Search

Notices
Major Legacy, National, and LCC

Taking the plunge

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-01-2009, 01:14 PM
  #41  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,817
Default

Originally Posted by JCharlton
Question: Attending FlightSaftey Academy or Embry-Riddle, would that speed up and open opportunities for a better position with an airline? I don't want to be jumping puddles for more time than necessary.
Both a fat NEGATIVE. You will spend literally tons of $$, and because of their 141 rules for training, you will spend most of your time jumping through hoops and less time flying; their regs regarding training are about as stringent as 121 flying. Be aware.
ExperimentalAB is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 01:18 PM
  #42  
Gets Weekends Off
 
USMCFLYR's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
Default

Originally Posted by JCharlton
Military is the most difficult aviation to qualify for. From my research, hardly any of the applicants ever get off the ground. Your definition of "coolest ride" does not fit mine, as I'm not looking for sheer excitement. I have no interest in flying for the military. Many of my family and friends are very successful in many careers, including art. An artist I have known makes more money than any doctor or lawyer and none of them are homeless. J. Lipking (artist)
I'm not doing it for the "sheer excitement". It is a job (actually more of a life choice/calling in some ways) - and a very important job at that. The plus that it comes with some "sheer excitement" and more than a few touches of sheer terror certainly keeps it exciting. Your quote makes it seem that you think it is a game though. Far from it JC.

You mentioned in an earlier post about some artist making $500k and you mentioned recently about an artist making more than any doctor, etc....

I'd ask two things:
1) Are these the norms for artisits or are you picking out the Picasos of the industry - the one in a million that actually makes it? It seems to me that the straving artisit is not an imaginary character
2) If you really think that you can make that much money doing art - then stop even considering a career in flying and stick with art and own your own VLJ!!

USMCFLYR
USMCFLYR is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 01:38 PM
  #43  
Line Holder
 
Jeffdh17's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 79
Default

FlyJSH,

Thanks for your description of the corporate pilot's life. It brought back some memories and really made me laugh. I fly scheduled ops now, and my experience isn't quite as horrible as what you have described. As far as your description of the corporate pilot however, I'd swear that you were describing my life 4 years ago.....
Jeffdh17 is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 02:03 PM
  #44  
Day puke
 
FlyJSH's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: Out.
Posts: 3,865
Default

Originally Posted by Jeffdh17
FlyJSH,

Thanks for your description of the corporate pilot's life. It brought back some memories and really made me laugh. I fly scheduled ops now, and my experience isn't quite as horrible as what you have described. As far as your description of the corporate pilot however, I'd swear that you were describing my life 4 years ago.....
LOL, I'm glad you level of horribleness has decreased. I guess my luck is bad, because all the good companies I worked for have gone under. Seems only the forced labor camps can survive.
FlyJSH is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 02:10 PM
  #45  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Lighteningspeed's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: G550 Captain
Posts: 1,206
Default

Originally Posted by FlyJSH
LOL, I'm glad you level of horribleness has decreased. I guess my luck is bad, because all the good companies I worked for have gone under. Seems only the forced labor camps can survive.
Ditto. Spot on about corporate flying. It never fails, those rich people we flew had to have those "buddies" who took some flying lessons and thinks he knows more than a professional pilot. And won't shut up the whole time including the approach phase when we are busy. God help us if we tell him to shut up though, that will be the end of your short lived career.

Last edited by Lighteningspeed; 06-01-2009 at 02:31 PM.
Lighteningspeed is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 05:40 PM
  #46  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 10
Default

"I'd ask two things:
1) Are these the norms for artists or are you picking out the Picasos of the industry - the one in a million that actually makes it? It seems to me that the straving artisit is not an imaginary character
2) If you really think that you can make that much money doing art - then stop even considering a career in flying and stick with art and own your own VLJ!!"

1) It's all about dedication and awareness. The artists who are "starving" tend not to get up at 6 every morning to spend 8 hours in the studio and are not aware of the popular trends. Starving artists aim to please their own tastes rather to balance personal taste with current trends. Successful artists work hard to perfect their craft, while keeping with the current movements. You must know how to market yourself, successful artists know that art is a business. blah..blah...

2) Stress and lack of structure are two things that plague artists. Galleries place strict deadlines and demands on artists. It's not a career where you just show up and do you job (like piloting?). It takes personal planning and incredible initiative to stay on top.

Pilots go to work, fly thousands of feet above the planet, and enjoy I assume some nice perks. Bottom line is that you leave for the day, thats it and you work stays at work.

I would not mind spending 5 maybe even 10 years of my life working myself into a position where I could have a somewhat constant schedule, decent pay, and travel perks as a pilot. Only thing is that from what I have learned here, my chances would be better winning the lottery.
JCharlton is offline  
Old 06-01-2009, 06:19 PM
  #47  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Flying both desk and jet
Posts: 147
Default

Justin:

As you have seen their are alot of opinions on this board.

Now I will give you mine.

My background first. I was an accountant for 7 years working in the natural gas industry. The economic recession during the First gulf war I never felt. Everyone still needs to heat their home. I left the business world in 1995 to pursue flying and I would not change a thing. I have a Bachelor degree in accounting and I am currently on furlough number 2 from major airline number 2. My first furlough was in 2002 after 9/11, we all know why. My second furlough 4/09 due to economic reasons, so they say.

My advice to you, continue to get your bachelor degree in whatever field you like, airlines don't care what your bachelor's degree is in. This could your backup job should aviation not work out. Remember you have to take a medical every year. Yes its easy, but you never know when your health might take a turn and could ground you, let alone an accident.

Second, take the discovery flight. See if you reall like flying. Flying a sim is nothing compared to the plane. The plane is actually more fun. Now if you decide you want to pursue flying than by all means do. You do not want to hit your late 30 or 40 and regret not pursuing something you truely want.

My last piece of advice, understand what you are getting into. Flying is a great job. If gives you time off, you don't take you work home with you and you get to travel. That is all good.

Now the bad. Management would rather hire monkeys, than humans, to fly airplanes and pay them in bananas, its cheaper. Management would even take crap thrown at them. In my opinion, every pilot contract in the future is going to be a fight just to keep what we currently have not only in pay but workrules. Unfortunately, alot of pilots are willing to start at lower wages in hopes of upgrading quickly. This puts downward pressure on wages. Management always likes to use the newest startup airline as why they don't have to pay, because people are willing to do it for less.

Good luck in your decision. The opportunities will be opening up for sure starting December 2012, when age 65 retirements start in full swing. How long will this swing last is anyone's guess. Its depends how many airlines start up and are successful to how many fail in the future. Time will only tell.
alwaysflying is offline  
Old 06-02-2009, 07:18 AM
  #48  
Line Holder
 
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 45
Default You Sound like me 30 years ago.

When I was in high school, I wanted to go into the air force. My father was a B17 pilot in WWII, and owned a bonanza when I was little. I loved flying from a very young age. Back then if you wanted to be an "airline pilot", you pretty much had to have military flying experience. They were paid well, the flight attendants (Stewardesses) where all young and beautiful woman, not gay men,no offense to gay men. You were paid well, and usually retired with a million dollar plus retirement. Back then to get an air force pilot slot, you had to have 20/20 uncorrected vision. That knocked me out, so I went on to college, majored in accounting, and had a successful career in banking. I learned to fly, have my commercial ticket, and bought a A36 bonanza which I have enjoyed flying for many years. I have a golf buddy who was an air force T38/T37 instructor, who has been with a major airline for 18 years. He has shared with me the ups and downs of his career, and how his quality of life has been a roller coaster ride. He started out as a flight engineer on 727, then FO on 727. He then went to FO on MD80, for about 8 years, setting reserve the first few years, which as many here know is the worst. Finally after moving up the seniority ladder, he had the good schedules, time off with his family, and decent quality of life, then he upgraded to captain MD80. Back to the bottom of the quality of life scale. He then went international FO on the 777, loved the aircraft, hated the schedule, and went back to FO 737, again back to the bottom of quality of life scale. Took a 40% pay cut like most of the guys here. He is now very senior FO on 737, but does not want to upgrade to captain, because of QOL. He is being offered a check airman position at age 50, and may take it because he will get a nice raise and probably only fly two more days a month. Again his QOL will suffer, but he plans to take early retirement provided his and his wife's 401Ks recover. I have shared with him my dream of having an airline career, and he has assured me that had he the opportunity to do it again, he would take a different route. On a recent trip in my bonanza I was parked at an FBO next to a G5. I was wondering what it must be like to fly such a sophisticated 30 million dollar plus aircraft. I noticed the flight crew walking towards my bonanza, and they asked me what year it was, I told them 1973 model, but I had upgraded the interior, paint, avionics. They said wow, looks like a new aircraft, must be nice to be able to own one. The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, before you hop it, talk to someone who has been on the other side for a while.
pilotrod is offline  
Old 06-02-2009, 08:40 AM
  #49  
Gets Weekends Off
 
lpcunity's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: Yeti SB150
Posts: 184
Default It can be fun.

Justin,
There are many ways to become a pro pilot.
As for myself, I went a slightly different way.
My first mistake was getting a degree in Aviation. Don't do that. Art will be a fun one.
I graduated with my Multi/inst/comm. In 2003 and the industry was still bad from 9/11.
Im from Colorado, I was sick of it. Surfing was always a dream for me. Only logical option was to move to Hawaii. I sent resumes to anyone with an airplane for months. One day, some dude asked if I want to interview for a crappy airline flying in the right seat of a canavan. Hell ya I did. Got the job and moved to Maui. I learned to surf and the flying time built up fast. 6 months later I became the PIC of an awe inspiring Caravan. Life was great, surfing, flying, beer drinking on the beach. Good times. The cash flow was minimal. After about 2 years of that it was time for some Multi time. I got a job with a part 135 cargo company directly in the left seat. I flew BE-99/BE-1900s. The money was good and the flying was still fun. Hawaii is a fun place to fly. Sure there were some late nights, flying solo at 0300 with no autopilot. Makes you a good stick. All the other dudes flying with me got "googly eyed" for shiny jets, and left for the regionals. I stayed and racked up 2000 hrs turbine PIC. All while having a great time, with great people, in a great place. I did not want to PIC a 135 freight dog for ever, so I started looking around. No longer in Hawaii, there were no jobs. Thanks to GO!. No offense GO! pilots. After searching around I found nothing short of a job starting at 20K. Then one day, a guy called me. He said he was the Chief Pilot of a Large Fractional operation. He was the neighbor of my dads old drinking buddy. He walked in my resume and I got hired. You never know where your next hook up will come from. Life is still great. I live back in Colorado. I got 35 days of snowboarding in this winter and have loads of free time to do anything I want. Granted I'm single and have no kids. The Moral of the story is: Do what makes you happy. Flying is not my soul passion. I just use it to go cool places and do cool stuff.
On the other side, I have been FO to lots of retired airline guys that still need to work because there retirement vanished. Just like everyone has said before me, stability in aviation is not going to happen. I might get axed soon. If so, I'm going to Indo and surfing.
Cheers
.
lpcunity is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
withthatsaid182
Hangar Talk
10
05-14-2009 05:53 PM
ShortBus_Driver
Career Questions
10
02-12-2009 05:58 AM
PhoenixFlood
Hangar Talk
3
02-02-2009 09:19 PM
Rotorhead
Major
0
01-27-2009 06:50 AM
JoeyMeatballs
Hangar Talk
39
08-29-2008 03:10 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Your Privacy Choices