Or better yet, jump into an ERJ with 300hrs, get furloughed and spend your free time whining about how everyone else screwed you. Actually I'm being sarcastic, please dont be that guy. If you want some real advice, make your own decisions stick with them, be the best you can be and dont worry about the people in this industry with a chip on their shoulders. 90% of this industry is maintaining a professional attitude, and how you carry yourself in front of your customers..Oh and maybe look towards corporate flying as opposed to 121, not sure why but there seems to be less attitudes, and egos. No matter what you choose though, this industry is a lot of luck and timing, some get lucky some don't, and some think they have been burned only to have something better come along later. Life is what you make it, and good luck

 

I think N49194 and Johnso have the correct answers.

I have found most people that are negative are the most vocal........
At the same time I laugh because half of the people that answer these questions reply with "you should go to law school and make real money...." Sadly, I have a girlfriend, a sister, and a cousin that are all attorneys..... They all hate it.

 

Moderators: Please move this to the appropriate category.

 

I'd also add my recommendation to switch majors to something more mechanical. A business management degree is not entirely useless, but close. If you want to work in aviation management at some point, major in finance or accounting. Those are the two major business disciplines.

As far as flying, others have covered it well. It might work. It might not. Throw the dice and take what you get. The pro pilot world is a rat race and most of the time, you will be treated like a rat. There are exceptions, I've heard. I hope you find one of them.

 

Wprop, I have a feeling that you are pretty young. Lots of pilots like to whine. Even after they tell you not to do it, no body seem to be quiting their flying job. If they are leaving the airlines then I would be a little concern. If flying is really something you want to do, and you are young, I would say give it a try. If it doesn't work out, at least you can say that you've been there and done that and try something else. Otherwiese you will always wonder what if... Like someone else mentioned, it's a gamble. Good luck.

 

Why do so many people get a degree just to "check the box?" If you're going to put yourself through the time and expense of getting a degree, you might as well learn something useful and interesting in the process.

Nothing to do with the OPs question.... but come on, people.

 

Do what you want. I'll be the first to tell you I love 121 flying. I love the Embraer. I love the time away from home. (my girlfriend doesn't know about these forums). I like hanging out with the crew. Even the people who complain endlessly on here more than likely enjoy those things. But there is a very real side to being an airline pilot. There is alot more to being an airline pilot than aviation. All of which need to learn before getting in deeper. You need to figure out for yourself if you can handle it. Can you deal with no job security? Can you deal with being away from home? Can you deal with 16 hour duty days? Can you deal with a Coke for breakfast at 4 a.m.? Some people can. Some people can't. Some people envy me. Some people wouldn't want to be me for all the tea in China. I think the best advice anybody ever gave regarding your decision is...sure why not...try it out for a while...but HAVE A BACKUP PLAN!

 

Nah...

Don't get into this. It is not worth it on so many levels. Work to live and prosper. Flying is fun when you get to go where, how, or why you want.
I would have done something else if I knew what i know now.

 

I wouldn't say don't do it, cause if you do, you'll be wondering "what if" for the rest of your life, and that would be pretty sad to say the least. I did it, had some fun, learned the airplane, captained it, and had a great time. The time away from home can be therapeutic for some, different cities/towns every night, being surrounded by different people on a daily basis, not knowing your future until it's your present, etc...all of this can be the perfect lifestyle for the right individual, it can also be a living nightmare for the wrong one. You can guess at it, but you won't know if it's the right choice for you until you've tried it out. All in all, i wouldn't trade my time at the airlines, I met some great individuals, had the chance to really test my aviation knowledge in the most practical of ways, learn a complex and exciting new airplane, travel 10 miles a minute, and even get my wife and I across the pond in first class both ways for under 1k bucks for the whole trip.

As of now, im out of the business (on my accord), have a good career, good co-workers, and a stable life...I can make plans on the weekend, and guarantee that i'll keep them, I get good insurance, decent pay, 40 hr work weeks, and peace of mind. As it stands right now, i wouldn't trade this job either. But that's what happens as life changes around you, what works for you today, may not work for you tomorrow, just don't let someone else make your decisions for you. Think long and hard about it, then make up your mind.

PS- You might have plenty of time to think about it, cause at 200 hrs, you're not near a professional cockpit yet...so it'll either be doing charter work in a baron, or instructing in a 172 for quite a while until you've got the time requirements for the airlines, WHENEVER they start hiring again.

 

lol, so true.