Okay, Im 20 have 0 flight experience but I cant picture myself doing anything but aviation as a career, I just wouldn't be happy. I live in Northern, UT Here is my plan, (give advice as needed please). I was thinking about going to a school like ATP, then using that to finish a degree online thru one of the colleges they have partnered with. What programs would I need to do there to become a commercial pilot? I was reading stuff on this site today about how miserable people are as pilots right now and I could really feel my dreams crumbling. Is the a future in being a pilot? I dont need to be ultra rich but I would like to have some money eventually... Enough to be comfortable anyway.
I want to be a pilot need some advie
- Thread starter Spbeyond
- Start date
PhotoPilot
New Member
First things first. Go on a discovery flight, get your private license, and find out if you like to be in the cockpit of a small plane. Jumping into aviation isn't something you want to do quickly or without a LOT of thought.
The career itself is hard, long, and underpaid, plus the training is expensive. If you don't know that you love the flying, aren't willing to spend a lot of time "paying your dues," and don't have a backup plan, you might want to take a deep breath and give it a while to simmer on the back burner. The stories you read here are the reality of the industry; people who tell you that jobs abound and 10,000 pilots will be hired in the next 2 years because of the mandatory retirement age are out to get your money and sell training to wide-eyed newbies. Please, be smarter than they are.
That said, there are possibilities. I was lucky enough to find my perfect aviation career match, but I figure it was a 1 in 100,000 shot. There are other pilots who are on with fairly stable regionals and corporate operations. Then there are the guys eating Ramen, being furloughed, and making less than minimum wage teaching in Cessnas.
You're 20, don't have a degree, and have never flown. Stay passionate, start flying in your spare time, pay for it as you go, and work hard. Go to college, get a degree in business, biology, or engineering, and finish your ratings in the meantime. If it's still what you want to do after you have your ratings and your degree, take the plunge then.
Having a great career is possible, but it depends mostly on you. Take your time, make smart choices, and good luck!
The career itself is hard, long, and underpaid, plus the training is expensive. If you don't know that you love the flying, aren't willing to spend a lot of time "paying your dues," and don't have a backup plan, you might want to take a deep breath and give it a while to simmer on the back burner. The stories you read here are the reality of the industry; people who tell you that jobs abound and 10,000 pilots will be hired in the next 2 years because of the mandatory retirement age are out to get your money and sell training to wide-eyed newbies. Please, be smarter than they are.
That said, there are possibilities. I was lucky enough to find my perfect aviation career match, but I figure it was a 1 in 100,000 shot. There are other pilots who are on with fairly stable regionals and corporate operations. Then there are the guys eating Ramen, being furloughed, and making less than minimum wage teaching in Cessnas.
You're 20, don't have a degree, and have never flown. Stay passionate, start flying in your spare time, pay for it as you go, and work hard. Go to college, get a degree in business, biology, or engineering, and finish your ratings in the meantime. If it's still what you want to do after you have your ratings and your degree, take the plunge then.
Having a great career is possible, but it depends mostly on you. Take your time, make smart choices, and good luck!
Well I actually have spent time in a cessna, a guy I know used to take me up but I wan't flying. Isn't there a chance that the economy will improve and things will get better again? I am willing to not make much for years but I wouldn't want to be living in a apartment with a couple of college students for the rest of my life you know? I know going to places like ATP is expencive but I figure I can get thru there program, (be swamped with debt but thats ok, I can do it!) Plus if the $(%# hits the fan my parents have some money and they could help me out of a serious jam. Try and find a regional airline to fly for while then I use my atp time to go toward a degree online. (with on of there partner schools) Would those degrees cound as "4-year education" Could I get hired by the big boys someday with that stuff? Am I being an idiot? I am currently attending Utah State University. But I just cant take the stupid art and english ect, ect Stuff that I will never use again you know? I am so sick of college I could just scream, its really not for me. That said I know there will be alot of learning to be a pilot, but atleast I will be interested working on something you know?
desertdog71
Girthy Member
I have no aviation experience but here goes:
I am 34 and still don't know what I wanna do when I grow up. You are young, I assume single, and have nothing really holding you down yet. Just take your time, do your due dilligence in researching your possibilities. Have some fun while you are young yet, and most importanty, DEBT IS THE DEVIL!!!!!!!
You will be working like a Camel the rest of your life, just to pay off debt if you head down that road. My advice is work your butt off now, save money, and that will give you plenty of time to decide if you relly want to pursue this.
I am 34 and still don't know what I wanna do when I grow up. You are young, I assume single, and have nothing really holding you down yet. Just take your time, do your due dilligence in researching your possibilities. Have some fun while you are young yet, and most importanty, DEBT IS THE DEVIL!!!!!!!
You will be working like a Camel the rest of your life, just to pay off debt if you head down that road. My advice is work your butt off now, save money, and that will give you plenty of time to decide if you relly want to pursue this.
PhotoPilot
New Member
Spbeyond said:
No! You're not being an idiot at all. In fact, by coming here and asking questions, you're actually being an anti-idiot.
Here's one of the things that really concerns me about your situation: I'm 28 and I've tried a LOT of careers. High school teacher, sea kayak guide, carpenter, studio photographer, nature photographer, etc. It took me a while to settle on aviation because it took me a while to figure out exactly who I was and what I wanted. In large part, I needed to settle down, develop my relationship with my wife, and do lots of other things that I never could have forseen when I was 20. I enjoyed all of the careers I've tried and when I started them, I thought I'd be doing them for life. Luckily, when I decided to change my path, I was able to. If I'd had $80,000 invested in any of those careers, I wouldn't have been so free . . .
Don't put the cart before the horse. You need a degree, you need flight training, you need flight experience. Keep working on your degree and flight train on the side. Heck, even get your CFI ratings. You could even teach other pilots while in school to help pay the bills and build your flight time. But DON'T walk away from school and use a huge loan to start flying. If you really hate school that much, you probably won't finish later, even in an on-line program. Also, debt might not seem like a big deal now, but it is - especially when you're looking at a career that hardly pays enough to live on, let along repay a $500/month loan.
Many of us here are career changers. We can all tell you just how little we knew about what we ended up really wanting in life at 20 years of age. Don't lock your self on a single path now. Keep the doors open, pursue what you're passionate about, and leave options available on the off chance you end up changing your mind. You've got nothing to lose by doing it that way, but have everything to lose by taking out a loan and quitting school.
Everything is making me nervious... Is there no money to be made in piloting? Should I just drop out and flip burgers? Kinda sounds like I could make the same amount of money. I dont know what degree to work toward. Piloting is the only thing I am interested in. And I hear its good to have a backup degree. That said I work nights as a security guard, I dont know how i will have the time to go to school and fly seperate or the money. If i continue in Aviation Technology for a little while longer, or at all rather lol I can get my private pilot next semester. I think i need to go back and re read it. Should I don this? How will I pay for school and the extra fees of the pilot training ontop. (USU has about 35k of extra fees in order to get Aviation Tech done) But it all comes in 5-6 chunks, I still cant make that kinda of money right now. Every semester coming up with an extra 5 grand will not work. I wish i could find a way to go to school, get my pilot stuff done without completely killing me.
Chris_Ford
Well-Known Member
Community college, then transfer to an in-state school. Aviation degrees don't teach you anything dude. Figure out something you liked in school (science, math, history) and study it in college.
desertdog71
Girthy Member
Yep, life sucks sometimes. I wish you luck. I wish I had the answer for you, but reality being as it is, you simply gotta work hard to get what you want.
Mountain Flying
New Member
Theres money to be made flying, just doesnt come instantly or without a lot of hard work and passion. Flying at the start is difficult with big loan and making NOT enough to live on. This might be easy wiht you being 20 I think it would be a LOT harder for someone who is older to live on 1500 a month... Loans are bad way to get in aviation i must say. But do whats going to make you happy.
Hello. First of all, you are right. I read a lot of message boards on the internet (not just this one) and there is a lot of negativity out there. A lot of discouragement and people saying get out of aviation and yet they themselves have been doing it for years.
My advice to you would be if aviation is what you want to do then pursue it. Realize though , that airline flying is NOT the only career in aviation. for myself , I am interested in flying for law enforcement if the airline thing doesnt pan out. After a few years, I would like to teach aviation on the college level. I dont mean a starving CFI. I mean a college professor in the aviation department at a regular college or university. Which means I have to get a Masters degree. If I dont do that I wouldnt mind working for the FAA as an Aviation Safety Inspector or a pilot flying for flight inspection flield office.
The point is the options for a flying career are many. Not just flying for an airline but thats what everyne seems to focus on because of the glitz and supposedly prestige. But like was said, the pay is going down and the stability is not like it used to be. The federal governemt will never go out of business or lay off people.
Also, I would echo what was said about a degree choice. Many people think to be a professional pilot they have to have a degree in something aviation related. I disagree. Pilots have various degrees from engineering to english to political science to business management I think management is good. I am anambitus person and what ever I do, Ieventutally want to be in management. In case something happens where you cant fly, its good to have something to fall back on.
Flying is a passion and a calling. either you have it or you don't. Some people like to fly as a hobby. Some want to do it as a career. Remember though flying as a job is very different from flying as a hobby. Good luck to you.
My advice to you would be if aviation is what you want to do then pursue it. Realize though , that airline flying is NOT the only career in aviation. for myself , I am interested in flying for law enforcement if the airline thing doesnt pan out. After a few years, I would like to teach aviation on the college level. I dont mean a starving CFI. I mean a college professor in the aviation department at a regular college or university. Which means I have to get a Masters degree. If I dont do that I wouldnt mind working for the FAA as an Aviation Safety Inspector or a pilot flying for flight inspection flield office.
The point is the options for a flying career are many. Not just flying for an airline but thats what everyne seems to focus on because of the glitz and supposedly prestige. But like was said, the pay is going down and the stability is not like it used to be. The federal governemt will never go out of business or lay off people.
Also, I would echo what was said about a degree choice. Many people think to be a professional pilot they have to have a degree in something aviation related. I disagree. Pilots have various degrees from engineering to english to political science to business management I think management is good. I am anambitus person and what ever I do, Ieventutally want to be in management. In case something happens where you cant fly, its good to have something to fall back on.
Flying is a passion and a calling. either you have it or you don't. Some people like to fly as a hobby. Some want to do it as a career. Remember though flying as a job is very different from flying as a hobby. Good luck to you.
skydog
New Member
Spbeyond said:
Of course there is money to be made in piloting. As much as everyone may complain, a First Officer at a commuter can make anywhere from 30K to 50K year depending on how much work you want to put in. Captains can make twce that. Go to work for an airline flying larger airplanes and you can easily make over 100K as a Captain.
But it's going to take hard work. Maybe I am wrong, but in your posts, I sense a lot of mental "hand wringing" about how hard it's going to be to get what you want. If you are adverse to hard work then you may as well quit now, because hard work is the only way you are ever going to achieve your goals, aviation or otherwise.
nicely said! get used to the callous's on your hands because they're not going to go away.. like ever...all we ever do is work to get to where we want to go in life and it takes determination and some serious sweating in order to get the job done!:nana2:skydog said:
I second the community college deal - you can save a good amount of money by doing your first 2 years there, even getting an AA degree.. then move over to the university to finish your last 60 hours in a degree you enjoy (outside of aviation).
good luck!
Spbeyond said:
Don't take a loan out for flight training. If you must take a loan out to reach your goals, then get a loan to finish college. It is a much better investment as a college degree will provide you with more options than a couple of pilot ratings. Then you can use your money to pay for your flight training.
Even if you go through an online program, you will have to take humanities and English, etc. Trust me. I am completing my degree online and have not been able to dodge English.
As stated before, take your time in making this decision. Take flight lessons and just enjoy being in the air. You have a long way to go before you are employable, so just enjoy the ride as best you can. If you weigh all your options (like you are currently doing) you can make an informed decision and be happier with it. Good luck to you, and keep asking questions. It's the only way to learn.
Im a little spoiled kid and my college is paid for 
But I have decided to keep going to school and get my private at the local airport. That way I can keep working.
Im not against hard work its just that ive been doing 18 credits this term and working almost full time. Not fun. Never again. 5 hours of sleep a night is not enough lol. Its just a good thing that I can get most of my homework done while Im at work. So anything more seemed really to much when I was posting, but hey I will just take less credits. Plus Im thinking i will get my private over the summer. (if the FAA would hurry up)
But I have decided to keep going to school and get my private at the local airport. That way I can keep working. Im not against hard work its just that ive been doing 18 credits this term and working almost full time. Not fun. Never again. 5 hours of sleep a night is not enough lol. Its just a good thing that I can get most of my homework done while Im at work. So anything more seemed really to much when I was posting, but hey I will just take less credits. Plus Im thinking i will get my private over the summer. (if the FAA would hurry up)
Flying Ninja
Need More Flight Time!
Focus on completing your college degree first as your top priority. You'll be making a life mistake by screwing up your college endeavor. Get that degree. As for flying, don't kill yourself. College first. The planes have been there before you got there. It'll be there when you finish college. A lot of the advice above are sound. I'm new to this site and haven't discovered too much of it, but I also use airlinepilotcentral.com and they have airline profiles and pay scales which I found to be immensely helpful in discovering that I can't afford to work for a regional airline. I have a spreadsheet that I made that lists some regionals that I was considering, plotted out the 5 year pay, tacked to my expenses (which is changable to play with different scenarios) and what the years would look like from month to month. If you're interested in the spreadsheet, PM me and I'd be happy to send it over to you. At the very least, it'll give you a financial perspective.
Going to a fast track program like ATP could be expensive (as I have discovered) and there's no guarantee that you are any more competitive than going the FBO route of getting your certs and working as a CFI. Fast track is faster, but FBO would be cheaper (albeit slower). But you're young still so time is to your advantage. Just don't take too long if this is your career choice.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "if the FAA would hurry up". If you get signed off for a DE check, you get your Private certificate the same day you take and pass your checkride. It's up to you as to how slow or how fast you can get your certifications. It took me almost 11 months to get my Private because I did it on weekends only. Some weekends I couldn't fly because of icy weather or thunderstorms. Plus, I tend to feel that I was spending Saturday as a review flight for the previous weekend and learning new things on Sunday...not very efficient.
Going to a fast track program like ATP could be expensive (as I have discovered) and there's no guarantee that you are any more competitive than going the FBO route of getting your certs and working as a CFI. Fast track is faster, but FBO would be cheaper (albeit slower). But you're young still so time is to your advantage. Just don't take too long if this is your career choice.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "if the FAA would hurry up". If you get signed off for a DE check, you get your Private certificate the same day you take and pass your checkride. It's up to you as to how slow or how fast you can get your certifications. It took me almost 11 months to get my Private because I did it on weekends only. Some weekends I couldn't fly because of icy weather or thunderstorms. Plus, I tend to feel that I was spending Saturday as a review flight for the previous weekend and learning new things on Sunday...not very efficient.