Is there still plenty of time?

skydog2 said:
Is there still time? I don't know. Is there somewhere else you need to be?

If you want to be a professional pilot, start working at it. There's no time limit. You'll get there when you get there.

A lot of people will tell that timing is everything in this business. I call on that. You don't have any control over what will happen when in this business. You can't "time" it. All you can do is work to be prepared for when opportunity comes along. Yes, you may "miss" an opportunity for whatever reason, but that does not mean another won't come along.

There is no timing, and "luck" is where preparation meets opportunity.
Click to expand...
Shouldn't one do everything morally and ethically right to catch that first good opportunity, who its to say that that second opportunity will come to late?
 
ahsmatt7 said:
Shouldn't one do everything morally and ethically right to catch that first good opportunity, who its to say that that second opportunity will come to late?
Click to expand...

Again, what is "too late?" Too late for what? The only time limits I'm aware of is age 30 for military pilots, and 65 for airline pilots.

The OP needs to frame his question within the context of his own life and his goals. If he is 40 years old, with a family to provide for, and an average income, and he wants to be a 747 captain for United, well then Yes it is probably too late. If he just wants to become a commercial pilot, and fly for a regional or corporate operation, then No, it is not too late,
 
skydog2 said:
Again, what is "too late?" Too late for what? The only time limits I'm aware of is age 30 for military pilots, and 65 for airline pilots.

The OP needs to frame his question within the context of his own life and his goals. If he is 40 years old, with a family to provide for, and an average income, and he wants to be a 747 captain for United, well then Yes it is probably too late. If he just wants to become a commercial pilot, and fly for a regional or corporate operation, then No, it is not too late,
Click to expand...


See that's the kicker. I don't "just" want to fly for a regional, or a corporate outfit. I would like to be the best I can and work my way to the top. I don't settle for something smaller when I can attain something bigger. If the best I can be is a captain at a regional then I'll do everything I can to be the best and maybe be a line check airman or something of that nature. However, If I have the opportunity to have a viable career at a major then I am going to do everything I can morally and ethically to get to that position. To frame the question better may go something like this...

"Too Late for me is your UAL 747 example." However, at age 40 I'll be a captain at a regional...hopefully. I would like to get on with a major. Flying a 747 doesn't matter as long as I can enjoy a good length of my career as acaptain at a major airline. Who cares if its a 737 or 777 or 747. My original qustion when I started the thread was pertaining to my training schedule and asking if I have time to catch the first hiring wave and ride the front of it rather than riding behind it.

I am 20 years old with one year of college left, I have planned and framed my career goals to become an airline pilot. Is there enough time to complete my training to catch the beginning of the hiring wave when it comes around?

My options are finish school in spring 2011 and go hardcore and finish through my cfi,cfii, mei. Or should I do all this now during school and try to cfi somewhere? It would be nice to know that with where I am at now with my training (still pursuing my PPL) I have a shot at the majors. Or at a regional with reasonable upgrade times so I have another opportunity to make it at the majors during the next wave if it happens again.
 
Step back and look at the landscape. 25 years ago the regional airline industry simply did not exist as it does today. The RAA at their annual convention in SLC proudly announced 50% of all domestic departures are now on regional airlines. Although this represents 25% of the seat mile lift it represents 50% of the pilot seats.

Look around. The trend- regional flying replacing mainline has not reversed. It continues. If you are just getting started you face a very daunting task of trying to swim through the regional industry (growing) and get to the main line industry (shrinking).

Betting the farm on a "2012" mainline pilot shortage caused by age 65 is a fantasy. Ever since I got into this in 1976 the perpetual pilot shortage right around the corner continues. Always a different reason; but it never happens. A "shortage" is where supply is less than "demand" causing prices "pilot pay" in this case, to rise. True the industry is cyclical but zoom out people and look at the trend..... for the last 34 years, in inflation adjusted dollars it has been, and will continue to be down.
 
seaav8tor said:
Step back and look at the landscape. 25 years ago the regional airline industry simply did not exist as it does today. The RAA at their annual convention in SLC proudly announced 50% of all domestic departures are now on regional airlines. Although this represents 25% of the seat mile lift it represents 50% of the pilot seats.

Look around. The trend- regional flying replacing mainline has not reversed. It continues. If you are just getting started you face a very daunting task of trying to swim through the regional industry (growing) and get to the main line industry (shrinking).

Betting the farm on a "2012" mainline pilot shortage caused by age 65 is a fantasy. Ever since I got into this in 1976 the perpetual pilot shortage right around the corner continues. Always a different reason; but it never happens. A "shortage" is where supply is less than "demand" causing prices "pilot pay" in this case, to rise. True the industry is cyclical but zoom out people and look at the trend..... for the last 34 years, in inflation adjusted dollars it has been, and will continue to be down.
Click to expand...


If it sounds like I believe their is a "shortage" thts looming, I apologize because I don't believe this. I jsut would like to know if their still is a good life to be had in the 121 world given where I am now and where I plan to be in 2.5 to 3 years. (done with all my ratings and hopefully with a cfi gig somewhere ready to be picked up by a reputable airline.) Most likely that "airline" will be a regional, I just don't want to be riding the last of the wave. In other words, If I have the hours in about 3 years, will I still have a shot at getting hired with decent seniority? So since that is 2013 and not 2012....will I still have a shot at decent seniority?
 
ahsmatt7 said:
I have been reading a few "should I stay in this industry &/or should I still try to be an airline pilot?" threads. It has gotten me thinking about a few things. a JC member stated that around 2012 when all the 65 yr olds retire, the airlines could be in a feeding frenzy. I am 20 years old about to turn 21 and I am still working on my PPL. I have a yr and a half left of college and plan on doing my training full time once I graduate. Will the airlines still be hiring after the first big wave, or should I start going hardcore with my training now. Flying corporate is a very big option however I have talked to some pilots and they say the avg hiring mins are quite high. Any one have any advice.
Click to expand...

Wrong reason for getting into this biz. About 11 years ago I was 18 with the same idea.....everybody is retiring and good times ahead. You need to get into it because you have no other interests and you want to BE IN THE AIR, nothing else. After flight training , flight instructing for 3 years, flying freight for 1 year, and being an fo on the fiddy going on 4 years, I would say that I have it better than most I know in the industry, and a lot of guys can't swallow the 10-20 year wait for a job at the majors and quit, and thus wasted a lot of effort. You need to get into this because all you want to do is fly even if its a filthy plane with one lav for the next 15 years. If that sounds awesome then congrats, and I wish you the best of luck on your journey.
 
Hootie said:
Wrong reason for getting into this biz. About 11 years ago I was 18 with the same idea.....everybody is retiring and good times ahead. You need to get into it because you have no other interests and you want to BE IN THE AIR, nothing else. After flight training , flight instructing for 3 years, flying freight for 1 year, and being an fo on the fiddy going on 4 years, I would say that I have it better than most I know in the industry, and a lot of guys can't swallow the 10-20 year wait for a job at the majors and quit, and thus wasted a lot of effort. You need to get into this because all you want to do is fly even if its a filthy plane with one lav for the next 15 years. If that sounds awesome then congrats, and I wish you the best of luck on your journey.
Click to expand...

Totally understand and agree with what you have said. To me though, I do want to be up in the air. That's all I want to do for a career, I also have to make a viable living off of it as well. If I cant then I may start exploring options. I will continue though because I cant shake flying off and flying is all I have ever wanted to do. Going to the majors would be nice but I honestly don't care if I end up at a regional for my career. To me flying is flying, but one has to make a living as well.
 
I'm 23, just graduated with my BAFA from a decent university. Just started my PPL, multi, commercial, to instruct fast track. I'm pretty happy with my choice so far. If your aiming to instruct like I am, next year or two is the time to do it. Instructors now have been building so much time in this downturn they are all going to get picked up pretty damn quickly. That means there are awesome chances for getting hired to instruct and time build for us newbs. One thing leads to another, it'll be time to move on up again after instructing for a bit. Now's better than ever to start. All the low hour furlough's from a year or two ago are the one's hurting. Working instructors with 1000+ are going to be getting in no problem as far as I'm concerned, and the cycle will begin. Then again, I'm happily training at the "puppy mill", and could care less at this point. It's all about long term goals, rather than short term, for me. There's a big back log, and I'm not trying to jump ahead of it by any means. Gonna ride this bull like a champ, long, hard, & one gig at a time.
 
Contrail the Kid said:
I'm 23, just graduated with my BAFA from a decent university. Just started my PPL, multi, commercial, to instruct fast track. I'm pretty happy with my choice so far. If your aiming to instruct like I am, next year or two is the time to do it. Instructors now have been building so much time in this downturn they are all going to get picked up pretty damn quickly. That means there are awesome chances for getting hired to instruct and time build for us newbs. One thing leads to another, it'll be time to move on up again after instructing for a bit. Now's better than ever to start. All the low hour furlough's from a year or two ago are the one's hurting. Working instructors with 1000+ are going to be getting in no problem as far as I'm concerned, and the cycle will begin. Then again, I'm happily training at the "puppy mill", and could care less at this point. It's all about long term goals, rather than short term, for me. There's a big back log, and I'm not trying to jump ahead of it by any means. Gonna ride this bull like a champ, long, hard, & one gig at a time.
Click to expand...
Sounds like my plan. Good luck with all of it. Where are you doing your training?
 
ahsmatt7 said:
See that's the kicker. I don't "just" want to fly for a regional, or a corporate outfit. I would like to be the best I can and work my way to the top. I don't settle for something smaller when I can attain something bigger. If the best I can be is a captain at a regional then I'll do everything I can to be the best and maybe be a line check airman or something of that nature. However, If I have the opportunity to have a viable career at a major then I am going to do everything I can morally and ethically to get to that position. To frame the question better may go something like this...

"Too Late for me is your UAL 747 example." However, at age 40 I'll be a captain at a regional...hopefully. I would like to get on with a major. Flying a 747 doesn't matter as long as I can enjoy a good length of my career as acaptain at a major airline. Who cares if its a 737 or 777 or 747. My original qustion when I started the thread was pertaining to my training schedule and asking if I have time to catch the first hiring wave and ride the front of it rather than riding behind it.

I am 20 years old with one year of college left, I have planned and framed my career goals to become an airline pilot. Is there enough time to complete my training to catch the beginning of the hiring wave when it comes around?

My options are finish school in spring 2011 and go hardcore and finish through my cfi,cfii, mei. Or should I do all this now during school and try to cfi somewhere? It would be nice to know that with where I am at now with my training (still pursuing my PPL) I have a shot at the majors. Or at a regional with reasonable upgrade times so I have another opportunity to make it at the majors during the next wave if it happens again.
Click to expand...

I didn't catch that you were OP. Sorry about that.

But to answer your question, no it is not too late to get in on the next hiring boom. Airlines still have pilots on furlough, so they have to go through that list before they will hire any new people.

Finishing training is no big deal. If you have the means, you can probably get all your licenses within a matter of months. We're not talking medical school here.

But finish college first. Without that degree, you're chances of getting where you want to go are much reduced.
 
Then again, I'm happily training at the "puppy mill", and could care less at this point.
Click to expand...

Please tell me your parents are paying for this training. If not you really are going to care once your first payment comes due and your a 1st year FO.

To the original OP, you've got a goal and you want to fly so go for it. But like you said just be the best you can be no matter where you end up. In this business you will never know. Every pilot says the same thing; wanna do it since I was young, can't see myself sitting in a office, at all cost, blah, blah, blah... In the end, just take it a day at a time and enjoy the ride no matter what happens.

And that major job may be more elusive than people think. Take a look around, Eagle is hiring while the mothership AA is furloughing. Thats where things are headed...
 
skydog2 said:
I didn't catch that you were OP. Sorry about that.

But to answer your question, no it is not too late to get in on the next hiring boom. Airlines still have pilots on furlough, so they have to go through that list before they will hire any new people.

Finishing training is no big deal. If you have the means, you can probably get all your licenses within a matter of months. We're not talking medical school here.

But finish college first. Without that degree, you're chances of getting where you want to go are much reduced.
Click to expand...


We all make mistakes, don't worry about it. I am glad to see we are on the same page now. I totally forgot about the furloughed guys/gals out there. That means hiring may not start right when pilots start retiring. As of now I am just concentrating on getting my ratings and having fun. IU would like to enjoy it before it becomes a job.
 
SpiraMirabilis said:
Well, he's furloughed and has 0 TPIC so he can't go to another major... but he does have a 737 type and got a job at a cargo company flying ATRs while he hopefully waits out his furlough.
Click to expand...

[Hijack] When furloughed, who can you fly for or what type of flying can you do that wont cost you your recall spot? [hijack/]
 
Matt13C said:
[Hijack] When furloughed, who can you fly for or what type of flying can you do that wont cost you your recall spot? [hijack/]
Click to expand...

You can fly for anyone. Some companies (not many) require that you resign your seniority number at your furloughed company, but there is debate as to whether that actually is binding -- I would imagine it would depend on how bad the furloughed company wanted you back when they started recalls. Other companies might discriminate on hiring you -- thinking "He'll just go back to XYZ airlines when they start recalling." But for the most part it isn't hard to get another job.

If your carrier is union, chances are the union has some sort of furlough assistance. I'm furloughed from Mesa, and I'm not ever expecting a recall, but ALPA has given such things as a free membership to FltOps, job announcements, and I believe an agreement for preferential hiring at American Eagle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top