Starting Out
 

Hello, I am currently a freshmen in high school. I am just curious what could I be looking at for a starting salary for American Airlines flying the Boeing 767-300ER in Chicago? I would plan on going to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and getting a masters degree in aeronautics.
Would this salary be enough to get me a pretty decent appartment around O'hare intl. airport?

www.airlinepilotcentral.com

There you can find pay rates for pretty much every airline in the US. Prepare to spend a lot of time instructing, dropping skydivers, etc and then a bunch of time working at a regional carrier for pretty low wages before even considering a job at a major airline. Its all about the baby steps in this industry, if you want a top job, you are going to have to slowly work your way up there and get lucky a time or two along the way. Just dont be a tool and ***** yourself out to a crap carrier like GoJet.

Skip the $100,000 education and get a normal college degree at a state college or something you can fall back on if the industry tanks or you become medically unfit to fly. Do your ratings at the same time on the side if you can handle the load at a local airport. You will save tons (read that as like saving 50k or more) of money and thank me in about 10 years. Student loans on a riddle education are obnoxious when you are making 600-1200$ a check on first year FO pay at a regional.

What you are asking is a tall order. Look here http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli.../american.html for current info.

I'll refine your questions a bit to make my point. You are basically asking the following.

What is American doing in say 8-9 years including information on future contracts/pay scales?

In this future world, how hard would it be to get a 767 line in Chicago?

In this future world with unknown future pay, what will the real estate (apartment) market be around KORD (O'Hare)?

Concentrate on finishing high school and getting into a reputable university/college. I'll let others advise you on ERAU and your chosen field of study.

I understand your curiosity but come back to earth. Long range plans are good but keep them general in nature and don't forget how important today is in this future world you dream about. Close this forum for a few years and go study for your algebra test. :)

I agree keep your goals less specific. Like in stead of AA 767 pilot try...

Make enough money not to be using foodstamps to feed myself.

AA763:

Kid...and if you really are a teenager and not flamebait, go and get your degree at a State Univ and fly at a local FBO. It will save you a ton of cash. Although I graduated from ERAU back in '87 and support the University in every way that I can, I still say it cost way to much to go there now. Back then, it only cost me 25K for a four year non-flying degree.

On the other hand, and being specific to ur question...pick ur a/c. For me, there is either a 767-2 or -3 or an A-300 or 310 out there with my name written on it. There is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming. When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a PFE on a DC-8; 727; or L-1011; none of these a/c are marquee a/c anymore; but that's ok. Keep dreaming son...for you will surely slip the "surly bonds of earth and reach out and touch the face of God."

Now...step back on this side of the looking glass Alice...:D...go to a State Univ. as I've stated before and fly at a local FBO. Build your time in multi engine a/c if you can. If not, then SE. That's ok. We all take different roads/avenues to get to PILOT UTOPIA!!! Whatever that may be for each individual; whether it be CFI'ing, flying skydivers, traffic; or whatever else. Just get what you need to get where you want to be. Time is your ally.

All the best. Blue skies.........always!!!


atp

Chances are, when American actually starts interviewing again, they're not going to give a damn what you want to fly or where and when you want to fly it.

Did they ever?

Which days do you want to fly when you get the 767 out of ORD? Do you want weekends off now? Which side of the city would you prefer to live on? Which overnights do you want? Are you going to fly on sunny days or rainy days?

On second thought, maybe you should get your priorities straight first, get your ratings, go to a college (any of them will do) and then re-evauate your situation. You will probably change your mind 30 times anyway.

Might I add, start getting your ratings ASAP. Besides, being a pvt pilot in highschool, makes for on hell of a date... Not that I have done that or anything /sarcasm. I wish I would have kept going past my pvt in Highschool, then I might have been able to CFI during college... Now I am stuck getting my ratings, when I could be going broke at a regional. I work for AE at BNA, and buddy I can tell you AA isnt going to be hiring newbies anytime soon.. Good luck and best wishes

I think a lot of you are being way too hard on this kid. What's wrong with dreaming?

The constructive stuff in here is right my friend. Worry about the here and now. Don't lose focus of that dream job but in the mean time have fun growing up and experiencing life. If you don't you'll either 1: Be extremely dissapointed when you don't realize your goal or 2: Be extremely disssapointed when you look back and realize all the things you missed out on.