Pondering pilot career
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Pondering pilot career
I'm 27 with no flying experience but I've always been interested in aviation. I recently took a fam flight and got hooked big time. Being an airline pilot is something I had always thought about but I got sidetracked by other things. Now I'm seriously contemplating going for it but I must admit what has me apprehensive is the years I'd have to work in low-paying jobs to get the necessary hours to be competitive for an airline position. I do have some savings and most schools I spoke to offer financing so while the cost is something to consider it's more the low-paying jobs that would come after that has me more apprehensive about going for it. I would want to pay down debt quickly but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to given how most of those jobs that are designed to build experience don't pay well at all. Can any pilots weigh in on this?
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If you have all the money available for training, and start *today*, you are realistically about 18 - 24 months away from your licence. That will put you on the threshold of 30 before you get out there...allow for 5 years (depending on the economy, and the amount that you fly) and you'll be looking at 35 for an airline job...
What's your family situation? married, kids, child support? how attached to your current home and lifestyle are you?
The trick to it would be to move to a remote location where the company might pay for a staff house - then all you are covering is food, clothes and entertainment. Put all of the money that you might otherwise spend on rent towards your loan, and you'll probably be doubling up on your payments. cut back on beer and pizza (not that difficult in Fort Nowhere Lake) and you'll free up another $1-200/month...
The trick, as always, is to be disciplined about it...remembering, of course, that many have gone the same route, and struggled also.
BTW, there are lots of well-paying jobs in aviation that are not airlines....
Good Luck!
What's your family situation? married, kids, child support? how attached to your current home and lifestyle are you?
The trick to it would be to move to a remote location where the company might pay for a staff house - then all you are covering is food, clothes and entertainment. Put all of the money that you might otherwise spend on rent towards your loan, and you'll probably be doubling up on your payments. cut back on beer and pizza (not that difficult in Fort Nowhere Lake) and you'll free up another $1-200/month...
The trick, as always, is to be disciplined about it...remembering, of course, that many have gone the same route, and struggled also.
BTW, there are lots of well-paying jobs in aviation that are not airlines....
Good Luck!
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Thanks for your response. If I were younger I wouldn't be thinking twice about this but I would be in my mid 30s before I could even stand a chance of being hired with an airline and starting a family is important to me too (and as a woman it would mean mat leave). Any female pilots on this forum who can weigh in?
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Firstley, understand that the airlines "aint what they used to be", I retired seventeen years ago and working conditions, pay, quality of management have gone down hill since then {no conection with my retirment} I now make a better income flying a modest little corporate aircraft than the vast majority in the airlines , also use it a a training ground for young pilots, {all girls by the way, they have far fewer problems than the crop of young males I hired in the past!} If you are even thinking of starting a family I must point out that I was 23 years in the game before I had Christmass of, just an indication of the problems one is saddled with if kids are involved. If you have a decent income and job right now may I sugest, if you are hell bent on flying for a living, keep the job, and start as a part time instructor, then try to find a part time corporate job, this is the path followed by most of the young ladies who have flown with our company, its certainly worked for all of them, and the partners seem to be happy with this life style as well, as one said to me," Where else would I get flown in a corporate aircraft to spend time on the beach with my wife and kids?"{ all for free may I add!} Now, not all companies are as generous as ours, but there are others out there. good luck to you!
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Any female pilots on this forum who can[B] weigh in?[/B
Good luck with getting those numbers.😜
Clunk gave you some really good advice. Now quit stalling and get flying!
Good luck with getting those numbers.😜
Clunk gave you some really good advice. Now quit stalling and get flying!
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Treykule, its bloody forteen below here with a fifteen knot wind, if you do the walk around then we might fly! Is there any place worse than an airport ramp at 0530 hours? As Napolen said, "The courage most rare amounst men is the courage of the early morning", he got that right for sure, mind you once the cabin heat kicks in we all feel much better and today its one of those glorious Winter days in which one can see for ever, unlike the vis in your part of the world!
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Very few that go for the airlines get there.
Not many that want to be pilots even get a first job.
Those that do, work hard, long hours, often living in remote locales and all for typically a minimal reward.
And to restate, most won't get to an airline like AC, WJ, AT etc.
So do you feel lucky? Can you do it? Can you handle the sacrifice? Because if you want it you can not waffle. You have to go for broke, all in on making it happen. And FOCUS. Progression is the name and quickly...
27 is still young. If you have the money go now and start flying, yeah some people take a couple years getting their licence. But really if you want to get er done quicker you can. Under a year. Sooner the better. If luck scores you a quick job and you pile on the hours, early thirties would be a blessed career for getting to an airline. Mid thirties average. It took me 10 years and I was the old guy in room. But I'll have 25 years with my airline when I retire, maybe up to 30 as working till you're old seems to be the trend now. Airline life is good... Lot better way to spend your life than what all the commuters on the highway seem to be doing every day. IMO anyway...
Good luck.
Not many that want to be pilots even get a first job.
Those that do, work hard, long hours, often living in remote locales and all for typically a minimal reward.
And to restate, most won't get to an airline like AC, WJ, AT etc.
So do you feel lucky? Can you do it? Can you handle the sacrifice? Because if you want it you can not waffle. You have to go for broke, all in on making it happen. And FOCUS. Progression is the name and quickly...
27 is still young. If you have the money go now and start flying, yeah some people take a couple years getting their licence. But really if you want to get er done quicker you can. Under a year. Sooner the better. If luck scores you a quick job and you pile on the hours, early thirties would be a blessed career for getting to an airline. Mid thirties average. It took me 10 years and I was the old guy in room. But I'll have 25 years with my airline when I retire, maybe up to 30 as working till you're old seems to be the trend now. Airline life is good... Lot better way to spend your life than what all the commuters on the highway seem to be doing every day. IMO anyway...
Good luck.
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Away You Go
Well, a breath of fresh air from everybody.
If I can weigh in with over 42 years in the industry, I say:
You'll be in your mid-thirties whether you go flying or not. Get out and do what you want to do. It would be a sad day for you, if, in 10 years you look back and 'wished' you had taken the step to become an aviator.
With the airframe manufacturers having books bulging with orders, I can only wish I was your age and starting over again.
And as for maternity leave, I can only say that I had the pleasure of requalifying a new Mom, after she had come from 6 months leave.
now. Go Fly!😄😄
If I can weigh in with over 42 years in the industry, I say:
You'll be in your mid-thirties whether you go flying or not. Get out and do what you want to do. It would be a sad day for you, if, in 10 years you look back and 'wished' you had taken the step to become an aviator.
With the airframe manufacturers having books bulging with orders, I can only wish I was your age and starting over again.
And as for maternity leave, I can only say that I had the pleasure of requalifying a new Mom, after she had come from 6 months leave.
now. Go Fly!😄😄
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Clunck, you wrote that you have a better income than "the vast majority in the airlines". You sure about that? Kind of a big statement. Maybe you were just referring to Canadian airlines...
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No, Ex Pat, I stand by that statement, however I chose not to work full time {done enough of that and need to take great chunks of time to play with my toys, my choice entirley} so I work as a part timer with my company contracted to various customers, so my daily rate is above the vast majority of full time pilots on the heavy metal regardless of their location, although there are of course some who are way above our pay scales, however they, for the most part live, work for, places and folks Im not interested in. Our main customer is after me to go full time as I have a small qualification in my murky past he would like to tap into, but Im getting up in years and would rather build snow forts with the Grand Kids then make a few more bucks.I think we might "pull the pin" before next Winter, al depends on finding the right place to move to before they put me in the old folks home!
