everett_cessna_pilot

Well i have posted in here before and gotten not so helpful responses, so here it goes again. I am 19 years of age, i have my private and instrument working on my commercial right now with about 200 hrs. I also am going to school to get my A&P also so i can transfer it for a 4 year degree in Professional Aeronautics. I plan on building time by getting my CFII and MEI. But am i doing things right by working hard and working to achieve my life long goal of being an airline pilot since first riding on a CRJ when i was 7? Also will there even be a airline hiring when i have my time in 2 years from now? I see all these furloughs and worry but then all the retirements coming up also i think about. Well some input from you veterans would be awesome!!!

SkyHigh

Everett Cessna Pilot,

Man if I could tell the future I would be living next to Bill Gates. I can't tell you what is going to happen a few years from now. However I can guess. Most likely there will be planes that need to be flown by somebody. It also seems likely that the pay and working conditions will be not so good.

As for hiring two years from now it is hard to tell. Skywest recently announced that they will freeze hiring until after the first of the year. Other companies are scaling back. I would say that things don't look so good for brisk hiring two years from now.

Just a few years ago average new hires at the regionals had thousands of hours and were in their mid 30's. My guess is that you should brace yourself for a long slow paced trip to the regionals.

Enjoy your time in school. Go to CWU and get something other than an aviation degree. While there I can rent you a clean quiet and new house. Develop a plan B.

Dreams can be powerful stuff. They motivate us to incredible hights but many are never meant to come true. Stay open minded and flexible. Things my not turn out as you had hoped, but it can still be rewarding.


SkyHigh

everett_cessna_pilot

Well i was thinking having the A&P as back up and going to UW for an aeronautical engineering degree, then working at a flight school locally and building hours

mike734

A&P jobs really suck. Just do what you love. Don't do it for the money. It may (probably) won't be there.

SkyHigh

An A&P is great to work on your own plane but outside of that it can be a hindrance to your career. Smaller companies like to hijack line pilots and make them turn wrench when they get into a pinch. I would avoid getting the A&P if I were you.

As for the aeronautical engineering degree my father was one and he had a troubled career with plenty of ups and downs. As a young man he was in charge of huge space projects then the industry took a down turn and he found himself repairing hospital machines. As mike said you should do what you love, but it looks like you have a lot of eggs in one basket. Isn't there anything else that you love that is completely outside of aviation? Perhaps accounting?

SkyHigh

capto

If you are working on the A&P because you like it go for it; but if you don't stay away because it can be a headache. Is a job that requires a lot of patience, getting dirty everyday, working in all sort of weather is not the most glamorous job. In today's industry pay leaves a lot to wish for. However if you are willing to work under these conditions do it, it may open a few doors later on.

everett_cessna_pilot

Well the A&P is a back up incase flying wont work out, but im mainly going for the airlines. Anyone have any other advice?

Pilotpip

Consider this, if the airlines aren't hiring pilots(and/or furloughing), they likely aren't hiring mechanics. But it sure does make owning an aircraft MUCH more affordable.

Look into something outside of the industry that you have an intrest in. Most airlines only require a four year degree. They don't state what that degree should be in. I would do something that could give you a plan B as stated. If the pilot gig doesn't work out for reasons outside of your countrol you have a valid option that isn't in the industry that just killed your options.

everett_cessna_pilot

Well I have really thought hard about what to do. Im gonna finish up my A&P and get my bachelors in Aeronautics from Embry Riddle and also a Minor in Business Administration. I also can get a minor in Airway Science through the flight school im at. Then I will also have my CFI and build time and what not, and if it doesnt work out, at least i will have my Business degree to help out and i can later make it a 4 year. Anyone agree with me on this? Have a Bachelors In Professional Aeronautics, associates in Airway Science followed by and associates in Business?

SkyHigh

I still would avoid embry riddle and just get a plane old business degree from a friendly local state college if I were you. Unless you are rich ERU will leave you broke and broken. When I was young I dreamed of being a wildlife biologest for the state of washington or to work for the forest service. A biologest friend told me to stay away because there was no money in Biology. I heard the same from people in the forest service. They were right about that but there is even less money in aviation. In the end it is your life and mostly you will suffer the consequences and sucesses of your choices.

Best of luck.

SkyHigh