Hi, I am new to this site. I am 18 and about to graduate from high school. I am going to become a pilot that is why I am here. I have a few questions for airline, freight, and/or corporate pilots. I am curious of where the business is going? Do you think there will be a great need of pilots when new technology comes about? There are a few more I will ask later, but that is all for now.
Thanks!
The technology visible to the end of your career will still require pilots. I believe there will be a substantial need. If governing bodies and professional associations permit the reduction of qualifications to fill the growing need then it may not be a good career to get into...as you will be competing for jobs with those from underdeveloped nations and there will be very little leverage for professional pilots to improve their quality of professional standards. We've seen it happening at some level over the past decade with the proliferation of the regional airline industry. However, if professional standards and qualifications are strictly upheld, then it could be a very rewarding career for you.
I made my first dollar in aviation at age 18 as a CFI and have had the extreme fortune of being in one cockpit seat or another for 19 years, uninterrupted. When I first entered the profession, I thought I would be forced out because I couldn't find very good jobs and then later in my career I thought I would be forced out due to a strikes, furloughs, and bankruptcies that my companies have been through. I have always prepared myself to turn off course and enter another profession should aviation not work out.
Through it all, when the airplane's door(s) have been closed and it's just about aviation it has been nothing but rewarding. It still is everytime I go to work.
When I got into flying in the mid '80s Eastern had just gone out of business and there were thousands of pilots with heavy iron experience out of work. At least 7 of 10 people I talked to discouraged me from entering the profession. But I suppose it was such a part of my fabric that I kept with it and have been glad that I did.
At your age, I would set your sights on a lofty goal and work very hard to position yourself, to the best of your ability, to attain the qualifications necessary for the career you want. At the same time, diversify your talents and qualifications so that you will be successful at whatever life may throw at you.
To get back to anwering your original question, it is hard to say where this career and industry are headed. You are probably an intelligent and motivated young man and looking to make a good future for yourself...to position yourself for long term success. Unfortunately, I've found that I've never really been able to look beyond 3 to 5 years in regards to planning in my profession. This really worries me about attracting top notch, intelligent talent into the piloting profession. From my observation, it seems as though we are not attracting enough quality individuals into this profession. It is my hope that the professional piloting associations will work to reverse this trend so that we can bring the "best and the brightest" back into the fold. I hope you are one of them!
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