Becoming a pilot and having another job in Canada
 

Hi,

Forgive me, as I'm not sure where to post this. Although I do live in the GTA, so I hope this is relevant.

I am 18 years old, and am going to be a student at U of T next January for mathematics. In a perfect world, I would have a job in mathematics research while working as a commercial pilot.

Just how feasible will this be?

I know this isn't a perfect world, so I'm expecting that I have to choose one of my two dream professions. Unless someone can offer some information that proves otherwise...

I agree with Canuck51. Get the university education. As you can, learn to fly just for fun. Then, fly for fun- when you want to. As you enjoy that, than think about being told when you can fly, and when you cannot. Then, you'll appreciate flying purely for fun, and probably leave it at that like many of us!

It really depends if you want to make a F/T LIVING from aviation.

Hereabouts, a lot of commercial pilots fly on floats for the outfitters, lodges and private lake-home owners during the Summer season and revert to other forms of employment for the Winter. It's a pretty good life all-in, at least in terms of 'quality of life', but your 'standard of living' could well be better pursuing a F/T career in another area... It's your call really.

If I had my time again, would I do it? YOU BET!

Good luck either way! :ok:

If you do it right its no problem having an "outside" job, however when in or around aircraft it behoves one to have ones mind fully focused on the aircraft part of your life, not like so many who have their minds on their "other life" whilst flying. TSB reports have many reports with statements like "the pilot was president of the company which owned the aircraft" and other similar statements, I for one will not sit in an aircraft flown by such persons, and did in fact walk away from a few myself when the "very rich guy" wanted to play pilot, not all wealthy owners are like this but enough to make one very leery about such folks. {At our home field we have two such extreme examples, in fact bets are placed on how long before they leave smoking holes!} At the other end of the spectrum is the person with a very demanding non- flying job who simply doesnt have the funds or time to devote themselves to the degree required to stay current, doctors have a tendency to fall into this group. Having said all of this, yes, its possible to do both flying and other jobs, as long as one does it with care and dedication. Good luck to you!

Actually working as a commercial pilot you will either have to work for someone else who will justifiably have demands on your time as an employee, or own your own business which will place even more demands on your time. To fly professionally and do something else is an exercise in de-conflicting schedules, and the flying will necessarily come first in all but the rarest of cases. Flying professionally is also nothing like operating heavy machinery as some people erroneously think. It requires a heavy investment in training, a commitment to proficiency and a lot of reading to build and maintain the required knowledge in what is a rapidly evolving, technologically complex field. It is no exaggeration to say failure to keep up can kill you and anybody unfortunate enough to be with you.


If all you want to do is fly while being a mathematics whizz then I would suggest making Math your primary goal. Make enough money in that and you can indulge yourself with all the toys you want including airplanes.

Actually, if you continue your math studies to the PhD level (with a scientific bent) and add some aviation experience, becoming an astronaut becomes quite possible. :)

Concentrate on the math studies; take a few flying lessons if you can find the time and money. Right now you don't know if you'll like either one. Assuming you still like both, get the (bachelor) degree first, then start figuring out a career path. One thing to note is that a math degree isn't the route to fame and fortune; you'll likely need the PhD as noted above.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

So all this information is a bit too much for me to absorb at the minute, haha. But I get the sense that what you're all trying to tell me is to pursue math, and fly on the side if I get the chance.

I've heard that analogy before - about pilots being a lot like crane operators. But still, a crane operator never goes more than a few hundred feet above the ground...

How exciting is it to fly in a general aviation airplane, which is much smaller than an airliner?

Well... about as exciting as you make it! I think it is perfectly exciting (meaning not unsafely too much!). Last summer I flew for half an hour, up the Atlantic coast of Labrador, never climbing more than 100 feet above the water, though I guess more incredible awe inspiring, than mere exciting.

Try as much as you can, and choose for yourself!

Mate,

Aviation has taken me all around the world. I do it for a living full time and I enjoy it.
I'm from New Zealand and I have flown in Australia, Botswana, Canada and now Indonesia.
The stories that I can tell from my short life already puts most peoples entire lives to shame.
Aviation is what you make of it. If you want to race for the big jets, then you will probably get bored aviation rather quickly and wish that you had followed the Maths path.
If you take what is on offer around the world, it can take you to places and show you things that you didn't even know existed.


My one piece of advice. Whatever you do, don't rush. You are 18. You have nearly 50yrs of flying or work ahead of you.
Do your maths degree, have it in your back pocket to fall back on. Start flying and make a go of it.
If it doesn't work out, use the maths thing and fly when you can.

Just don't rush.

After having gone through, what...4 airline bankrupticies...I think you'd be crazy NOT to have another job. An old DFO of mine once said that first thing you should do after your get your ATPL is get your truck driver's licence, but I'm sure math guy would work, too.

Oh by the way, if it's airline flying you're after you'll no doubt wind up in the Middle East or China but that's ok, they have math, too. :)

Or India. :)