For the Teenagers on here.......
- Thread starter Seggy
- Start date
grchase90
That's assistant to the Chief!
Took my CFI-a with the Cincinnati FSDO. It was actually a really chill experience because everything we talked about was straight out of the PTS. All of my previous checkrides had been with a DPE and I feel like DPE's give so many checkrides that they have certain areas they always focus on because they find it's a consistently weak area, whereas FAA guys go more by the book (the PTS)
Ayork62493
GBR
Working 60+ hours a week. Started mowing lawns full time when I was 11. A couple thousand from family. A 2,000 dollar aviation scholarship. A kind instructor who gave me a break on costs for training, he wanted me to succeed. I've been paying the vast majority of the costs myself. It is possible.
I still have a social life, I havn't given any of that up.
I still have a social life, I havn't given any of that up.
WacoFan
Bigly
Airlines, in some form, have been around since the 1920's. And, they'll be around for 80+ more years. Seggy is correct when he says enjoy the ride - because you'll only be 18 once. In this business a freak illness or injury can end your career in the blink of an eye - and then all you'll be left with is the memory of what it was - so make those moments last and make them count for as much as possible. And don't be mediocre. Not just at flying, don't be mediocre at anything.
tlewis95
I drive planes
I got my CFI when I was 18 as well (first try) and payed for half of all my training starting when I was 11 paying for a flight every other week with money from aluminim cans that my entire family would give me to recycle for money. Then that evolved into making pretty decent money mowing lawns at 14. The flying got really cheap when I could always split it 3 or 4 ways for my time building on after-school burger runs too. And I also had a social life! I don't ever remember being too busy flying or taking lessons to not enjoy myself outside of flying.
It can be done!
It can be done!
jafra98
Well-Known Member
HVYMETALDRVR
Well-Known Member
As somebody thats 28 and at my first regional (for about 3 months now) I can add that I've yet to find the room full of money with asian girls and midgets on tricycles (Billy Madison joke there). Don't get me wrong once the cockpit door shuts the job is great... But considering I live at my parents house, work a tough schedule and am on the road 18 nights every month. I miss instructing in FL... Home every night more money beaches and more cute chicks than I could handle. Enjoy your training and time building, the grass is always greener!
If you've got a FedEx (Express) location nearby, go throw boxes part time. Their tuition reimbursement program includes flight training, up to 3K a year. Not sure if UPS offers a similar program.
grkero
fer yer health
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
Just like your van
HumbleSiPilot77
Well-Known Member
That is a veteran attitude and a damn good one! It is a good selling point. If I was the employer, I would hire you, but I am a vet myself so I am biased. And I am in the same boat too.
cmill
Cold Ass Honky
Honestly curious here, are you saying with 150 PIC time you would be more qualified than a 25 year old with 1500PIC time? I understand that you have 5000 hours of FEX time, but what if a 25 year old has over 5000 hours of actual PIC flying time. (I know a few.) Are you still more qualified to sit in the cockpit than they are?
I understand that there is a lot of experience that comes with being in the military, and a lot of experience that comes with age. However, ive dealt with guys that have this kind of attitude, and I gotta tell you, they dont make a whole lot of friends a long the way.
I'm not trying to be rude, but as far as corporate flight departments go, that might not be the right attitude. Like it or not, you might have one of those 25 year old fresh ATP captains, and if you walk through the door with that attitude, you might be walking right back out. I know I certainly wouldnt want to fly with a guy whos going to be constantly trying to undermine me because of my age.
Just something to think about.
Not saying that 5,000 FE hours is equal to 5,000 PIC hours. Nor, is the 5,000 FE time even considered PIC time. The most I can claim is 500 hours toward a ATP license. By allowing this, even the FAA is recognizing that there is piloting knowledge to be gained from being an FE, I would assume that employers would do the same...
What I'm saying is that the EXPERIENCE gained from heavy aircraft operations will count for quite a bit of info when it comes to interviews about systems knowledge, procedures, how things work, and the future training that I'll receive if I should ever be graced with a job. If you would like me to break down how a hydraulic failure is going to effect performance of the airframe, I can do that. If you want me to explain how Vcef, V1, and Vrefusal all play out in effecting takeoff performance with the loss of the outboard, upwind engine, I can do that.
There are a lot of people that talk about their first aircraft upgrade and the ground training that's involved... I've been though that ground training with my pilots. That experience will help relieve a lot of the stress in future training.
By no means am I saying that I am more QUALIFIED than a younger, higher time pilot. However, there have also been several discussions here with the new ATP rules that prove that, even amongst most of the tenured pilots, many feel that hours are not the be all, end all of ones qualifications. And I believe that I can bring more of THAT EXPERIENCE that a fresh ATP might not be able to, i.e. multiple loss of hydraulics, engine failures, in flight fires, landing with four blown main mounts, emergency scramble launches, etc... All of these incidences are actual, not simulator events.
If I came off as saying that "I know it all," I apologize. If you knew me personally, you would know that I'm the farthest person from tooting my own horn. As far as having to listen to a "25 year old fresh ATP captain," you must have some idea of how the military works. I'm a 35 year old enlisted engineer that answers to a 23-25 year old O-2 or O-3 as my aircraft commander. I bring the system and airframe knowledge, and they bring the monkey skills to make the houses get bigger and smaller. The only reason I'm there is to make him/her look good, hopefully they remember to take care of me.
If you honestly can say that my FE time and maintenance experience isn't worth listing on a resume, then what exactly is my FE experience worth to you?
They do, at least in Louisville hub. I think there's different ways of doing it though, like you only get full reimbursement if you work late nights, and half if you work days, but again I'm not 100% certain. Definitely a good program, but everyone I know that's worked over there has said you get almost no hours, hence why they're working at a regional, UPS, AND going to school. I don't envy that part.
cmill
Cold Ass Honky
I apologize if I made it sound like FE time wasnt worth listing, I was just asking how you valued it compared to PIC time in the civilian world.
If you value your airframe knowledge more than the monkey skill knowledge of the guy mashin' buttons, then I think you need to take a step back. When it comes right down to it, your FEX experience doesnt really count for a whole lot on the civilian side. Hate to say it, but your job has been replaced.
I'm really not trying to be an ass, but 5k hours FEX time and a buck will get you a cup of coffee, maybe less with that attitude. Then again, I'm a 26 year old civilian know nothing with a job you're trying to get to replace me based on the zero experience you have doing my job.
I havent been this big of an ass on here in a long time, but you just rubbed me the wrong way, and even worse, reminded me of a guy that I had to try and get through basic indoc, who happened to be an ex marine, who had the same attitude.