Airline Pilot

Sandesh

Sandesh

Well-Known Member
Dear members and fellow aviatiors,

I work at Dallas Fort worth International and I talk to many pilots and most of the pilots i talked to tell me that being an Airline Pilot is a bad idea? What is your opinion on this Do you think that Aviation has fallen under the pressure of the growing prices and will not be able to recover and if you think it will then how many years do you think it is going to take for it to do so?

Thank you for those who post their opinions on this question.
 
It depends on why you plan on getting into the industry. If it's for the international layovers and large paychecks, you're about 20 years too late for that. The glamour of being an airline pilot died more or less with deregulation, and possibly before that. Now, airlines are like most businesses: profit driven and slaves to the shareholders. Pilots have a huge target on their chest b/c of the stigma surrounding them. A lot of people still see airline pilots as playboys that make a lot of money for pushing a couple of buttons and settling back to read a magazine while the plane does all the work.

No one can acurately guess what the industry is gonna be like in 5-10 years (probably not even one year). One thing is for sure, the days of the high paying jobs flying 777s all over the globe will be few and far between. If aviation is something you love to do, then it might still be a viable career choice. If aviation is something you're just kinda interested in, stick to flying as a hobby.
 
yeahthat.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
There are a few high paying jobs flying MD11s all over the globe still.. ;-)

[/ QUOTE ]
Just gotta know one to get one, eh??
wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Now, airlines are like most businesses: profit driven and slaves to the shareholders.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or more accurately: debt laden and at the mercy of their creditors. If they had stayed more "profit driven" they wouldn't be in this mess.

Moral to the story, if you want a solid career go with the most "profit driven" company you can find.
smile.gif
 
The guys you've been talking to have had their worlds turned upside-down in the last couple years. You may or may not know that these pilots may have had their pay cut up to 40%, lost their retirement pensions, and had their scheduled flying increase more than they like. It is understandable that they are a little discouraged in the industry.

It's not the same for everyone, though. I'm happy to be an airline pilot. There's nothing I would rather do. I realize that I may never fly a United 777 on international routes. That's okay for me. I enjoy the short hops in my little hot-rod (CRJ). I make enough to provide for my family and still put a little away for retirement/college.

Don't let their bad experiences taint your view of the industry. There are still good pilot jobs with good companies. The industry will turn around- it may be a different set of airlines leading the way, but people will always have to fly and there will always be a need for pilots to get them there!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Still beats sitting behind a desk!

[/ QUOTE ]

yeahthat.gif


Cubicle life sucks! Sandesh, have you seen "Office Space"?
 
[ QUOTE ]
...people will always have to fly and there will always be a need for pilots to get them there!

[/ QUOTE ]

That is until they make unmanned airliners.
sarcasm.gif
 
That is my same problem, I don't know if I made the right choice changing my whole life or not but I am sure for one thing and that is there will be alot of pilot jobs in future because of the fast rate of retiring Vietnam era pilots which are taking approximately 40-50% of the slots for pilot jobs, by them out of the way after their great service to all of us it is going to be the time for people like us who still have a little fate in this business to take over and you may never know probably make it one of the greatest industries to work in again.
The jobs you get may not be high paying as they were but you'll be doing what you love the most and also there is always the possiblity of having a side job since pilots are off approximately 15-18 days per month.
 
Just wondering, are there airline pilots out there who don't really give s sh*t about aviation and think it is just another job?
 
I was invited to spend last weekend with a United 747 Captain at his fishing camp. It was an awesome feeling to be hanging around with a guy who flies 747's internationally. He told me its stupid to be an airline pilot, but I also see what he's going through right now. The pay is falling, but I'd be more than happy flying a Boeing jet for 70-100k.
 
The pay is indeed falling. But if you're flying and making $70K a year that is pretty good comparing to other jobs.
 
I'll never be an airline pilot because of medical reasons but it still sounds like a good prefession. I would love to fly jets for 70k a year instead of sitting in a cubicle all day making slightly more.
 
[ QUOTE ]
That is until they make unmanned airliners.

[/ QUOTE ]

Seen the trailer for the movie Stealth yet? Not the most realistic looking movie, but it's a good arguement for Joe Sixpack. Apparently, an unmanned computer controlled fighter gets hit by lightning and becomes "self aware" SkyNet style. Probably have everyone quaking in their shows wondering what'll happen if any airliner gets hit by lightning.......
 
Ya'll have got to realize that pay isn't the only issue. And with pay, you don't reach $100,000 a year at a regional (or United Airlines) until you have 18 years of service. Think about that.
 
Okay, but what about foreign airlines (such as Cathay Pacific) who rarely lay off (Cathy has never laid off) and hire American, Australian, and British pilots preferably. The pay and "glamour" of being an airline pilot has not been as lost on those airlines as compared to American carriers, according to a friend of mine who is a 747 F/O for Cathay back at home in San Diego.
 
I've already got the thumbs up from the wife. If I land a job with a foreign airline, we're taking it if the offer is comparable to one here in the states. Either way, it's still a ways down the road.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top