So you want to be an Airline Pilot
03-11-2022, 08:59 AM
#61
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Originally Posted by RonW
Would you recommend going to a flight school and getting into a regional as fast as possible or going the collegiate route and losing another couple years of seniority? We both work and have a somewhat decent nest egg so money isn’t technically an issue. But I hate the thought of losing more than half of my GI bill benefits by going to an accelerated flight school.
I'd look for a vocational flight school... emphasis on reliability and ability to schedule consistently. In this hiring climate there are shortages of both CFI's and ASEL training planes. Bonus if it's near where you live now (or want to live). For any school, talk to current students... ambush them in the parking lot of needed. Flight school sales staff tend to be snake oil salesmen since their customers usually don't know much about what they're buying.
If you're going to commit to an airline career to age 65, why do you want to save the GI Bill? Kids?
03-11-2022, 09:30 AM
#62
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Originally Posted by rickair7777
If you're going to commit to an airline career to age 65, why do you want to save the GI Bill? Kids?
I am currently working on my PPL, which none of the benefits cover anyways, but am very new into the program.
03-11-2022, 09:59 AM
#63
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Originally Posted by RonW
I am not trying to save the GI bill, I am trying to use it to pay for the licenses. From my understanding, if I go the collegiate route that is sponsored by the yellow ribbon fund, I can complete a degree with almost zero out of pocket expenses. But if I go vocational, I would be capped at about 13k a year and I think I also lose my housing allowance.
Hiring is unprecedented right now but it will not last forever, so you want to get seniority at your career-destination employer locked in asap.
Also bear in mind that an extra year or two on the back end as a narrowbody CA is worth easily $300-400k/year. So you can spend some money now, and likely get a big ROI on that later, if you can afford it up front.
Originally Posted by RonW
I am currently working on my PPL, which none of the benefits cover anyways, but am very new into the program.
03-11-2022, 06:51 PM
#64
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I would concur with the advice to take the route that gets you through your Commercial and CFI ASAP. You shouldn’t have trouble finding work as a CFI and just fly your butt off until you are hired at a regional. Than do the same there. Your objective is to be competitive for a major before the current hiring wave ends. (Think next 3-5 years) I can’t speak to GI Bill stuff, transferred it to the kids.
05-13-2022, 05:59 PM
#66
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Originally Posted by MrIceCreamMan
Thanks for posting this. I'm just starting to think about the potential transition and this gave me some more stuff to consinder.
05-13-2022, 08:14 PM
#67
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Originally Posted by Fat Old Tired
Why do you want to be an airline pilot? You think it's a worthwile pursuit?
05-15-2022, 04:01 PM
#68
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Originally Posted by tnkrdrvr
Relative to the military lifestyle it is both far more lucrative and less intrinsically rewarding. Everyone has to do something when they grow up. Airline pilot is less bad than many other options.
05-22-2022, 05:11 AM
#69
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Originally Posted by tnkrdrvr
Relative to the military lifestyle it is both far more lucrative and less intrinsically rewarding. Everyone has to do something when they grow up. Airline pilot is less bad than many other options.
Originally Posted by Fat Old Tired
Why do you want to be an airline pilot? You think it's a worthwile pursuit?
I never thought I would look towards the airlines, but my life plans have changed due to a pending divorce. I had invested and planned to do my 20 and use real estate as an avenue for retirement. Airline pilot may not work for 50/50 custody, which is what I have now and intend to keep in the future, but I want to do what is best for my family (God willing it can be all of us). I like some of the benefits, the pay is good, and it doesn't come with secondary and tertiary duties as well as a 24/7 on-call lifestyle.
05-24-2022, 07:15 AM
#70
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Originally Posted by MrIceCreamMan
I never thought I would look towards the airlines, but my life plans have changed due to a pending divorce. I had invested and planned to do my 20 and use real estate as an avenue for retirement. Airline pilot may not work for 50/50 custody, which is what I have now and intend to keep in the future, but I want to do what is best for my family (God willing it can be all of us). I like some of the benefits, the pay is good, and it doesn't come with secondary and tertiary duties as well as a 24/7 on-call lifestyle.
