My new hire class at Eagle in 99 had a viper guy, b52 IP, and a hornet driver. Not always the case

 

Going the military route is good way to start but I made that mistake. Instead I went into rotary wing HA. unfortunately I join to crew and maintain the ch-47 chinook. Overall it was not a bad decision I have picked up a load of good information about rotary wing but I think I should have gone the other way. It doesn't help expidite anything because I was leaning toward the other direction.

 

Horizon has been consistently...good....air wisconsin was at one time the cream of the crop...I have a letter from them requesting 500turbine just to interview..today they are nothing....airlines like go jet or gulfstream will get you blacklisted and are career enders...

 

unfortunately yes I am married with one little boy (best thing that ever happened). Right now I am in the US Army serving as a ch-47 mechanic/ crew member and I have about 2 years left in the service. I do not have any logged flight hours. I would have to start from scratch and work my way to the top. I am only 23 and I have always loved to fly so I joined the military and when aviation but not to fly. I just what to crew and see how everything is. Now I am about to get out of the military and go to school where I will start working on all my ratings and certificates that I will need. (Yea I know I will not be able to get all of them). The 9/11 bill will be cover most if not the entire thing. I'm trying to look around see what would be the smartest route to go with. I would like to fly for a major airline but however I am still doing the research. (not easy doing it while you are deployed)

 

Well you are doing the right thing by doing your research and asking all the right questions. You should have all or most of the info you need to make a decision when you ets in 2 years. The good thing about that is you'll still be young.....only 25. But you do have a wife and kid. Just know that if you do decide to embark on a career of a professional pilot, be prepared to be poor for a long time......and yet no guarantees of having a stable, decent paying flying job EVER! That's the sad reality of it with no sugar-coat. You'll have a lot of disappointments and let-downs.....mostly in the form of a bad economy/recession, but also could be due to bad managment and overall general bad luck! But you'll have to find the inner strength and determination to never give up no matter what if you want to "make it" in this career.

If you are gung-ho and do your training full time, you can go from 0 hours to having a commercial pilot certificate in a year or less (not including the flight instructor certs). That'll run you anywhere from 35-45k.....give or take 10k. So use the heck out of your post 9/11 GI bill. The more it pays towards your training, the less debt you'll have and want to have when you get all your ratings and licenses.

And at some point later in your life, if and when you do make it to a successful airline or company that you can retire from, your pay will be great, retirement should be great, life will be great and finally the career you embarked on would be truly rewarding! Atleast that's the picture that most of us have in our heads and are truly hoping for! Only time will tell!

I wish you nothing but the best!

 

Thanks. yea im going to to use as much of that GI bill as I can. Im going to see if I can use the Army's TA to complete some while I am still serving.

 

I was in a similar situation as you; same age when I got out, married, former 15U . Dunno where yr stationed at but I got out at Ft. hood TX. I went to school got my associate's and bachelors while getting the flying done. My goal is right seat somewhere flying for a living by 30. Im 28 now, wrapping up my CFI and working as a station agent at Colgan at KGRK. I have about 320 TT. As soon as finish my CFI I will be moving onto ME, CFII and MEI while instructing. I can tell you it hasnt been easy. Enjoy yr GI bill it paid for a majority of my stuff but not everything. I waited tables and did minor maintenance on school planes for extra cash. As for regional airlines, I wouldnt worry too much about that right now. Like everyone has stated, **** changes! Figure out where you are going to go to school at and where are you going to learn to fly. I dont think I could have come this far without my highly supportive wife encouraging me hope you have one too cause yr gonna need it. Alot of my friends that got out with me did contracting jobs making 100k/yr and its very hard to fight the temptation to do the same because you will never make that much flying for a long time to come. But I really want to do this, not for the money. Its my dream and until I am told I cant medically Im gonna keep on trucking along. If you have questions PM me. Good Luck!

 

Don't make it sound so easy! I'm going on two years applying to those companies and many more after leaving active duty. All I've received are one request for my 30,60,90 and quite a few "thanks, but no thanks" emails. Thank goodness for the Guard!

My stats (if you care):
2200+ TT, 2000+ PIC Turbine, 800+ IP, 2200+ MEL, ATP, FEw, and 737 type rating. I have five recommendations from guys working for four different companies.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?
Stallog

 

trying to make sense of the aviation industry. DUH

 

I'd like to know where you get your information? They are far from nothing today. In fact, many desire Air Wisconsin.