Need help understand the pilot pipeline program

J

Jack M

Active Member
Dear All,

Hello my name is Jack and I have just been accepted into the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg Mo. I will be attending next year as a freshman with a degree in professional Pilot. Now that my intro is out of the way I have a few quick questions maybe the airline guys and gals can answer. how does the airline pilot pipeline work? What are some of the benefits to it? what are some of the disadvantages? Would if be better to start out with charter/fractional first and than work my way up to the regionals? I apologies in advance about my poor grammar. Thanks again and I hope you all stay safe flying
from,
Jack
 
Judging from your post I would strongly suggest that you talk to the folks at your University asap. Im not sure you have the landscape in focus. Many of the regionals now have "pilot cadet" or so called pipe-dream...er uh....pipe line descriptions along with requirements. I would just start looking at their websites.
Also where you fly and what you fly depends on the FAA regs..You should understand part 91 flying vs part 135 and part 121. This will make a major difference down the road. all three have different experience requirements. And for gods sake...don't think for one second that there is a single path to flying. (with the one exception that you WILL be very poor for a long time.)
 
Switch majors to something useful outside of aviation. "Professional Pilot" will DQ you from the inevitable "it would be cool to apply at NASA" down the road. Just ask @Derg ; his NASA dreams are dashed.

Everything else is covered by the previous post. You should probably talk to your advisor.

This is what I know (and it's not much):

Student->Private->Commercial

Commercial->{1500 TT paid for by all by you}->Regional

or

Commercial->CFI/banner tow/pipe patrol/diver driver/etc->1500->Regional

The efficacy of those hours into your experience bucket is debated ad naseum.

You could replace regional with any 135 outfit, but in general you have to start with a low-paying job a la Ameriflight before you go to NetJets. It's still not even that simple.

Also, 135 to 121 and vice versa tends to be like oil and water. People do make the switch, but it's not cut and dry.

Personally, I got lucky. I went to a regional and was there for almost 7 years (not earning more than $50,000 gross ever) before hiring on with a well-known east coast LCC.

Time from graduation to 6 figures: 10 years and counting. Still haven't achieved a pay rate or seniority that will enable 6 figures quite yet. Should be the next few years though.
 
Thank you all after reading all your post and advice I feel like I got a better understanding I hope you all have a great day
 
Enjoy your training and don't stress over the airline programs. When that time comes who knows what programs will be out there. I did an aviation degree and loved it.

Now that I'm a CFI, I wish I would have enjoyed my college and training life more. Also, don't turn into a aviation college macho dude that thinks he's on top of the world because he studied aviation. Enjoy college and make friends outside of your department.
 
Seeing as you will be a freshman don't even worry about 135 vs. 121 right now. The best thing to do is just get through your training and classes as best as you can and enjoy the hell out of college! *Insert beers emoji here...damn I miss that thing*

You will be eligible for your Commercial certificate at 200-250 hours. While that may immediately enable you to get a 135 job, it would take you some time to get the hours for a 121 job. With that being said, any 135 company that would hire you at 250 hours probably isn't a company you want to work for anyway.

Additional advice: keep in touch with your CFIs and get their feedback on their careers after flight instructing. You may learn that they get a job and find out that it isn't nearly as dreamy -- or kicks ass way more than they could've imagined -- as advertised.

Just don't get so caught up in "pipeline" programs that you ignore other excellent opportunities.

Good luck in your training and don't forget to enjoy the hell out of college!

Cheers! :insertbeeremojihere:
 
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