Am I getting into aviation for the wrong reasons?

[brynnb]

I'm 17 years old and live in Texas. I recently took my medical, had a "discovery flight" at a local flight school, and my parents said they'd pay for my private pilot's license. Needless to say, I'm very excited and I feel very lucky my parents would be so supportive.

I've always had a great interest in flying. I've done flight simulators for years. I've always wanted an irregular job. I don't like the thought of a 9-5 desk job that most people seem to have. I love the idea of traveling and I like knowing that with enough work and experience in the field I can make a decent paycheck doing something I'll hopefully enjoy.

I see joining the Airfoce as a possible option to get my licenses and some hours, but I'm not sure if I can get in. I do eventually want to get married. Possibly have family. I plan on getting a 4 year degree in a nearby college.

I'm sorry for such a long back story, but does anyone really see anything conflicting with what I want planned for my future and being a pilot? Are certain aspects of what I'd like to have in life going to impossible as a pilot?

Is the want to travel, the desire for an interesting life, and having a career I'd enjoy the wrong reasons to try to get into this career field?

Everywhere I look online all I ever hear about are people having trouble with jobs, already established pilots with problems maintaning jobs, and everything generally going downhill. Is being a pilot really this miserable? Is there a brighter outlook 10 years from now when I'd probably be entering the field?

Thanks in advance for any helpful replies.

[5711N0205W]

brynnb, it sounds like flying has got under your skin, you're young enough to give aviation a go and change to something else if it does not work out for whatever reason.
I would say go for it, the airforce could be a good route, well worth an explore anyway.
As for your stated motives they all seem pretty reasonable, regarding the moaners, you will find them in any walk of life, if this is truly what you want to do don't let them put you off.

[scroggs]

Are you getting into flying for the wrong reasons? No. Your reasons sound pretty similar to those of most of my colleagues, and we have all been flying for many years! Naturally, this job - in all its forms, whether military, corporate, airline or whatever - has its ups and downs, frustrations and benefits. There will always be people on a different part of the sine-wave from you, who are having a great time when you're not, or are getting a hard time when all's well with your world. And they'll want to talk and tell you about it. It doesn't mean that all pilots are having a hard time, or that all pilots are living the dream. It's just life, and it works like that pretty much whatever field you go into.

I wouldn't make too many detailed plans about the future - I was kind of expecting you to tell me what colour hair your wife would have, and where your kids would go to school, by the end of your post! Have a direction in mind, and work hard for it, but be ready to roll with the punches; to change plans and directions when things don't quite work as you'd hoped.

Read all the threads linked to in this thread. As this is a UK-based site, much of the detailed information won't apply to your US situation, but the feelings, experiences and advice is all valid. There's a lot there. Enjoy it.

Scroggs

[flyboyike]

Originally Posted by brynnb

...my parents aid they'd pay for my private pilot's license. Needless to say....I feel very lucky my parents would be so supportive.

You truly are extremely lucky.

[FougaMagister]

brynnb - at least you're not getting into aviation for the money. Now THAT would be the wrong reason...

Cheers

[LD Max]

I wish I'd seen the Archive Reference Threads that Scroggs has just pointed you to earlier. What a good resource Scroggs! Good, balanced advice there for you and for any other newcommer to aviation.

Hopefully without sounding patronising, I would just like to add that I'm very impressed by your attitude. It is all too easy to just "dive in" and go for what you want without considering the consequences and your post indicates maturity and intelligence well in advance of the average for your age.

Success in this industry depends on much more than confidence, ability, money and hormones! More than anything it requires good forward planning, realism and adaptablilty - qualities which you are already demonstrating.

As for the negative posts on this (and other) aviation forums, don't let that put you off... but please do understand that nothing in life is guaranteed and nobody owes you a living. It can be very frustrating and some people have trouble dealing with this fact of life! But it's quite theraputic to have a good old whinge from time to time. The anonymity of these forums encourages people to vent their frustrations to anyone who will listen - sometimes in more language than would be generally advisable on the flightdeck!

But it can also be very rewarding and you will see joyous posts here too as people "punch the air" and share their very real excitement at having successfully completed different stages of their training and embarking on new careers.

Good luck with your future, whichever path you choose.

Regards,

LD Max

[brynnb]

Originally Posted by flyboyike

You truly are extremely lucky.

Yup.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I've tried reading some from the reference threads but I've been going through a lot of other material that my step-grandfather sent me from his time in the airforce in WW2 so I haven't had tons of time. And, no offense to anyone here, but pilots don't seem to make the best writers

I'm glad to hear that it can be rewarding, but I'm also very aware of the difficulties life can put us through. I'm only 17 but I feel like I've been through a lot so far. I know everything won't go according to plan but I'm good at sticking through the bad stuff.

Money isn't really much of an issue for me. I like the ability to have freedoms to do what I want, but I don't really plan on ever being rich. It's more important for me to do something I enjoy with my life.

That aside, is there a resource of what kind of salaries pilots can expect from different experience levels and jobs? I remember seeing one that had average salaries for people working at major airlines, but I doubt most pilots get paid that much (70k+ after a few years seemed like the norm on this site).

I've also been looking around for resources on how to get hours after a commercial license. I can't ever really find out what people do to go from 250ish hours to the 1000+ plus that many jobs seem to require. Do you just have to pay out of your pocket to go fly or are there jobs that hire with only 300ish hours?

[flyboyike]

Where in Texas are you? Send me a PM, I may have a good contact for you in your neck of the woods.

[6000PIC]

I`d do something else.

[brynnb]

Originally Posted by flyboyike

Where in Texas are you? Send me a PM, I may have a good contact for you in your neck of the woods.

Sent!

I`d do something else.

I'm not really sure if this is a joke, or what.

[scruggs]

Originally Posted by 6000PIC

I`d do something else.

Sadly brynnb, there are some folk who post here that seem set on discouraging the dreams of us hopeful wannabe's. Don't let those kind of posts influence your decisions. At the end of the day, you can review all the advice, but only you can truly decide if aviation is for you or not.

The important point here is that just like scroggs said, is keep your master plan flexible - especailly in this industry! At 24, my plan is unrecognisable from what it was at 17!

All the best with the flying

[LD Max]

Originally Posted by brynnb

I can't ever really find out what people do to go from 250ish hours to the 1000+ plus that many jobs seem to require. Do you just have to pay out of your pocket to go fly or are there jobs that hire with only 300ish hours?

Very observant question. This, of course, is where a lot of people do come unstuck. After getting their Commercial Instrument Airplane Licence, so many people expect to walk into an airline job. Some do. Many don't.

Of those who don't, a fairly large number of them will do additional training to become an Instructor. This is fine for those who really want to instruct, but there is nothing worse for a student like you to be taught by someone who is merely trying to build their hours at your expense. From your point of view, I would hope you only follow this path if instruction is something you feel you would genuinely enjoy doing. Having said that, there are very few "Career Instructors" out there and there is definately a demand for them.

There are also alternatives such as aerial photography, parachute dropping, glider tugs, crop spraying. The market demand for these jobs is as variable as are the hiring requirements and the terms and conditions.

But one thing the airlines always seem to place emphasis on is "Currency". Many application forms will want you to declare your total hours in the last 3, 6 and 12 months. So ideally you want to be doing something which will keep you flying and keep your BFRs, Class ratings and medicals up to date.

There is no magic formula I'm afraid, but keep "networking" around the clubs, participate in social events around the aviation community, keep your hand in here on PPrune and go knocking on doors.

That way, at least you should keep your currency - even if you don't make a decent living for a while. But please don't "prostitute" yourself for anyone. With so many pilots looking for work there are too many outfits out there which will try to take advantage of your situation. The longer it goes on, the more desparate pilots get and eventually the temptation is to take anything on offer - no matter how poorly paid or how unsatisfactory the conditions of work.

It is this kind of mistreatment and the resulting discontentment which fuels many of the negative posts here. You need to be prepared for a long-(ish) wait between qualifying and getting hired into your "dream job". If you're gifted and lucky, hopefully it won't be too long - but do have a backup plan!

If money is not so much of an issue, you might be fortunate enough to factor in the cost of a Self-Sponsored Type Rating, (at say $35,000) at the end of your commercial training. This won't guarantee you a job either, (of course!), hence why you will see a lot of resistance to the concept in these forums. Quite rightly too - e.g. why should YOU have to pay another fortune for the training which your chosen airline will benefit from? But the perception is that people with type ratings seem to get jobs reasonably quickly. This is the only industry I know of where we are faced with these kinds of dilemmas (sp?) and I can appreciate both sides of the argument.

LD Max

[johnrizzo2000]

You should wait until you have started college! You may realise something else interests you, or that there is another job out there for you!

[BobC]

byrnnb

You might consider checking out you local Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadron - try http://www.cap.gov/ for starters.

BobC

[BIGBAD]

I got into aviation for the galmour, the uniforms and the girls - it worked out ok I've got stacks of uniforms - at least 5 uniforms in 15 years .

Just considering which airline uniform I fancy adding to my collection - do virgin pilot have red outfits like the hosties ????

[brynnb]

Originally Posted by BobC

byrnnb

You might consider checking out you local Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadron - try http://www.cap.gov/ for starters.

BobC

Thanks, this looks great. I just read up a lot on it and plan on attending a meeting soon.

[flyboyike]

Originally Posted by brynnb

Thanks, this looks great. I just read up a lot on it and plan on attending a meeting soon.

Check your PMs.

[brynnb]

Originally Posted by johnrizzo2000

You should wait until you have started college! You may realise something else interests you, or that there is another job out there for you!

Everyone I know says to start young. And even if I wind up doing something else, I can still use my PPL for recreational use.

[Han 1st Solo]

Hi brynnb.

If after your first flight you still fancy an career in aviation then I say go for it, whether it be civil or military, you seem to want to fly for the right reasons. It won't be an easy ride but if you want it enough then you'll get there in the end. Scroggs has some wise words of wisdom, he knows what he's talking about so take notice of what he's got to say.

Hope this helps,

Han.