If you could, what would you do differently?
 

Hi all,
As some of you may know, I am a HS student who is determined to become an airline pilot one day. I love to read these forums because they are filled with endless pages of advice. One of my favorite questions to ask pilots on the flights I fly is, If you could do it all over again (become a pilot with an airline), what would you do differently? I think this question opens a ton of doors for answers and I think its some of the best advice. So I'd really like to know what some of you pilots out there think. Thanks guys!

Get a college degree, either a MBA or an accounting degree, or perhaps a degree in physics. Then go to All ATP and get all my ratings.

Start at an earlier age.

Wouldn't change a thing...I've enjoyed my enlisted , now commissioned time in the AF. I can wait to fly professionally after I'm retired....

I would recommend a BS / Masters before you start your training - get the degrees out of the way...

I also second going to ATPs for your ratings...

-LAFF

Not much
 

Drink more beer. Chase a few more women. I would have done my school work first, before doing the previously stated items! Everything else, I would leave the same...

I would, directly out of HS, go to flight school and get up to the CFI. Then, go to college and get ANY 4 year degree. On graduation, you could walk into an airline at age 22 or 23. I screwed up and did college first, so I was a starving CFI at 25 with a 4 year degree and no job prospects. Go to a VOCATIONAL school for flight training (I went through at FSI up to Comm/Multi/Instr then Paris Air and got the CFI, CFII and MEI in 5 weeks.) Nothing to MEI...11 months. So, if you choose to do that before college, immerse yourself and don't get caught up with partying and chicks till your done. Remember, you'll have 4 years in college to do that.
PM me if you want, I love giving advice.

(The above poster accepts no responsibilty for the advice dispensed and all advice is intended to be followed cautiously and at your own risk. :) )

Not believed in the lies and used car sales pitch from CAPT.
Not applied to CAPT.
Not attended CAPT.
Dropped out out of CAPT when I realized they couldn't meet the promised 10-12 months timeline for training.
Stayed with my ass kicking desk job making a ton of money and flying to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard every weekend on my terms.

The list goes on...but suffice to say, going to CAPT was the BIGGEST mistake of my life...that and the bodies in my trunk. (just kidding)