Decided to make aviation a career.. Now what do I do?

A

ahmed

Well-Known Member
Hello

For the past few years I was torn between flying for a living and flying for fun. I have decided to make it a career and I don't know what to do from here. Right now I am looking at different universities but I haven't thought about flight training yet. My understanding is that if you don't go through the military, you get your flight training on the side at a local FBO. After that what do you do?

Thanks
 
You usually instruct to build time and to give back to the aviation community. Remember that you where a young buck trying to break into the industry as well. Or you can find other flying jobs. I have heard of pipeline patrol , banner and glider towing. I don't know if you need a lot of hours to apply for the other jobs but just do research. If you have a"plan," Have forty backup plans. Then, have another forty for the forty back up plans. Remember to have fun and enjoy the journey and not the destination. Because from what I have heard, the destination isn't always the fruit of your labor....or wallet.
 
ahmed said:
Hello

For the past few years I was torn between flying for a living and flying for fun. I have decided to make it a career and I don't know what to do from here. Right now I am looking at different universities but I haven't thought about flight training yet. My understanding is that if you don't go through the military, you get your flight training on the side at a local FBO. After that what do you do?

Thanks
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Probably a good spot to start would be the main page of the website. Check out some of the perspectives articles to see how a variety of people took a variety of methods to get to where they are.

But first you need to ask yourself what your goals are in aviation. Airline pilot? Corporate pilot? Military pilot?

Check out the main page, read ALL of the perspectives articles, grab the beverage of your choice and think about your goals.
 
ahsmatt7 said:
and glider towing. I don't know if you need a lot of hours to apply for the other jobs but just do research.
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Well, you don't need a TON of hours to tow, but I would say the average where I tow is about 10,000, some with substantially more. Tailwheel proficiency is key too. I have by far the lowest amount of time of any of the tow pilots I know, but I am also by far the youngest. And we do it for free, and all have commercial glider ratings. There are commercial operators out there, but the odds you getting hired without having a CFI-G and a desire to instruct in gliders is pretty slim. And I doubt it pays well.

Plenty of info on this site, just read and ask specifics. Just find a real job than can cover the cost of 30K in training, by then you'll figure out what comes next ;)
 
drunkenbeagle said:
Just find a real job than can cover the cost of 30K in training, by then you'll figure out what comes next ;)
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I see a lot of people suggesting this, and I just don't know if that's the best path to take. It is very hard to get a "real job," become established in a career field, and then do a mid-life career change into professional flying. I imagine most people who do this end up sticking with their "real job," and never get into flying, or simply do it as a hobby. I guess if you're committed to remaining single and childless it might work, but if you plan on getting married and having kids (or already are/have) then it would be extremely difficult to absorb the pay cut and endure the lifestyle change that switching to aviation requires.

Just a different perspective, take it with a grain of salt.
 
welcome to the "AND" diet... Mac AND Cheese, Peanut butter AND jelly, rice AND beans....


 
Don't listen to all of these negative posters, they are just bitter. If you love aviation and can't see yourself doing anything else then you will enjoy the career choice, even when it doesn't always go as you planned. You also have to remember that you can't look at the current job situation, you have to consider what it will be like in a few years when you are completing your training. As this industry has always been dependably cyclical-your timing might just work out pretty well.

As for where you accomplish your training, I would suggest a 2 or 4 year college program because there is no rush to get done and a college degree is pretty beneficial (assuming you don't already have one). Just make sure that where ever you go you get a CFI because as others pointed out, it is how you will bridge the gap between 250 hrs out of school and 1,200 or so hrs you will need to get a transport job.
 
You should major in something other than aviation and work on your flying on the side. That is probably the most secure way to go about it.

If i could only go back in time...:rolleyes:
 
First off, welcome to Jetcareers.

Now, may I suggest that if you've decided on a career in aviation, and you don't know the next step is, then you haven't made an informed decision. I STRONGLY encourage you to become informed, and then revisit your decision. You have come to the best resource there is for becoming informed. Make good use of it.

I also strongly encourage you to seek out what I call "the shadow side" of aviation. As with any "enthusiast" website, you will find it long on "go for it" perspectives, and short in the kind of stuff that isn't found in flight school brochures. Aviation, like any other professon, has its downside, and you will be doing yourself a disservice if you do not seek out that information as well.

Best wishes to you.
 
twotwowoo said:
I see a lot of people suggesting this, and I just don't know if that's the best path to take. It is very hard to get a "real job," become established in a career field, and then do a mid-life career change into professional flying. I imagine most people who do this end up sticking with their "real job," and never get into flying, or simply do it as a hobby. I guess if you're committed to remaining single and childless it might work, but if you plan on getting married and having kids (or already are/have) then it would be extremely difficult to absorb the pay cut and endure the lifestyle change that switching to aviation requires.

Just a different perspective, take it with a grain of salt.
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Agreed. I got a job making enough to afford to fly with no debt while saving for the jump into aviation, of course this was with no rent and minimal bills. Life has changed so much in the year and a half since then, as a result so have my goals for professional aviation. I still plan to make it a career, however, I plan on doing it much slower and will NOT jump at the first airline willing to pay me some sub standard wage to fly a jet. I will now most likely start off instructing weekends and weekends while trying to network into a corporate or charter gig locally. It could also be the fact just a few months into the job and just after getting my PPL the bottom fell out of the economy. Who knows, cant look back, only forward.

chuckles1225 said:
Don't listen to all of these negative posters, they are just bitter. If you love aviation and can't see yourself doing anything else then you will enjoy the career choice, even when it doesn't always go as you planned. You also have to remember that you can't look at the current job situation, you have to consider what it will be like in a few years when you are completing your training. As this industry has always been dependably cyclical-your timing might just work out pretty well.

As for where you accomplish your training, I would suggest a 2 or 4 year college program because there is no rush to get done and a college degree is pretty beneficial (assuming you don't already have one). Just make sure that where ever you go you get a CFI because as others pointed out, it is how you will bridge the gap between 250 hrs out of school and 1,200 or so hrs you will need to get a transport job.
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You need to ask yourself why so many people are down on the profession. It is certainly not because they are trying to keep it all for themselves. There is truth in what they say and it must be considered just as much as the positive aspects of the career. You shouldnt make this big of a decision by only considering half of the facts.
 
If you have a wealthy family that supports you without question, I strongly encourage you to "Go for It!!"
Endurance is the name of this game and the deepest pockets that can afford to persevere will prevail. Eventually, with so many Baby Boomers, a huge number of pilots will become ineligble to man an Airline ( Major or Regional) cockpit due to age restrictions.
Beyond that, I encourage, just as Capt Sully does, to strongly reconsider your career in Aviatrion.
 
chuckles1225 said:
Don't listen to all of these negative posters, they are just bitter. If you love aviation and can't see yourself doing anything else then you will enjoy the career choice, even when it doesn't always go as you planned. You also have to remember that you can't look at the current job situation, you have to consider what it will be like in a few years when you are completing your training. As this industry has always been dependably cyclical-your timing might just work out pretty well.
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Not being negative or bitter, just stating the reality of the way things are today. I would not expect things to change drastically in the next few years, and I wouldn't make decisions based on things that might happen in the future. Keep in mind, if things really did become that lucrative in aviation, there are plenty of guys like me on the sidelines that don't work in aviation full-time, but would do so for more money. And we probably have a lot more experience (in years and hours) than you will.

And for what it is worth, I fly more than most of the 121 guys I know on reserve (not using any of my money), and make about 8 times more than they do. I'm not "building multi turbine PIC," but then again, I don't care.

"Leave your options open" is the best advice.

chuckles1225 said:
As for where you accomplish your training, I would suggest a 2 or 4 year college program because there is no rush to get done and a college degree is pretty beneficial (assuming you don't already have one). Just make sure that where ever you go you get a CFI because as others pointed out, it is how you will bridge the gap between 250 hrs out of school and 1,200 or so hrs you will need to get a transport job.
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I have never logged a single hour of dual given, so I would not say it is a requirement to do so. It is probably the fastest way to build total time.

A 4 year degree is the minimum for almost any job these days, including most in aviation. Math/Science/Technical/Healthcare degrees are pretty much always in demand.

I'm not sure if you are suggesting a college aviation program, but keep in mind, they are not necessary (or even necessarily a good idea).
 
You do know there is more to aviation than just the airlines, right? Sure, the airlines suck, but what about agricultural flying, military, ATC, freight, charter, flight instruction, law enforcement? There are so many different avenues in aviation, and many of them do offer the high pay and job security that many people value. You can't say the entire industry sucks based on one lousy sector of it.
 
Sorry for the thread creep here, but some answers might help our boy above.

What's it cost today, flying lessons I mean. I was talking to a 17yr. old friend of my son's the other day, he tells me he's taking flying lessons at a local FBO, he said he's paying $150/hr!?! Can that be right? I asked what he's flying, he said a C152 I think, or a LSA, either way, $150 hr?? I did a little more questioning and he said it's about $105/hr. solo, so the instructor charge is $45/hr? Can that be right? I know the IP probably doesn't get half of that, but still, $45/hr??

I told my son a long time ago he could do anything, but did not recommend he fly for a living...unless he wanted to be poor. He's got another friend who just got a brand new BMW car for his 17th birthday, but his dad's a doctor...

Not bitter, just realistic. Highly qualified pilots are a dime a dozen right now, and the FAA raising the mandatory retirement age to 65 didn't help. The airline industry has never turned a profit over it's entire life, as Rober Crandal, CEO of American Airlines once said, "The problem is this industry is always being led by the dumbest competitor..."

So, what's an hour of dual in a C152 go for these days, and how much of that does the IP get?
 
Timbo said:
I was talking to a 17yr. old friend of my son's the other day, he tells me he's taking flying lessons at a local FBO, he said he's paying $150/hr!?! Can that be right? I asked what he's flying, he said a C152 I think, or a LSA, either way, $150 hr?? I did a little more questioning and he said it's about $105/hr. solo, so the instructor charge is $45/hr? Can that be right?
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Yes. If the plane is a new LSA and the instructor and/or flight school has a good reputation, those are actually fairly good rates. If the plane is a 152, $105/hour is a bit high, but not unheard of.

Timbo said:
I know the IP probably doesn't get half of that, but still, $45/hr??
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What do you think would be fair?

I'm biting my tongue here. I consider $45/hour to be a good rate.

Timbo said:
So, what's an hour of dual in a C152 go for these days, and how much of that does the IP get?
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Honestly, not many C-152s are used in the training environment anymore. I'm also not convinced that C-152s are the best training aircraft at this time...but that's another discussion for another thread.

If you can find a 152, expect to pay about $80/hour wet. The instructor will probably be anywhere from $30-$60/hour, and will probably see anywhere from $15-$60/hour, depending on a lot of factors...who they work for, how much experience they have, etc.



Of course, I'd like to add that I think looking at hourly rates for learning to fly is a lousy idea. Instead, look at the total cost for everything, start to finish. Say to yourself, "It's going to take $X,XXX to become a private pilot," and make your decisions with that mindset. I estimate that to do the job right, it takes about $9k-$10k to get a private pilot certificate nowadays. Maybe it's worth it, maybe it's not. In my opinion, it's absolutely worth it, but your mileage may vary.
 
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