how old were you when you started flying for the airlines?

Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

Was hired by my first airline (CHQ) at 22.
Hired by a major at 25.
Hired at my current corporate job at 31.
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

Wow well this became quickly depressing...turning 24 this year and still nothing but piston for me :( :(
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

26 and still CFI'ing. Most of my buddies started at 22 or 23, but a number of them are working full time at Best Buy now.
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

Wow well this became quickly depressing...turning 24 this year and still nothing but piston for me :( :(

It's all about the market, you just missed it by a couple of years. I'm betting that you get to a 121 job before 30, but I might be wrong. It may be quicker.
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

Wow well this became quickly depressing...turning 24 this year and still nothing but piston for me :( :(

*Sigh* I dont wanna be "that guy" that starts this, but whats wrong with a piston job?
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

*Sigh* I dont wanna be "that guy" that starts this, but whats wrong with a piston job?

Depends on what you want out of life.

Realistically, pay, stability, schedule, benefits, retirement, safety, etc.

If you can find all that in a piston job, do it.

It's unlikely most people will.
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

*Sigh* I dont wanna be "that guy" that starts this, but whats wrong with a piston job?

Nothing if that's what you want to do. Some people just like to fly, some want to move up to bigger paychecks and equipment. I went into aviation because I saw my dad making lots of money flying for a major with a halfway decent schedule. Of course there was more than met the eye. However, I don't think I ever would have gotten into it if the end result was flying pistons for sub $80,000. Of course the fact that I'm no longer flying probably shows that it wasn't a very good career choice either way. YMMV
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

Depends on what you want out of life.

Realistically, pay, stability, schedule, benefits, retirement, safety, etc.

If you can find all that in a piston job, do it.

It's unlikely most people will.

Pay, could honestly ask for more.

stability, not a worry in my mind

schedule, basically 9-5 with weekends off, possibly might go to 7 on 7 off.

benefits: full health, dental, and life, with 401(k)

Safety: We've never had a fatal accident in our entire history (appx 60 years) So much for dangerous pistons.

Yes, i feel like i should get payed more for the job i do, but who doesnt. Right now, there are a lot of "intangibles" that make up for it. At the end of the day i live very comfortably.
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

26 and still CFI'ing. Most of my buddies started at 22 or 23, but a number of them are working full time at Best Buy now.

Same here, 26 and never have been in a jet, I rode right seat in a TP once...yes i got paid.

Though I too know Best Buy pilots.

"There and Back again, a pilots tale"

I've enjoyed my pace. My QOL is through the roof.
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

Wow well this became quickly depressing...turning 24 this year and still nothing but piston for me :( :(

I didn't take my first flight until I was 24, so don't feel too bad.
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

I did distance learning through Embry Riddle, but I never finished. I could probably get it done in less than a year if I really tried, but I just haven't had the time since I started the union gig. After I'm back to flying, I'll probably finish it.

You don't need a 4year degree at Airtran?
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

You don't need a 4year degree at Airtran?

It's not a minimum requirement, but it's very difficult to get in without it. I had a half dozen internal recommendations, so I'm sure that that helped outweigh the lack of a degree at the time. However, that was over three years ago, and the hiring process has changed. Now that a computer weeds out the applicants for interviews based on a raw score, I'm not sure if you can get through without a degree. I know they're assigning a lot of points in the computer to education, so with the competitive atmosphere right now, it's probably not possible to get in without a degree. I could be wrong, though.
 
Re: how old were you when you started flying for the airline

Pushed the power levers in a Citation for the first time at 25.
 
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