I Need Career Advice.

jspeed87

jspeed87

Well-Known Member
Well First off I'd like to say what a great website this is, lots of good info! My name is John, I'm 20 years old and I'm a security Guard/Ramp Agent for continental airlines at EWR NJ. I really love aviation, It's something I always loved since I was a kid. I want to be a Pilot.My Dream is to fly for American out of MIA on the 777.(or for Continental lol) I also have a dream of flying my own turboprop all around the Caribbean and South America. There are many things holding me back from going to Florida for Flight Training. My dad wants me to just do a radiology course at my local community college. He says that being a pilot is dangerous and that it's expensive and not what it use to be. He is right, being a pilot is not what it use to be. But I don't see myself doing anything else but aviation as a career. I am a little nervous about flying, especially take-offs. My fear is an engine failure at take off, or a mid air. But I'm willing to overcome this. I understand that I won't be making 6 figures right away, hell to me I whould be happy making 90k a year after some time. The thing that turns me away from being a pilot, is the low starting salary and all the money you have to put into flight training. If I don't become a pilot, I whould go for ATC or just become an A&P Mechanic. Jetcareers users I need your advice..
1. Should I become a pilot, ATC, or A&P Mechanic?

2. What is the future outlook for Pilots? Is it safe to say AA will start hiring in 2012?

3. I Want to go to Miami Dade College of Aviation, anybody that went here please let me know how was the training and hours logged in ect.

4. Future of ATC's and Is getting an ATC interview hard? What are my chances of working at Miami Tower/Center?

5. Future of A&P mechanics.

ok sorry for all the questions thanks. :nana2:
 
Welcome to JC!

1. Do what you want to do. You don't want to get stuck at a job you hate.

2. AA might hire in 2012, but probably not for low time pilots. Aviation is a changing industry, only time will tell.
 
jspeed87 said:
1. Should I become a pilot, ATC, or A&P Mechanic?
Click to expand...

Only you can answer that!

jspeed87 said:
2. What is the future outlook for Pilots? Is it safe to say AA will start hiring in 2012?
Click to expand...

There is no way to accuratly predict hiring. The industry is very cyclical, and all that is for sure is that hiring goes in waves. As for AA hiring in 2012, there is absolutely NO way in 2007 to say that AA will even still exist in 2012, let alone say whether or not they'd be hiring pilots at that time.

jspeed87 said:
5. Future of A&P mechanics.
Click to expand...

There is always a demand for A&Ps, the exact demand will depend on how much mtx outsourcing is allowed to be shipped to cheap outfits overseas/across the border. Hopefully the FAA will put the stops on this dangerous practice soon.
 
MQAAord said:
Hopefully the FAA will put the stops on this dangerous practice soon.
Click to expand...
Very dangerous. Aviation Week and Space Technology, I believe it was, was reporting something like a ratio of 100 non licensed laborers to one A&P technician overseer in outsourcing places like China and Mexico. But the airlines don't care, they're just big corporations wanting to save some money. A plane accident or two is cheaper than having to keep maintenance here. :sarcasm:
 
bump? give the thread some time... some folks only come on once a day and some are on multiple times a day. This thread was only started yesterday... it needs time to build.
 
You only get one chance in life and there is no use in wondering what might have been had you chosen flight training. Start flight training and see if the bug bites.
 
CamYZ125 said:
"Bumps" it to the top of the first page! What're you new to this, Dale??
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Definitely not "new" just not hip, but what is hip, tell me tell me if you think you know, what is really hip the passing years will show . . . you in a hip trip!*

Oh . . . I did that on the M&G page for the Camping Disco Party . . . then Kristie put a sticky on it so I wouldn't have to bump it. I didn't know it was called "Bump" te bump te bump . . . down to the nightclub!*


*Tower Of Power 1970's funk references
 
hmm well I just don't want the thread to be lost all the way at the bottom. Most people only read the top threads.
 
My advice would be just to take things one step at a time. Have a plan in mind but don't get ahead of yourself. Take a few lessons, solo, and get your private pilot's license. You should have a good idea by that point if this is something you'd like to make a living out of. I can't offer much advice about maintenance or ATC, but I'm sure there's ways you could "shadow" one of them for a day to get a perspective on those jobs.
 
You're also talking about supremely different careers. An aircraft mechanic and a pilot both work with airplanes, but in very different ways. You often see people who have an interest in both because it requires a similar logical mind, but that's most of the similarity right there. You're really in the stage where you have to gather information from books and reading posts and a lot of thinking about what you want. A good time to ask questions like this will be when you're deciding between two airlines (if you choose that field) not three careers.
 
jspeed87 said:
1. Should I become a pilot, ATC, or A&P Mechanic?
Click to expand...

Up to you! :)

2. What is the future outlook for Pilots?
Click to expand...

Some ups, some downs! :) it's tidal.

Is it safe to say AA will start hiring in 2012?
Click to expand...

Perhaps.

3. I Want to go to Miami Dade College of Aviation, anybody that went here please let me know how was the training and hours logged in ect.
Click to expand...

Can't help ya here! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top