Grad Student with PPL and Asthma into the Airlines?
03-30-2006, 12:03 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Grad Student with PPL and Asthma into the Airlines?
Ok guys I'm new here so I'm not really sure where a question like this goes or even if I'm qualified to be on this forum.
Anyways I will be completing my M.S. in Aerospace Engineering in about a year. Meanwhile I am taking flying lessons. I've already banked about 35 hours and at this rate I should have my PPL by the end of August this year.
I really, REALLY have a great fascination with commercial aviation... probably borderline obsessive. But I went the engineering route in college and grad-school mainly because my parents thought that being an airline pilot meant you were unemployed half the time there was an economic hiccup. I'm a little worried about my level of education though, I've heard of people being denied jobs because of overqualification (airlines only require undergrad college) for fear that you'll get bored and leave.
I'm 24 now, but my main instructor is like 26 with a good 900 hours of total flight time, I think about 50-70 of those are twin. Now I'm thinking that I will never get into the airlines at my age and the stiff competition with all the furloughed or layed off pilots out there with thousands of hours of experience. I really can't compete against people who have been flying since 16 or have flown a substantial amount of hours for the airlines already. Additionally, I've looked into all the "low flying-time to right seat airline jobs" type schools and all of them are about $60,000 AND after that you still have to be a CFI to get your hours up to even be considered for an interview.
I guess another problem that I have is that I have asthma. It really isn't all that bad and I rarely have symtoms except for when I run into those high pollen count days, but I take Allegra and it usually goes away. Having that sort of illness, though was a bit of a pain to get by CAMI... they seem to have a blanket policy on this sort of illness regardless of severity. I got my
3rd Class Medical Certificate with the stipulation that I report to CAMI if my symptoms worsen (which they haven't in the 10 years since I was diagnosed).
So I guess wrote this to ask should I even bother trying to get into the airlines considering my age, low flying time, level of education and asthma. I certainly don't want to go through the expense of signing up for a 1st Class Medical if they are going to instantly disqualify me. If you think they would disqualify me... what are other jobs in commercial aviation that a person of my credentials can apply for?
Anyways I will be completing my M.S. in Aerospace Engineering in about a year. Meanwhile I am taking flying lessons. I've already banked about 35 hours and at this rate I should have my PPL by the end of August this year.
I really, REALLY have a great fascination with commercial aviation... probably borderline obsessive. But I went the engineering route in college and grad-school mainly because my parents thought that being an airline pilot meant you were unemployed half the time there was an economic hiccup. I'm a little worried about my level of education though, I've heard of people being denied jobs because of overqualification (airlines only require undergrad college) for fear that you'll get bored and leave.
I'm 24 now, but my main instructor is like 26 with a good 900 hours of total flight time, I think about 50-70 of those are twin. Now I'm thinking that I will never get into the airlines at my age and the stiff competition with all the furloughed or layed off pilots out there with thousands of hours of experience. I really can't compete against people who have been flying since 16 or have flown a substantial amount of hours for the airlines already. Additionally, I've looked into all the "low flying-time to right seat airline jobs" type schools and all of them are about $60,000 AND after that you still have to be a CFI to get your hours up to even be considered for an interview.
I guess another problem that I have is that I have asthma. It really isn't all that bad and I rarely have symtoms except for when I run into those high pollen count days, but I take Allegra and it usually goes away. Having that sort of illness, though was a bit of a pain to get by CAMI... they seem to have a blanket policy on this sort of illness regardless of severity. I got my
3rd Class Medical Certificate with the stipulation that I report to CAMI if my symptoms worsen (which they haven't in the 10 years since I was diagnosed).
So I guess wrote this to ask should I even bother trying to get into the airlines considering my age, low flying time, level of education and asthma. I certainly don't want to go through the expense of signing up for a 1st Class Medical if they are going to instantly disqualify me. If you think they would disqualify me... what are other jobs in commercial aviation that a person of my credentials can apply for?
03-30-2006, 12:05 AM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Asthsmatic pilot? Why not - Threaten to SUE under ADA. I bet it is only a matter of time we have blind pilots with seeing-eye-dogs and recovering crack addicts. Just tell them in the interview that you HATE unions and that you wish Wal-Mart had an airline. Oh they do, I forgot, its called ATA.
Last edited by KRAZO; 03-30-2006 at 12:10 AM.
03-30-2006, 12:19 AM
#3
APC co-founder
Joined APC: Feb 2005
Position: B777
Posts: 5,853
Welcome to the forums & good luck with finishing your education and getting on with flight instruction. I'd strongly advise you to discuss the medical question with your AME. Specifically ask if your condition would allow you to qualify for a 1st class medical, and what if any restrictions you might encounter. As far as I know, we don't have any AMEs that post on this board so I would dismiss any medical advice gleaned off the net.
For advice with flight training, check out the flight training forum on this board and use the search feature (a lot).
Good luck!
For advice with flight training, check out the flight training forum on this board and use the search feature (a lot).
Good luck!
03-30-2006, 06:53 AM
#4
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,261
There are really two seperate issues here: 1) getting a first-class medical and 2) getting a job.
If you can get a first class medical, you can probably get a job at a regional, charter, or corporate operation. Some don't ask any medical questions, they just want to see your certificate.
However if your medical is a "Special Issuance" (it will say that on the medical), the rumor is that that could be a problem with some airlines, especially majors. I think some even say that on their web sites...do a little research there.
Check out these guys...they have a lot of experience with these kinds of problems and provide some free info.
http://www.aviationmedicine.com/inde...useaction=home
Your local AME could sort out the medical itself, but he may not know much about airline hiring limitations.
Good Luck
If you can get a first class medical, you can probably get a job at a regional, charter, or corporate operation. Some don't ask any medical questions, they just want to see your certificate.
However if your medical is a "Special Issuance" (it will say that on the medical), the rumor is that that could be a problem with some airlines, especially majors. I think some even say that on their web sites...do a little research there.
Check out these guys...they have a lot of experience with these kinds of problems and provide some free info.
http://www.aviationmedicine.com/inde...useaction=home
Your local AME could sort out the medical itself, but he may not know much about airline hiring limitations.
Good Luck
03-30-2006, 07:30 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: A320 capt
Posts: 161
Originally Posted by HSLD
Welcome to the forums & good luck with finishing your education and getting on with flight instruction. I'd strongly advise you to discuss the medical question with your AME. Specifically ask if your condition would allow you to qualify for a 1st class medical, and what if any restrictions you might encounter. As far as I know, we don't have any AMEs that post on this board so I would dismiss any medical advice gleaned off the net.
For advice with flight training, check out the flight training forum on this board and use the search feature (a lot).
Good luck!
For advice with flight training, check out the flight training forum on this board and use the search feature (a lot).
Good luck!
I doubt it has been all easy for anybody to become a airline pilot, you`ll need luck, persistence, patience, and a lot of "bounce back ability".
03-30-2006, 05:12 PM
#6
On Reserve
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Posts: 23
good luck with your medical
if you are 24, its not too late to start. In less than 2 yrs, you could be flying for a regional airline. look into this flight school: www.flightcareers.com
At this place, you do not have to flight instruct or get your instructor rating.
Read the testimonials at this site. Hope this helps.
At this place, you do not have to flight instruct or get your instructor rating.
Read the testimonials at this site. Hope this helps.
03-30-2006, 06:27 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks a lot guys for the advice... I guess the critical thing now is to see if the asthma is a career buster. I'll speak to my AME. I could probably get a 1st Class Medical with a waiver, but I guess the critical part is has anyone ever been hired with a waiver (as rickair7777 explains), because $60,000 is a lot to spend on something that may amount to just a hobby rather than a paying job. In addition, do any of you guys know of any working pilots with such a disease?
Last edited by Imeneo; 03-30-2006 at 06:43 PM.
03-30-2006, 09:11 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: 767A (Ret)
Posts: 6,248
Get AND KEEP a first-class medical
Here's a tip I got from a former FAA regional chief AME: Once you get a first-class medical, never let it lapse into a second-class, even if you don't need the first-class right now. The reason is that if some close-call medical condition should arise down the road, the FAA is more likely to renew an existing first-class than to upgrade a second to a first.
03-31-2006, 09:10 AM
#9
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,261
Originally Posted by Imeneo
Thanks a lot guys for the advice... I guess the critical thing now is to see if the asthma is a career buster. I'll speak to my AME. I could probably get a 1st Class Medical with a waiver, but I guess the critical part is has anyone ever been hired with a waiver (as rickair7777 explains), because $60,000 is a lot to spend on something that may amount to just a hobby rather than a paying job. In addition, do any of you guys know of any working pilots with such a disease?
As far as getting the medical, discuss it with an expert BEFORE applying for the medical. The FAA can do all kinds of evaluations and hoop-jumping to make a determination on a medical, but if they give you a clean medical at the end with no restrictions, you're golden. You probably want to avoid having the words "special issuance" on your medical.
