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Really, I'd love to be a pilot, but I'm having second thoughts...

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Really, I'd love to be a pilot, but I'm having second thoughts...

Old 07-24-2008, 01:44 PM
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Default Really, I'd love to be a pilot, but I'm having second thoughts...

I absolutely love flying and I would love to do it for a career. I love the idea of working long hours and then having long times off. I'm just not sure that I should seriously follow this career, though. With oil sky-rocketing and airlines reporting huge losses (well, except for Southwest), I'm just not sure if I could find myself a job in the airlines after my service as an instructor. Would you recommend going into the field, or should I steer clear, taking job security over interest? I can't really think of anything I'd rather do, except for maybe becoming a sports writer.

What do you think? If I do go after aviation, I'll probably go to an FBO in Knoxville (where I'll probably go for college), and get my PPL/Instrument/ME/CFI/CFII/MEI/ATP there while getting my degree. If I don't, I'll probably just major in journalism and pursue that career path.
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Old 07-24-2008, 01:46 PM
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One more question: How important would it be to live in the city of your airport, if you're an airline pilot? I hear of people saying that they jumpseat to commute to and from their airport. Is it okay to, say, live in New York but work in Chicago?
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Old 07-24-2008, 04:44 PM
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You can live where ever you want. You can fly for free, space available, but you need to be at the place your trip starts ready to put in a days work at the beginning of your trip. Commuting is on your time, not the companies, so it takes away from your time off.

Times are bad in aviation right now, but the business goes in a cycle with the economy. Personally, I don't think there is a bad time to get in the biz if you want to be a pilot bad enough. There are sacrifices and no guarantees. If you can live with that, you'll be fine.
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Old 07-25-2008, 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by de727ups View Post
You can live where ever you want. You can fly for free, space available, but you need to be at the place your trip starts ready to put in a days work at the beginning of your trip. Commuting is on your time, not the companies, so it takes away from your time off.

Times are bad in aviation right now, but the business goes in a cycle with the economy. Personally, I don't think there is a bad time to get in the biz if you want to be a pilot bad enough. There are sacrifices and no guarantees. If you can live with that, you'll be fine.
I agree completely.. however I'd just like to add that prices for flight training will only keep going up regardless if oil goes back down (it just seems like it has always had the trend), subsequently getting in now may be great timing for the great hire/rehire (if it actually happens... which it probably will)... The earlier you get in, the more time you have to network yourself...and if more people like you, you have more luck finding a good job.
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Old 07-26-2008, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by OdeToMemory View Post
I absolutely love flying and I would love to do it for a career. I love the idea of working long hours and then having long times off. I'm just not sure that I should seriously follow this career, though. With oil sky-rocketing and airlines reporting huge losses (well, except for Southwest), I'm just not sure if I could find myself a job in the airlines after my service as an instructor. Would you recommend going into the field, or should I steer clear, taking job security over interest? I can't really think of anything I'd rather do, except for maybe becoming a sports writer.

What do you think? If I do go after aviation, I'll probably go to an FBO in Knoxville (where I'll probably go for college), and get my PPL/Instrument/ME/CFI/CFII/MEI/ATP there while getting my degree. If I don't, I'll probably just major in journalism and pursue that career path.


Long times off....where did you get that idea!!!! Major in journalism and learn to fly. An aviation degree is worthless but a journalism degree will allow you to tick the degree box on an airline app.
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