isn’t my motive behind wanting to become a pilot.

As of the time of how long would it take me, not less than two years. The fast track programs like the ATP one aren’t for me.
Hamzah is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 05:56 AM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 144
Default

Originally Posted by Hamzah View Post
I’ve posted three threads previously, which are:

1. BA to work in major airlines?
2. How much should I spend on flight school?
3. Help me find the right flight school.

You’ve said that this is the 4th thread I’ve posted about the same type of information and then started answering my question, so I don’t see the logic in that. Anyways.......

I haven’t taken the control of a plane.

I’m looking for something good, so let’s say I go to a flight school and pay 50k instead of 80k and don’t get hired, what’s the point? So I would rather know what my situation will be after completing a certain course. Meaning that money isn’t the most important factor, it’s what will I do afterwards.

College is part of the question, should I go to college first and then start flight school or go to flight school and get a job at a regional airline and then get an online degree?

I can answer your question “why do you have such aversion from the military path?” With I’m just not the type for military, part of it is that I would be involved in “ killing people” and I’m not the type for military if that makes sense.

I did ok in high school, I always took physics and math.

No medical/criminal/mental health history.

I have worked a normal job.

Being a pilot for me isn’t about the money it’s about doing what I love, meaning that money isn’t my motive behind wanting to become a pilot.

As of the time of how long would it take me, not less than two years. The fast track programs like the ATP one aren’t for me.
Your English makes me think you're a foreign national or that at least English is not your first language. This isn't an issue, but your work status will be. Are you a US citizen, can you legally work in the US without a sponsor at this point?

Most of your answers were evasive. Saying that money doesn't matter means you're either not approaching this from a mature adult perspective or that you honestly have no idea how to fund these plans and just hope it'll work itself out. It will if your family is wealthy, it won't otherwise.

Saying you want to do something you love after claiming you've never been at the controls of an aircraft is a major red flag. Go to a local flight school and ask for a 'discovery flight'. Do this now. Like, right now. Leave the computer, get up and go actually fly a plane. Then come back and we can continue this conversation.

Until you've actually flown, please stop posting questions about being a pilot.
JayMahon is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 06:40 AM
  #6  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 18
Default

Originally Posted by JayMahon View Post
Your English makes me think you're a foreign national or that at least English is not your first language. This isn't an issue, but your work status will be. Are you a US citizen, can you legally work in the US without a sponsor at this point?

Most of your answers were evasive. Saying that money doesn't matter means you're either not approaching this from a mature adult perspective or that you honestly have no idea how to fund these plans and just hope it'll work itself out. It will if your family is wealthy, it won't otherwise.

Saying you want to do something you love after claiming you've never been at the controls of an aircraft is a major red flag. Go to a local flight school and ask for a 'discovery flight'. Do this now. Like, right now. Leave the computer, get up and go actually fly a plane. Then come back and we can continue this conversation.

Until you've actually flown, please stop posting questions about being a pilot.
English isn’t my mother language, I’m half American and half middle eastern. I didn’t grow up in America, I grew up in Jordan, but I may be moving to America in a couple of months.

Do medicine students go do a surgery to see if they like it or not and then decide if it’s for them or not, or they just feel like it’s the dream job for them.

I don’t have rich parents and you don’t have to in order to become a pilot, I know lots of pilots who took loans to pay for flight training. I’m just trying to figure out what’s the acceptable range.

It’s not up to you to tell me to stop asking questions, if you don’t like them, just don’t answer.
Hamzah is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 06:49 AM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Nov 2018
Posts: 832
Default

If you want to eventually fly for a major airline, a college degree is required. The quickest way to that goal is this.

Get all of your ratings through CFII and AMEL. Start instructing and then enroll in college while you're instructing. You'll be building time while you're in college and if it takes you 4 or so years to graduate, you should have enough flight time by then to get on with a regional airline.

Fly for a regional for a few years, and you'll be qualified to work for a major.

Assuming at least a year or more to get all of your ratings, then 4 years of college, then another 4 or 5 at a regional, you're realistically looking at about at least 10 years from start until possibly hired by a major.

There is no quick way to do it or short cuts. You have to have a degree, and you have to have the flight time. Just like there's no way to become a doctor in a couple of years, there's no way to become an airline pilot in a couple of years. An incompetent pilot can kill a lot more people than a doctor.
Flyboy68 is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 07:05 AM
  #8  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 18
Default

Originally Posted by Flyboy68 View Post
If you want to eventually fly for a major airline, a college degree is required. The quickest way to that goal is this.

Get all of your ratings through CFII and AMEL. Start instructing and then enroll in college while you're instructing. You'll be building time while you're in college and if it takes you 4 or so years to graduate, you should have enough flight time by then to get on with a regional airline.

Fly for a regional for a few years, and you'll be qualified to work for a major.

Assuming at least a year or more to get all of your ratings, then 4 years of college, then another 4 or 5 at a regional, you're realistically looking at about at least 10 years from start until possibly hired by a major.

There is no quick way to do it or short cuts. You have to have a degree, and you have to have the flight time. Just like there's no way to become a doctor in a couple of years, there's no way to become an airline pilot in a couple of years. An incompetent pilot can kill a lot more people than a doctor.
Thanks for the answer!
Do you advise me to get an online degree or a normal college degree?
Aslo, can you tell me what you think about this program of a flight school located in Snohomish: https://www.snohomishflying.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/US-Professional-Course-Costs-April-2019.pdf
Hamzah is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 07:12 AM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Nov 2018
Posts: 832
Default

Originally Posted by Hamzah View Post
Thanks for the answer!
Do you advise me to get an online degree or a normal college degree?
Aslo, can you tell me what you think about this program of a flight school located in Snohomish: https://www.snohomishflying.com/wp-c...April-2019.pdf
I don't really know if they prefer one over the other, but maybe someone with human resources experience can answer that.

I looked at the flight school costs, and $54k for your ratings sounds reasonable. It will cost more than that, because that's the minimum number of hours, and no one does it in the minimum. And you'll still have to get your CFII.
Flyboy68 is offline  
Old 03-22-2019, 07:15 AM
  #10  
Perennial Reserve
 
Excargodog's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 11,409
Default

Originally Posted by Hamzah View Post
Do medicine students go do a surgery to see if they like it or not and then decide if it’s for them or not, or they just feel like it’s the dream job for them.
Actually, the doctors I knew well did precisely that, and because the scope of medicine was wide enough that one could easily be a doctor without being a surgeon, those who had an aversion to surgery simply went into internal medicine or pediatrics or psychiatry or something where they let others do the cutting. Being a pilot, on the other hand, means you really do have to pilot an airplane. Your comparison is apples to oranges.

At the present time you don’t really have the insight to know if being a pilot is right for you or not. As a previous poster suggested, take a discovery flight or similar to start developing adequate understanding and insight into the CAREER to see if you wish to pursue it (and perhaps determine if you have an aptitude for it) BEFORE expending vast amounts of borrowed resources on a career path you might find you neither like nor are particularly good at.

THAT is the advice most of us would give and if that sounds to directive to you I’m sorry, but advice is by its very nature directive.

ad·vice
/ədˈvīs/Submit
noun
noun: advice; plural noun: advices
1.
guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action.
"she visited the island on her doctor's advice"
synonyms: guidance, advising, counseling, counsel, help, direction, instruction, information,
Excargodog is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices