I am 20-years-old. I am interested becoming a pilot but I am worried about automation and stuff in the future. I don't want to spend $50,000 to $80,000 for licenses and than be like "Why did i do this?"

I have a few questions for you?

1. Are you worried about your job due to automation in this industries?
2. If you could go back in the past, would you still choose this career?
3. If you are comfortable answering this question -- How old are you? How many years of experience you have? How much money are you making?
4. If you could go back, what would you do differently? Like work for another airlines ......

Thank you very much for your help and time!!

If the retirement age were to remain at 65 years old - you would be able to answer these questions just before you turned 65.

There is no answer to your question that means anything and certainly nothing that would give you the answer about whether or not you should seek a career in aviation.

Being a pilot is a lot like porn......it rarely is anything anyone wanted to become or planned on.....its simply a place you find yourself after you’ve made very poor life choices.....

IMHO.........

Answers and corrections above in red.

To quote the late Louis Armstrong, “if you gotta ask, you ain’t never gonna be one?

GF

1. Automation....possibly may affect cargo operations but you should be able to get in a career before it gets good enough to replace pilots. Remember, right now they can't even do self driving cars because they haven't been able to program for human stupidity.

2. Yes I would do this again. I went thru bankruptcies, furloughs, etc. but would still do it. I really like having a seniority number and not having to play office politics. We have an old joke among pilots that goes like this: "You know you've had a successful career when you walk into the Chief Pilot's office to submit retirement paperwork and no one knows who you are"

3. I'm retired now in my 60's. Flew for a hobby starting in 1975, and for a living starting in 1981. For the 15 years prior to retirement I usually made in the low 6 figures.

4. I would have NOT cancelled my 1989 interviews with Delta and Northwest in order to take a job at USAir (aka the incredible shrinking airline).

I'm in the same boat as you in my 20's considering a pilot career.

I just don't like the idea of being gone for days straight. And the medical aspect where a minor issue can end your career. And getting the 1500 flight hours required is kinda tedious.

The pay looks sweet. 5 years in you're making six figures.

And it's a stable job and respected career. Getting paid on autopilot and also comes with generous travel discounts.

I think becoming a professional pilot is a calling. It has to be a passion or you are more likely to fizzle out. Like the poster above said if you have to ask "should I" it's probably not for you. Go take an introductory flight. You should know by the end of that flight if another career choice would better. You should be grinning ear to ear after that flight.

Also money was mentioned. If you choose this profession solely because of the money you may be in for a disappointment. I didn't see dollar signs when choosing this career path when I was 16 taking lessons. Not until much later did it become a factor.

Thank you so much for you opinion.

Thank you so much for your response cwells063.