sharksrock

Hey everyone,
Every question I have posted here has been answered very well.... But I have a new dilemma. I really want to be an airline pilot when I get out of college (probably in 2015 or so). I know that this is pretty far away, but still... My parents are dead set against me becoming a pilot. They have the stereotypical image of pilots. All they do is takeoff then push a button and make the plane fly itself while the pilot just looks at computer screens for the whole flight. They think that its a boring, monotonous job with too many drawbacks (jet lag, living away from home....etc). I know that they are right in some aspects, but this doesn't convince me to not be a pilot. I think that I can get them to pay for Private Pilot, Instrument, and maybe if I'm lucky, Commercial (so I can get a part time job as flying or something)... They want me to be some sort of a scientist...etc... Anyway, thanks for all the advice. I'm really looking forward to hearing some stories if anyone has anything to share. Thanks again!

Planespotta

http://airlinepilotforums.com/showthread.php?t=22940

Hope this helps a little. It took me years to convince my parents, and even they had known that I had always wanted to become a pilot. I guess they just thought it was a "phase."
Don't expect convincing your parents to be easy, but once you've done it, the feeling of support is amazing and very well worth it. I found that connecting my parents with airline pilots to talk really helped.
Most importantly, don't let your parents' attitudes extinguish your love of flying. If they succeed in doing this, then they've succeeded in keeping you from enjoying a career as a pilot, and ultimately won.

FlyJSH

If my math is right, you are a freshman in high school (14 years old I guess). The best way to prove to them you want to be a pilot no matter what is to get a job. Take at least half the money you make from that job and put it into a savings account earmarked FOR FLYING ONLY. If you look around, you should be able to find something that gives you 10-15 hours per week. Assuming 10 hours at a take home of $5 per hour, that is $50 per week. If you put away half that, you will have about $2500 in two years. If you work full time summers, that's antother $1000 per summer. You could come close to paying for a private in 2-2 1/2 years. Keep that same pace up through college, you could be close to getting your single engine commercial.

If you can, get a job at the local FBO, they might even give you a deal on the flying. Not to mention, you might get an occational ride from someone based there.

When your folks see you doing this, they will have more respect for your dream. And the more you find a way to pay for it yourself, the prouder you will be of YOURSELF!

saabguy493

A good way to get your foot in the door, is go to your local airport and see if they have any jobs available. Depending on your age, you could fuel airplanes if you have a driver's license. If not, there are always planes that need to be washed. I took my first flight when I was 12 years old and worked at my local airport taking flight lessons until I was 18 and went to college. By the time I was 20, I was flying for the airlines! If it is your passion to fly, you will find a way to make the dream come true!

UnlimitedAkro

If it makes you feel any better, I am an airline pilot and everytime my kid looks at an airplane and says "airplane! airplane!" I say "No... airplanes bad. Say Doctor. Doctor...."

Swass

I tell my kids to be a dentist. Take Fridays off and drive that BMW to the golf course.

Swass

Not to derail your thread with the above comments, where are you located? Plenty of people on here could help you better knowing your geographic location.

Ottopilot

Parents should advise only. It's YOUR career. Listen to your parents, but you decide in the end. I do not and will not tell my kids what to be. You must do what you like and want to do. Life is more than money and how much or little you work.

I took my first "intro flight" at age 15 and I was hooked. I got a job washing dishes and soled on my 16th birthday and got my private pilot certificate by paying for it myself. I was the only kid in high school with a pilot's license. I ended up getting work at the airport fueling and parking airplanes. I got all my ratings myself working at minimum wage jobs. I made contacts and got jobs and worked hard. I've had a lot of "crappy" flying and non-flying jobs, but I loved every minute of it. Now I'm a Captain at a major airline. I'm still happy and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Whatever YOU decide, good luck.

GauleyPilot

Like Otto, I did the teenage work-to-fly thing. I washed/fueled airplanes. I knew from elementary school what I wanted to do.

He said it well, I second what he said. I would add that all jobs/careers have tremendous sucky points.

Cubdriver

Nice bio, Otto. I am still not a pro but I will have a similar appreciation for the struggle involved when I finally do it fulltime. I paid for all my certs, ratings, and endorsements by performing blue collar jobs. No one in my family was a pilot, and none cared a fig about my wanting to be one. The desire to get somewhere can be fortified by having to struggle. Pro pilots tend to always be pilots at heart even when they end up in another field.