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Checking my options

Old 04-30-2008, 07:12 PM
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Checking my options at the moment; and I’m unsure on where to start my career path, since I want a good starting step; without making laterals one or stepping back on some. Well on Dec 08, I will be graduating from Univ.

Here are my options after graduating. I know each one has their pros & cons but since some of you guys have been in similar situations before I need some honest opinions…
1)FE on DC-10 ( I have a school friend whose Dad owns a cargo airline and they sort of offered me the position after graduation) If I do get in I don’t know how long I would sit as an FE before jumping on as an FO
2)Regional Airline- Pay the dues- do the time/ have a good time- Upgrade, etc
3)National Guard- part time pilot??
4)Fly UAVs
5)CFI- Instruct longer and wait till the market finishes its cyclical dive- then Ill have enough hours to do a part 135 gig follow by applying to a fract.

- There are so many steps and routes you can go, I’m getting overwhelmed.

My goal is to fly Corporate, Cargo or for a Carrier (abroad) and live outside of the US for a while also later in life I would like to own a business since there’s only so much you can eat at an aviation buffet. What do you guy think?
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Old 04-30-2008, 08:59 PM
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I would definately go for the FE position. Granted I am not a working airline pilot, but I have been lurking around these forums for a long time (reading but not posting), and my opinion is that getting valuable jet time, better QOL than regionals, probably better pay, and you'll probably pick up a lot from the CA/FO when flying with them. Overall, it will make you a better pilot, especially if you continue on the DC-10. You'll understand aircraft systems better...etc.
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Old 04-30-2008, 09:01 PM
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Are UAVs really flying?
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Old 04-30-2008, 09:03 PM
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This is crazy, but I say fly UAV's. Do you honestly have a shot at that? I'd say do it for a year. If you take the time to get qualified on that, I'd think it would be a great back up for quite some time as you work your way up the ladder.

I'd say CFI to build time, as well. It's great experience and will make you a better overall pilot.

National guard, if you really can get it, would never be a bad choice.

Maybe you should pursue all of the above and see how many of them really become viable options. In many ways, you kinda got to take the first thing that comes along vs waiting for something that MIGHT work out later. Don't ever count on something that MIGHT happen.
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Old 05-01-2008, 10:45 AM
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Go be a CFI. You'll really learn how to fly and work with people after doing that for a year.
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Old 05-01-2008, 11:42 AM
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I'd go and be a CFI. The FE thing is shady. I can't think of a single company that would take a low time FE and put him in the right seat. The insurance requirements alone make that almost an imposibility. Might end up with a ton of FE time but 3 years later at the same place you began. I'd say get time as a CFI or at a regional then try for the FE job.
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Old 05-01-2008, 02:11 PM
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Thanks guys for the input
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Old 05-01-2008, 02:36 PM
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1. FE time will be most likely worthless to your career progress since the seats are going away across the industry. Search the hiring mins at UPS, FDX, SWA, etc. It's pretty much useless without PIC/SIC time to boot.

2. In this climate, I'd hate to be a low time regional FO. Where are you going to go if furloughed? Best case another regional which isn't that great.

3. The guard is hardly part-time these days, especially the first several years after getting in. Search the board, there's a ton of info.

4. Pretty sure most UAV jobs require a security clearance. Odds of getting a contractor job without having operated them in the military are probably slim.

5. CFI will give you opportunities to learn, network, earn additional income on the side later in life, and a good plan B if you do get furloughed from an airline someday.
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Old 05-02-2008, 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Slice View Post
1. FE time will be most likely worthless to your career progress since the seats are going away across the industry. Search the hiring mins at UPS, FDX, SWA, etc. It's pretty much useless without PIC/SIC time to boot.

2. In this climate, I'd hate to be a low time regional FO. Where are you going to go if furloughed? Best case another regional which isn't that great.

3. The guard is hardly part-time these days, especially the first several years after getting in. Search the board, there's a ton of info.

4. Pretty sure most UAV jobs require a security clearance. Odds of getting a contractor job without having operated them in the military are probably slim.

5. CFI will give you opportunities to learn, network, earn additional income on the side later in life, and a good plan B if you do get furloughed from an airline someday.
I'm with Slice on this one...

UAV's: You will probably need a clearance, which you won't have without prior military. Most importantly, UAV flying is NOT airplane flying...it will count for NOTHING at all as far as a career as a professional pilot is concerned. Do not pursue this unless you are willing to give up on the idea of flying real airplanes. On the flip side, the UAV business will grow rapidly...if you decide you want to go this route and can get in, you will probably always have a job.

Guard: Great flying experience, free training, better pay, plenty of opportunity to work as much as you can stand for the forseeable future. Great to have the resume and connections that go with it. Obviously you have to be properly motivated for military service, and willing to kill our enemies.

FE: Airplanes which use FE's are a dying breed long-term, so the FE time itself won't help your career. However...this decision all depends on your odds of moving into the right and possibly left seat of a wide-body doing international flying. If the company is stable and you can reasonably predict your seat progression, you might want to go this route. If you can get 1000 hours PIC in a widebody within 5-8 years, you would be far more competetive for good major airline jobs than a regional captain. Also if you're young enough, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime aviation opportunity just for the fun factor...

Regional vs. CFI: If you have less than 1000 hours, I'd lean towards CFI. that way you can learn some things, have fun, and avoid the furlough process at a regional. But it also depends on the location of available jobs and where you want to live.
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