Introduce yourself
04-01-2013, 04:39 AM
#3254
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2012
Position: 767ER-B
Posts: 5
Howdy, I'm a F.O. @ DAL. I've been with them 16 years and just got awarded a captain upgrade which should start training late in 2013. I've got about 24,000 hours (this is my 4th airline) and type ratings in B757/767, BE1900, BE300, FK100/70, SA226. I also do a little flight instructing on the side in light aircraft and write music. I joined this forum some time ago, but was too busy to post for quite awhile. Since, I'm planning on speaking at KSU this spring about aviation careers, I hooked up with this site again for research.
04-01-2013, 04:59 AM
#3256
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2012
Position: 767ER-B
Posts: 5
Originally Posted by Mfeeney84
I am 28, I have always wanted to be a pilot. Am I to old for this? Is there real money in it?
- It costs about as much to become a pilot as it does to become a doctor.
- You must be willing to move several times or willing to commute.
- Starting salaries are low to offset the training costs incurred by new hires. - Regionals 1st year ($15,000-$24,000) Majors ($24,000-$50,000) generally
- The divorce rate among the pilots I fly with is greater than 80%.
- For the past 5 years career progression was stagnated due to the raising of mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65. Thank goodness that's over.
- At the 10 year point(10 years from now) with most major airlines, annual salaries should be between $100k and $150k. At the 20 year point up to $250k.
- At the regionals expect to cap at 10 years at about $100-$140K.
- Getting hired by any airline, especially the majors, requires diligence, patience, and tenacity. Getting hired by a major airline is a full time job that requires hours of work each week in many cases filling out applications, resume's, and updates.
- There should be a "qualified" pilot shortage within 10 years, which may increase salaries and benefits due to the lack of folks going into aviation now and the fact that the military is flying more sorties with drones than ever before.
Good luck, I hope this helps.
04-01-2013, 05:06 AM
#3257
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2012
Position: 767ER-B
Posts: 5
I forgot to mention that:
there are other careers in aviation besides flying for the major airlines. Corporate pilots do quite well if they can find the right employer.
Also, the average pilot hiring age at our major airline is about 35. There was a fellow in my new hire class who was approaching 50. The youngest was 29. Also, getting hired is a commodity driven exercise. When there are lots of highly qualified applicants...that's who the the majors hire. Their hiring standards go down as the number of experienced applicants dwindles.
there are other careers in aviation besides flying for the major airlines. Corporate pilots do quite well if they can find the right employer.
Also, the average pilot hiring age at our major airline is about 35. There was a fellow in my new hire class who was approaching 50. The youngest was 29. Also, getting hired is a commodity driven exercise. When there are lots of highly qualified applicants...that's who the the majors hire. Their hiring standards go down as the number of experienced applicants dwindles.
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