Why do you want to be an airline pilot?
 

Am just wondering what people´s reasons are for wanting to become an airline pilot?

I am doing my PPL and will continue to CPL/IR over the next year or so, I started it initially with the desire of becoming an airline pilot, however now I am not so sure.

Why are people so desperate to bankrupt themselves to get a job where they will be permenantly knackered, get up at rediculous hours, live out of a suit case and never see their wife/ kids?
Why are some people so desperate that they will actually pay an airline to let them carry passengers?

If you say it is because you love flying, think again. I love the flying as I do it now, ie under my own terms, nothing is more liberating and there is no better way of clearing ur head of bad thoughts than to go and fly over some hills, leaving all your troubles behind. With airline flying, however I reckon being an airline pilot would ruin it for me. Ive heard for example that BA pilots only fly the plane for 2 mins at the start and end of every flight. How bored must they get in between? With light aircraft, it keeps the brain busy, constantly checking fixes, headings, freda checks etc.

I reckon a lot of people want to do it solely for the status, because they want to march around in a uniform feeling important, and think the money will be good. Indeed I have heard a lot of airline pilots dont even like flying, the plane is their office rather than their passion.

I love flying, but my mind is now on getting my instructors ticket and setting up a flying school, which would be a lot more fun overall. More sociable, and potentially more profitable.
As an aside, does anybody know what an FTO must do in order to provide integrated training? OAT, ive got u in my sights.

Yep - there's loads of money to be made in FTOs. This time next year, you'll be a millionaire!

I'm sure some people will bite on other parts of your post, but I'll stick with - 'Do a bit more research old chap'.

This topic has been posted many times before!

For me its certainly not the status or money (or lack of!). My reasoning behind it, is that flying has been my passion for a long time and any other "job" is in the shadow of a career in aviation!

Ever seen when a B744 is taking off and there is a moment where u feel there is no possible way something that big could possibly get airbourne! Then she gracefully lifts towards the sky! Does it for me everytime!

That's a little hypocritical is it not? You start off your post by questioning why people would want to spend the money undergoing such training, and then announce your intention to "cash in" on the market.

I am currently in integrated training. My reasons for pursuing this career are varied, however I do have a love for flying (Yes, I hold a PPL and thoroughly enjoy it), but I'd rather be doing it for a living and seeing the world at the same time. Granted flying commercially is different from GA flying, but it is possible to still do both. Also, not all commercial operations involve flying on autopilot. (Suppose it should fail - wouldn't you rather someone was at the front?).

Your comment about people wishing to fly airlines to improve their status is, in my opinion, unfounded. Everyone I've met in the industry is dedicated to their work; those in training are committed to achieving the best results they can. I doubt anyone who was purely doing it for the "status" would have the motivation and drive to get through the training, let alone find a job.

As for running your own FTO - It takes years to build up a good solid reputation and to make any sort of profit. Somehow, I doubt you'll be challenging any of the big FTO's for a long time to come. However, I wish you the best of luck

Don't knock it til' you've tried it Hedges! It isn't all bad flying for an airline. OK, so the automatics do a lot for you but my company allows the crew to use their discretion as to how much hand flying we do. If you want to take it up to 10K by hand then you can, as long as the guy sitting next to you is happy to do the extra work for you. Similarly if it's a nice day down in Alicante then knocking out the A/P and doing a visual is not against the rules, and it's great fun, trust me.

Yes it has its downsides and you correctly mention a few but a lot depends on the type of operation you are flying. I never instructed so I can't comment on its ups and downs, just to say all the guys I know in the airlines who used to instruct loved it and are greatful for the experience. On the other hand the current instructors I know are all looking to the airlines. Something to do with living off baked beans.

Good luck with your plans for the future:ok:

My honest opinion is this;

Being an Airline Pilot isnt all about flying for me.

If ALL I wanted to do was fly then I would join the RAF, or as like you mentioned consider flight instruction.

However I see the other areas of being an Airline Pilot as a real challenge and achievement such as;
Leadership; Captaincy
Business Leadership - Something I would look for mid-career
Teamworking, multi crew environment
Systems Management
Crew Management
Customer Relations

The list goes on....

And whats a bonus is the fact that you get such a variation in work patterns which I like and the scenery changes.

For me its probably 50% actual thrill of 'flying' the rest is my aspirations for leadership/management

For me, it's the chicks down the back !!!! :p :ok::E

For me it is all about the flying.. How the cockpit smells, sound of the engines, the view, the feeling and of course all the lovely aircrafts :) .. I am simply not happy when i am without it!

I love flying and would never want to do anything else, it is a childhood dream that is still as strong as it was when i was a little boy

20 mile finals ;)

Read the relevant threads linked to in this sticky thread at the top of the forum. They may give you something to think about. Hedges' concerns are sensible; far too many wannabes have an overly romanticised idea of what airline flying is about.

Scroggs