College student who is thinking

M

microzogd

New Member
Hi guys im a college student whose been quite interested in becoming a pilot and after doing some research Im having a difficult time deciding if being a pilot is for me or not.

I have a few questions.

I was reading on this site that most people who go to flight school and get training dont become airline pilots. I read an article on this site that said that there where 7000 applications for 50 jobs and everyone was qualified. Thats a scary statistic.

Now I was thinking of getting a loan, doing some research and finding a good flight academy and hopefully become an airline pilot after graduating from college.

I know that there alot more applicants than jobs open, but I dont want to invest so much money if the shot of me becoming an airline pilot is a hit or miss.

I dont want to become a cropduster or just a joe shmoe, I want to make the big bucks and enjoy flying.
 
College student who is thinking
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I did a little of that in college.:)

Well, you didn't really pose a question, so I'll try to answer as best I can.

It seems that people have been asking this question a lot (especially lately); my advice would be the same as the response I gave to others, and that is to complete your degree, save some $$$, and then jump in.

If you're really hot to fly right now, I'd do some local price-shopping (around FBOs) for private licenses and get that knocked out now. But stay out of debt as much as you possibly can. No joke.

An airline job is not "hit or miss". While there are no guarantees, you meet people, network, instruct, network, apply, network, etc.

Don't get into this with the premise that you're gonna make "big bucks". If you wanna make the real loot, become a doctor or lawyer. It's a long and frustrating road filled with potholes, but if you're really passionate about it (which you have to be), stick it out and you can definitely make it.

Good luck to you.
 
yeah

hmm.. well I dont want to sit in an office, but by loot I mean 100k and only the major airline pilots make that right, almost everyone else makes like 50k. But now I have to balance my desire for wealth with that to do what I enjoy or like.

When you fly, do you feel free and open, I know I do everytime I take a trip in a plane. I mean I hate to be bound to a desk when I know the whole world is moving and Im sitting behind this desk doing paper work.
 
Liberal arts

I want to become a lawyer, untill I found out about the heavy reading and extensive work hours with the billable hour. Being a doctor, well there is so much investment of time and money, and you have to be truely dedicated to make it thorugh the system.

I thought flying is fun, and enjoyable and it pays well, 100k or so I thought, but most people dont make it into major airlines and only make 30-50k and you have to sacrifice family life. im not sure anymore.
 
I don't have a family of my own and won't have one for a while, yet time away is a very important factor IMO. I'd hate for my kids to grow up and me not being there for them on their important events. I'm sure all of feel about the same.
 
microzogd said:
I want to become a lawyer, untill I found out about the heavy reading and extensive work hours with the billable hour. Being a doctor, well there is so much investment of time and money, and you have to be truely dedicated to make it thorugh the system.
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Substitute "pilot" for "lawyer" or "doctor", and you can have the same result.

Hate to break it to you, but pilots study a ton. I have only a bachelor's degree (may get a master's before too long), but I studied much more for aviation than I ever did for my college diploma. Seriously.

I had no idea how much pilots hit the books until I got into it.

Don't underestimate the amount of work in this career.
 
i know

I dont...But Im willing to put the work in if the result is worthy.

What are the chances, if I go to a flight academy and I pay like 20k of me becoming a pilot at a major airline considering the statistics. Like 1000 people all qualified a+nd ony 50 get t+he job.
 
Don't get into this career because you want to make good money or have the career be worth it from a financial perspective. Do this career because you can't see yourself doing ANYTHING other than flying.
 
Have you looked into corporate aviation? It is something I would consider if I were you, personally. You need good conections though.
 
Definitely visit http://www.jetcareers.com/ they (this) has a ton of information. As others have said, you better love this job! cause the amount of work is incredible. Also, for starters, your chances of paying $20,000 at a flight academy and getting a job is essentially zero. I know of no where (although I wish I do) where you can get the necessary certificates/ratings to even qualify for a simple, low-time (500hr) job, like traffic watch. My advice to you would be read the link above, talk to a lot of pilots, take an introductory flight at a local FBO and afterwords talk to the CFI about his job, how he got there etc. If, after that, this is what you really want to do, then by all means, go at it. But if you only want this for the glory of being a major airline pilot, making big bucks, and getting all the chicks (yha right), then I'd re-evaluate yourself. I realize that this is not the most positive and "up-lifting" post, but be advised, that while writing this, I was focused on this statement (which hopefully does not reflect your true attitude):
I dont want to become a cropduster or just a joe shmoe
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No kidding that the pay is low. I always see you guys complain and I just go along with it. I think it's low but it doesn't affect me yet so I don't really have any experience to agree.

However, I am currently doing a budget project for my economics class and I am really close to changing my career right out of college from regional pilot to mechanical engineer. I was checking out the starting FO rates at some regionals and it is $22.00/hr. I am having extreme difficulties managing to have money for the other stuff I need in the project. And this is just a project, I feel for you guys that experience this for real.:(
 
BCTAv8r said:
No kidding that the pay is low. I always see you guys complain and I just go along with it. I think it's low but it doesn't affect me yet so I don't really have any experience to agree.

However, I am currently doing a budget project for my economics class and I am really close to changing my career right out of college from regional pilot to mechanical engineer. I was checking out the starting FO rates at some regionals and it is $22.00/hr. I am having extreme difficulties managing to have money for the other stuff I need in the project. And this is just a project, I feel for you guys that experience this for real.:(
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Before you get excited, at a company like Mesa for example, you are going to make about $20,000/year before taxes if you get the min hours. However, you're not going to work 900 (20,000/22) hours a year, you'll be work a lot more and not getting paid for it. You make 22 dollars an hour from push back (or later). So you have to factor in the 1 hour to get to work, 1 hour back, 1 hour preflight, 30min turn overs...and you could be looking at roughly $10/hr while your working. Plus you have to factor in all of the studying you have to do, training, etc. Funny system if you ask me!
 
Man this is very complicated. I'm making about $2700 a month and I can't afford second-hand furniture with a basic electricity bill and some other stuff. I'm very impressed of those that do survive on the low pay.
 
BCTAv8r said:
Man this is very complicated. I'm making about $2700 a month and I can't afford second-hand furniture with a basic electricity bill and some other stuff. I'm very impressed of those that do survive on the low pay.
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What do you do??!?!?
 
Brazilian_Pilot said:
What do you do??!?!?
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Guess?:)

1st year FO pay at Republic. $22/hr.

It was kind of sad how economical I had to be with my meals. I did add the ramen noodles for dinner every night.:)
 
microzogd said:
I want to become a lawyer, untill I found out about the heavy reading and extensive work hours with the billable hour. Being a doctor, well there is so much investment of time and money, and you have to be truely dedicated to make it thorugh the system.
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well, pilot is just as bad! FAR to read/memorize, ATC rules/regulations, VOR's, VFR, IFR.. checkride after checkride...it's not a cakewalk compared to lawyer and/or doctor...then, when you finally have the hours to actually apply for an airline job - it all changes...talk about being gone on 3-4 day trips with 2 days at home.. making $22K for the first year and no more than maybe $50K for the next 8 years.. by the time you reach year 8-12, you might (?) be making $100K plus...

that's just how the industry is right now... so if your looking for $$ and don't have the full on passion, you might want to look elsewhere!!

the early years are extremely tough on life especially financially. you'll be starting at the bottom working your way up, that's for sure!!
 
thinking is all i do man. i'm in the same spot as you.

I can

A) pursue aviation and maybe like my job but not cash in for a while

or

B) use my degree for something useful and make $$$$ money that way and do what i enjoy (fly) in my spare time.

in the meantime, i'm flying to get myself in the position so that if i CHOOSE to pursue aviation for a career, I can when i graduate. Right now my goal is to have 200+ hours when i graduate may 09 to look good for ANG.

thats assuming my eyes dont crap out on me!
 
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