Hello,
My name is Devin and I'm currently an aspiring pilot in my junior year of high school. For the career unit in my English class, each student is required to interview someone who currently has the job you want to have in the future. Unfortunately, I do not have contact to any pilots in person, so I have to consult this forum for valid answers to the questions.
If possible, may I have someone answer the interview questions below? The responses will only be used towards my project, and it will not be reproduced nor reused in any way. The responses do not have to be candid if you are unwilling to provide too much information, its fine. Also, feel free to private message me.
Occupation:
Name of Person Interviewed:
Name and location of where they work:
Work phone number:
1. Describe your typical work day
2.Where do you usually work? What kind of hours do you have?
3.What are some things you like most about your job?
4.What are some things you least like about your job?
5.What are some of the typical tasks you perform?
6.Do you have a college education or technical school training?
7.In what ways do you find your job stressful?
8.Do you need any special licenses or union membership?
9.In what ways do you find your job satisfying?
10.How do you relax in your off time?
11. How did you get started in your current position?
12.What are some other related jobs you have held in this career field?
13.Is there something else you would rather be doing instead of this job?
14.Are you working toward additional advancement in your field?
15.What recommendations would you make to a student who is considering your career field?
Once again, I respect your privacy, so feel free to provide any amount of info you want to share. This interview will only compliment my entire research paper on this career.
Thanks for taking the time to help out. I greatly appreciate it!
Devin Morgan
UPS pilot/Don Eikenberry/UPS flight ops, Ontario, CA/classified
1. Describe your typical work day
I'm on call from 4am to 4pm, for two weeks at a time. So, I just hang out at my condo in San Clemente and wait for my cell phone to go off. If I get called in to work, it will start with a deadhead to somewhere and then a three to six day trip flying around. Could be to Seattle or could be to Singapore, though, if I go to Asia, it's likely to be at least a 10 day trip. A work day can be anywhere from start at 430am and end at 630am, to a 10 hour duty day going from LAX to Louisville to Jackson, MS, to a business class ticket on Delta getting sent out to fly in Asia. It just all varies so much it's hard to say. Of course, since I'm on call, my favorite "work day" is when they don't need me and I still get paid for being on call.
2.Where do you usually work? What kind of hours do you have?
I'm based in Ontario, CA but stay in San Clemente when I'm on call. If they call me in, I have two hours to get there. I'm already packed and the car is gassed up. I don't just sit around waiting for the phone to ring, though. I can be out for a walk or on my bike and still have time to get to work if they call me. Like I said before, if they call me in I could get sent to anywhere in the US or Asia to start a trip. Last week I was on call for eight days and on Tuesday they called me to commercial up to Seattle, layover, fly Seattle-Spokane, layover, and fly Spokane-Seattle-Ontario. All that took 61 hours away from my base. I flew about 4 hours during that time. The rest was layover or crew rest time.
3.What are some things you like most about your job?
The money and the good schedule are my two favorite things. I work for one of the better paying airlines. My schedule is two weeks on, two weeks off, which I like. You have two full weeks off each month to forget about your job and do what you want. Some people would hate that schedule but I love it. I also like the satisfaction of moving a big jet from point A to point B. Seems like some little thing happens each flight I learn from and no flight is exactly the same. It's a constant learning process. You get something new out of each copilot you work with, too.
4.What are some things you least like about your job?
Sometimes we work long hours and fly at night. UPS's overnight air package delivery depends on flights that leave around 8pm, go to a hub (big hub is Louisville, KY) sit for four hours during the sort, and then takeoff again landing around 5am. Can be pretty brutal. I have a hard time sleeping during the day, so each duty period I get more and more tired until my body clock finally gives up and I sleep fine during the day. This one seems like a small deal, but I HATE waiting for hotel vans. The airline shows you as "off work, in crew rest" 15 minutes after you shut the engines off. After that, you just want to get to the hotel and go to bed, but sometimes the hotel van is late and you sit around for 30 to 45 minutes during your time off waiting for hotel transportation. The FAA has addressed this issue in the new duty time regs but, sadly, the cargo companies don't have to follow the new rules.
5.What are some of the typical tasks you perform?
I check the flight paperwork and make sure the weather is okay, we have enough gas, ect. I do the pre-flight to make sure all the big pieces are there. Then I check the F/O's work in the cockpit to make sure the computer is programed and all the switches are in the right place. Then we blast off and hope nothing too exciting happens.
6.Do you have a college education or technical school training?
A four year degree is almost always a requirement for the best jobs in aviation. I graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a BS degree in aeronautical studies. A degree in aviation is not required, or even desired, but some sort of four year degree will help you get your foot in the door.
7.In what ways do you find your job stressful?
The most stressful thing is being the guy in charge of the jet. It's a big responsibility. Sometimes there are three things going on at once and you have to learn to prioritize the most important and deal with it. Sometimes you have to make decisions that won't be popular with your employer. Pilots serve two masters. One is their employer, who signs their paycheck, and the other is the FAA, which makes all the rules and grants us all the privilege of moving large objects through the air. Of course, the company wants the boxes moved at all cost, but sometimes the Captain of the jet has to make a safety decision based on his experience and best judgment to park the jet somewhere other than what was planned. This can be very stressful because you know the company will be greatly upset that the packages are in Des Moines instead of Rockford. There will be much gnashing of teeth. But in the end, the pilot has to do what he thinks is safe, and not worry about the consequences.
8.Do you need any special licenses or union membership?
Yes, you need your pilot ratings and years of experience working your way up the ladder. I had 4000 hours and had been out of college 8 years before I got hired at UPS. Most airlines are union and you'll want to be a part of it.
9.In what ways do you find your job satisfying?
Honestly, mostly when I see my bank account increase every two weeks, and all the wonderful things that affords me. But I love a great layover in Honolulu or Kona or a longer layover somewhere in Asia. Being able to fly for free anywhere is cool. I guess successfully moving the jet from point A to point B leaves me with a sense of satisfaction, as well, call me old skool. A smooth landing is always nice.
10.How do you relax in your off time?
I do a lot of bike riding, walking, hiking, and play racketball. I like to watch and play basketball. Big fan of Gonzaga U and the Lakers. I'm active in church, support a couple youth ministries, and do mentoring.
11. How did you get started in your current position?
You could see my profile on the perspectives link on the home page of this site. But I started out when I was 17 with my PPL and worked at the local airport pumping gas. Went to college. Got my ratings. Instructed. Grand Canyon tours. And flew freight for a small, medium, and now a big cargo airline.
12.What are some other related jobs you have held in this career field?
Aviation fuel transfer tech in high school and worked as an assistant in Air Traffic control for a year at LAX.
13.Is there something else you would rather be doing instead of this job?
No....that one was easy.
14.Are you working toward additional advancement in your field?
No, I'm pretty much at the peak. I'm 51 and have 8 to 14 years to go. Would like to retire sooner rather than later. Part of me says I'd quit now if I could draw a full retirement (which I can't) but I think I'd be bored stiff if I walked away from the job. We'll see.
15.What recommendations would you make to a student who is considering your career field?
Well, I'd say make sure you love flying and travel if your going to pursue the job. Don't be in a big rush to get your ratings but take your time to enjoy flying and your training. Part of your training is using the skillz you got on the last rating in real life flying. I call that seasoning and it's very important in what you bring to the cockpit down the road. The career is a big crapshoot and you can hardly plan anything, so just take it one step at a time and continually try to improve yourself. Stay healthy and don't get into trouble with the police. Read this site and see what people are saying. I think it's easy to be negative (human nature) at an anonymous message board. At the same time, it's easy to be positive when your a senior UPS Captain, so...YMMV.
Good luck on your report!!
Awww man, you got to admit that you left me some low-hanging fruit to pick there! 
How do I get there? My app has been in forever, with current updates every 2-3 weeks. What am I doing wrong Rich?